The problem with massive action

Tony Robbins says, "The path to success is to take massive, determined action." I really like Mr. Robbins and so it is straining on me to find fault with this statement. The funny thing is that another author I really like (who incidentally doesn't like Tony Robbins) says in one of his books essentially the same thing.

Why do I have a problem with this statement? Because I have taken massive, determined action many times that has led to something much less than success. The problem was, I was quickly heading down a path that would not lead to success. Each of these times I did learn a lot, but did not attain the success I sought.

Does this mean that massive action can never lead to success? I think it can with some caveats. For instance, you had better make sure the path you're on is going where you want. Salesmen are often showing visions of success while selling wares that lead in the opposite direction (or at least a less than direct path). 

So before you go and take some massive action, let me offer a starting point. 

Never underestimate the power of consistently developing good habits.

I like encouraging people to develop habits that lead in the direction of success over massive action for two reason. First, habits are a way of automating your life. Massive action in the right direction is terrific, but can it be sustained? Think of Aesop's story of the tortoise and the hare. Consistently building habits towards success may start slowly but builds into an unstoppable force.

Second, it gives you opportunities to course correct. As you are in the process of developing habits, you can see if you are heading in the right direction and make course corrections along the way. Often as you start taking steps in the right direction you learn more and can see new steps you need to take. It becomes obvious that the path you thought you should take was mistaken as you learn more and find better paths.

As you start building these habits into your life, you can definitely start going faster as you are more sure of the path. One way to help speed up this process is to have a mentor who is already where you want to be. They can give you hints and suggestions and you can learn from their experience instead of just having to rely on your own experience. 

If you have a mentor that you fully trust has the experience to get you where you want to be, then maybe you can take Tony Robbin's advice and take massive determined action. Otherwise, start by gaining habits that put you on the right path and keep building your success one habit at a time until you find that mentor.