Are you someone who has clear goals in life but feel stuck, constantly busy with tasks that seem aligned with your goals yet yield no real progress? Do you ever feel like you’re running in circles, making efforts but getting nowhere?
I’ve been there.
"Never confuse motion with action." — Benjamin Franklin
You cannot steer something that isn’t in motion—progress starts by taking the first step. But motion alone won't produce desired outcomes and guarantee lasting results. You must take action. If you want to cross an Olympic-sized pool, you don't just jump in the water and float, you must swim to the other side. If you want to finish a marathon, you don't just sign up for it, you must run. It’s important to take the first step, but you must keep your pace and move forward. The same applies to your goals; starting is essential, but sustained, intentional effort is what truly drives success. You cannot truly reach your goals without taking action. Too often, we equate movement with progress. It’s easy to mistake movement for progress, go through the motions, and assume we're moving forward towards our goals. But we may actually just be going in circles, aimlessly doing things that won’t produce desired outcomes and lasting results. There’s a fine line between mere movement and moving forward with meaningful action. If you’re struggling to take action or caught up in a motion-loop in your life but want to take the next step in reaching your goals, this is for you.
What is the Difference Between Motion and Action in Reaching Your Goals?
In this blog post, let's learn the difference between motion and action and how relevant it is in reaching our goals, producing our desired outcomes and lasting results. Let’s explore each aspect in detail…
Motion.
Even with our currently busy schedule, my friends and I have decided to allot at least 1 day in a week to exercise and go for a run. Every Friday, we run the same route but have different workout goals tailored to what we want to achieve for ourselves. I'm currently working my way up with a pace rate of 7 minutes per kilometer with a goal of increasing my stamina and endurance. I am not an expert at this, but I have come to a realization that not many people understand the purpose of running or have lost the true essence of why they're running. My assumptions could be wrong, but from my observation, some people start their workout by sprinting less than a kilometer, only to slow down to a walk for the next two, scrolling on their phones because they burned out too quickly from exhausting all their strength sprinting right away. There were few who jogged and sprinted randomly, running at an inconsistent pace, simply enjoying themselves—which isn't necessarily a bad thing. After all, science says you should exercise and it's good for you. Walking is good. Running is good. And people think as long as they have movement, it's good. Many believe that as long as they’re moving—hitting 10,000 steps a day, running at least 3 kilometers, or working out once a week—they’re on the right track. But have you ever stopped to ask yourself why you do what you do? What is the goal? Many people run, but not many people understand why they run, what goal they want to reach, and what actions will actually get them there. People could run around the block just to say they have exercised that day but eat processed food all week. Often times, small steps done at a consistent pace yields greater results than big, aimless steps, getting nowhere.
But it's not just about running. In our daily lives, we often confuse motion with action. We may think that holding countless meetings is progress towards reaching the goals of our company or organization. But meeting after meeting without execution and follow through will not propel us towards our goals and will definitely not produce actual results. You may think that brainstorming ideas for your next project is progress. But not until you actually pick up a pen and write, pick up a paintbrush and paint, or pick up a microphone and record, you will never be able to see the results you want and reach the goals you have set for yourself.
I have been in situations where I have mistaken motion for action. And it's not because I wasn't willing to do what I needed to do to reach my goals, but it's because of my fear of failure, fear of stepping out of my comfort zone, and fear of the unknown. There were times where I would be passionate about an idea or project, but because people around me didn't believe in the idea I had and wasn't completely on board with me, there's a gray area of hesitation to take action. And because the path towards the goal was unexplored territory, the outcome was unknown to me, and I was afraid to fail—afraid to disappoint people and myself—and I was afraid of what people would think of me. So, I stayed in the comfort of motion, that as long as there was movement, as long as I was doing something, it was enough. But I wasn't actually getting anywhere near the goals I desired to reach. Often times, we find ourselves trapped in similar thoughts:
"I’m not ready to publish anything yet; I’ll keep practicing."
"I don’t have the title or position to be credible enough; I’ll work on my credibility before starting this project."
"I need to prepare more before I take the first real step."
We convince ourselves that we’re making progress, but truth is, we’re just circling around action—never actually taking it.
“Well done is better than well said.” — Benjamin Franklin
Action.
If you're here and this resonates with you, I encourage you to take action. Write that song you've been wanting to share with the world. Start that YouTube channel or podcast you've been hesitating to launch. Launch that business idea you’ve been holding onto. Publish that blog you’ve been drafting for months. Apply for the job you’ve been telling yourself you’re not ready for. Sign up for that half marathon you've been wanting to conquer after months of training. Speak up and share the brilliant ideas you've been keeping to yourself because of fear. Stop waiting for the perfect moment—because real progress begins when you take action.
Whatever excuse we try to convince ourselves to delay the potential outcomes of taking action will never amount to the lasting results we can achieve towards the goals we want to reach. Taking action will never guarantee perfection. We will make mistakes. We will have failed attempts. But it will guarantee true progress and results that propel you towards your goals, rather than not taking any steps at all.
Ever since, I was always a shy kid that might know the answer roughly 90% of the time when the teacher asks a question but would never raise my hand because I don't want to draw attention to myself and melt at the sight of everyone looking at me and see me fail if I happen to be wrong. And I grew up to be the same shy kid that I was back then. I would keep my ideas to myself because I feared being ridiculed for it. I held back on so many opportunities because I always said to myself that I wasn't ready and that I needed more time, more resources, or any other excuse I could think of. It was later on that I realized you can't just read a book on how to win friends and influence people, and that you have to actually talk to people. It took time before I stopped going through the motions and actually started taking action. I couldn't just keep reading and learning about leadership, I had to lead people and execute what I have learned. I couldn't just keep making drafts and brainstorm ideas I had in mind that I was passionate about. I had to start Over Coffee and actually publish blog posts. Although motion is helpful and not necessarily a bad thing, it will never produce desired outcomes and lasting results that will propel you to reach your goals. Motion may align you, but action will take you there and bring you the results you want to achieve. You become a step closer to your goal each time you take action.
“Do not wait to strike till the iron is hot; but make it hot by striking.” — William Butler Yeats
Reaching Your Goals
In reaching our goals, there is a massive difference between motion and action—and it’s crucial to understand this disparity clearly. As James Clear, author of best-selling book 'Atomic Habits' said, "Motion makes you feel like you’re getting things done. But really, you’re just preparing to get something done. When preparation becomes a form of procrastination, you need to change something."
It’s easy to fall into the trap of mistaking motion for action. We stay busy, convinced that movement equals progress, yet we find ourselves stuck in the same place. Motion gives the illusion of getting things done, but only intentional action leads to real results.
If you’ve been waiting for the perfect moment to start, let this be your "push" to take action. Write that song, launch that project, apply for that opportunity—whatever it is, take the first real step toward it today. Because success isn’t about staying in motion; it’s about taking action and moving forward with purpose.
“If you can’t fly, then run. If you can’t run, then walk. If you can’t walk, then crawl, but whatever you do, you have to keep moving forward.” — Martin Luther King Jr.
“There is only one proof of ability—action.” ― Marie Ebner-Eschenbach
In conclusion, you must take action and move forward toward reaching your goals. Motion will keep us running, having the illusion of progress, but will not produce our desired outcomes and lasting results—it will keep us running in circles. Take action! Action will propel you in reaching your goals, making real progress and producing lasting results. You may make mistakes, you may fail, and the future might be unknown, but every step you take in action is real progress and brings you closer to your goals. There is more for you! Step out of the comfort of motion. Taking action will never be easy, but it will be worth it!
May this blog post inspire you to take action today towards reaching your goals. You have God-given potential in you for you to fulfill your God-given purpose. Take action! Do share your heart and thoughts in the comments. See you on the next blog post!
Sending love,
Coleene.
Read the previous blog post: The Crucial Role of Mindset and Environment in Achieving Personal Growth and Success
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