No Substitute for Action: Why Learning Alone Won’t Get You There

I don’t know who needs to hear this, but no amount of going to Guild meetings, talking on Marco Polo, journaling, reading from a book, or listening to a podcast will be a suitable substitute for doing the work.

You have to take action. You have to eat when you’re hungry, stop before full, and repeat that process 1,000 times to learn the lessons that only come after 1,000 reps. There is no shortcut. There is no way around the reps. You must go through them.

I don’t know the exact number of repetitions it will take for you to internalize the lessons that will transform your thinking, but I know it’s a big number. The only way to truly change is to experience it, not just understand it conceptually.

You must make actual, tangible changes in your life to get the transformation you’re after. Losing 100 pounds forever requires a different life on the other side of that weight loss. Your life cannot look the same before and after and expect the change to last. Real shifts must happen.

• The way you spend your time after work will be different. Forever.

• The way you spend your free time on weekends will change. Somehow.

• The way you handle stress in your life will no longer involve food. Forever.

And here’s the thing: each one of you will need to change your life in vastly different ways. This is a game of iterating forward, adjusting, and refining as you go. There is no one-size-fits-all answer, only principles that guide the process.

So if you find yourself stuck in the learning phase, that’s fine—just don’t make the mistake of thinking endless learning will ever be a substitute for action.

You must do the work to get to the other side.

Make this coming week YOUR week. No excuses. Only obstacles to solve. No more shortcuts—just do it the easy way, the way that works.

If you're feeling stuck, pick one small change you can commit to this week. Whether it’s drinking more water, getting in extra steps, or practicing mindful eating—take action now.

The best time to start was ten years ago. The next best time is today. The future will not be easier than today.

Now go make it happen.