Massive Action: No More Studying Without Doing

"I never worry about action, but only about inaction ..."

- Winston Churchill

I am slightly obsessed with self-help content. Videos on hustle. Books on self-reliance. Documentaries about "self-made men". I love it, and I'm guessing you do, too.

That's because studying, planning, and preparing have become vices for modern men. The allure of the self-help world is inviting, it's comforting, and ... it accomplishes absolutely nothing.

Let's face it, there's a reason people–and men, in particular–consume this stuff. It's intoxicating. And, to a large degree, it can actually be positive, helpful, and provide real value to a person in a certain stage in their life. For the teenager or young man who hasn't really found his way in life; for the newly-divorced husband who has to navigate a world without his family; for the entrepreneur whose dreams have faded with business failure ... For men going through tough times, trying to figure themselves out, trying to rebound from a failure, trying to overcome low self-esteem, the right self-help materials can be extremely rewarding for a time.

But that's the key phrase–for a time. And this is where many men take self-help and turn it into over-reliance. The "hustle endorphins" that accompany the latest Youtube short on "getting it done" soon fade, then another fix is needed, then another. Soon, the comfort of self-help far outstrips the utility of self-help.

Knowledge Without Action Is Just Vanity

Most men today don’t lack information.
They lack execution. They know what discipline is. They know what courage looks like. They know the Scriptures, the tactics, the frameworks.

But knowing, while not inconsequential, is nonetheless insufficient. Action is required to bring knowledge to life, to build our empires, to protect our families, to bless others. A man who studies strength but never lifts is not wise—he is weak. A man who studies leadership but never leads is not thoughtful—he is afraid. A man who studies faith but never acts on it is not devout—he is stalled.

Why Men Get Stuck in Endless Preparation

Endless preparation feels productive because it is safe. Action, on the other hand, rips off our robes of comfort, exposing our vulnerabilities, our fears, our weaknesses. It exposes us to the real risk inherent in the real world, and– let's put it bluntly–that's scary. Let's also be blunt about something else: it's exhausting. Because staying cuddled up in our IG "Hustle Life" blanket isn't merely about hiding from the monsters hanging out in the real world, it's also about the enormous energy that real action requires. And comfort–or, going by its maiden name, laziness–feels so much better.

Action also exposes us to the judgment of others. That is, the very, very harsh, nasty, personalized, targeted judgment of others. One of the things that genuinely shocked me (it shouldn't have) when I started this blog was the utter violence and vitriol which spewed forth from people who don't agree with my views. It was jarring and, if I'm being honest, a little intimidating. No one likes being referred to as a judgmental, idiotic bigot (and that's on a good day), but you know what? Comes with the territory. You stand up, you do something–anything–and haters will take notice, and take aim. It's fine, it's part of the game, you've got this.

Massive Action

Do not wait until conditions are perfect. ACT.

Train under pressure.

Grow by doing.

Make mistakes, take judgment, expose your ego, your weakness, your fears.

Massive action does not mean reckless chaos.
It means decisive movement before you feel ready ... and bonus hint: you will never feel fully ready, especially at the start of any great work.

The World Is Won by Men Who Move

History is not shaped by the best-read men.

It is shaped by:

• Builders
• Fighters
• Servants
• Fathers
• Men who step forward

Men who choose action over comfort.
Men who accept friction instead of fantasy.
Men who understand that obedience often precedes clarity.

Your Charge

No more studying without doing.
No more preparation without pressure.
No more waiting for permission.

Move.
Build.
Train.
Lead.
Pray—and then act.