articleJanuary 4, 2026
Things That Aren't Doing the Thing
Genuine accomplishment requires direct action—preparation, planning, and talking about goals are not substitutes for execution.
Summary
A sharp reminder that substitutes for action are not action itself. Through repetitive structure, the essay distinguishes between preparatory activities and genuine execution.
Key Points
- Planning isn't doing: Preparing, scheduling, and creating task lists feel productive but produce no results
- Social performance isn't doing: Announcing intentions or posting about goals substitutes validation for progress
- Negative emotions aren't doing: Beating yourself up, feeling jealous, or blaming others changes nothing
- Research isn't doing: Studying methods and gathering information delays the actual work
The Core Insight
"The only thing that is doing the thing is doing the thing."
No amount of preparation, emotional processing, or social signaling replaces direct action. The uncomfortable truth: most "productive" activities are sophisticated forms of procrastination.