1. The 15-Second Principle

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of toys. In the middle of the cage is a red lever that, when pressed, will open the door and set him free. If
the goal of the rat is freedom, no matter how fast he runs on the treadmill or how involved he becomes
with his toys, he will never gain freedom. There is only one way out of jail for this rat: going directly to the
red lever and pressing it. In this example, pressing the lever is the freeing action; busying himself with the
treadmill and toys is the imprisoning and distracting activity. The human condition is very similar to the
rat's situation. Quite often, we will seek out activities that are not essential in helping us reach our
destinations. Let's look at two examples:
If April arrives and you have not touched your tax returns, calling your accountant and setting up an
emergency meeting is an action, whereas cleaning out a closet and washing your car are activities.
If you desperately want to begin a dream project (writing a novel, starting a report, getting an article
published, doing a home aerobics program, creating an oil painting), taking a step toward that project is an
action, while going to the movies is an activity.
Why We Avoid Taking Actions
Unfortunately, when we human beings are left to our own devices, we are much more likely to direct our
attention toward seductive activities rather than toward challenging actions. This is because activities are
safer to approach and engage in. They tend to contain less emotional and psychological charge, which
makes them less confronting. Because activities do not address our dreams, personal identities, or mastery,
they tend to be easier to think about, begin, and complete. Actions, on the other hand, deal with more
important core issues and can be more frightening. In addition, activities are about staying busy or kicking
back rather than about facing our full potential, fears, and responsibilities. They are more about avoidance
and unfulfilling patterns, less about risk, fulfillment, and the unknown. As a result, the feelings and
emotional rewards we reap from completing activities are limiting. With low stakes come low payoffs.
Perhaps Mick Jagger was thinking about activities when he sang, "I can't get no satisfaction." What's vital
to understand is that a thousand activities cannot give you