When Insight Doesn't Lead to Action
Last week I caught myself doing something I've probably done a hundred times before.
I had a great idea.
I even wrote it down.
Then...nothing.
A few days later I looked back at my notebook and realized I had never actually acted on it.
It made me laugh because I spend so much of my time thinking about how people find clarity, build momentum, and navigate change while we're building Compass.
Apparently, I'm no different.
It happens more often than we think
Have you ever finished a great book...
...and changed nothing?
Or listened to a podcast that completely resonated...
...only to go right back to your normal routine the next day?
Or left a conference feeling energized...
...until Monday morning arrived?
I've done all three. More than once.
Insight feels like progress
I think that's why it's so easy to mistake it for progress.
- Learning something new feels productive.
- Understanding ourselves feels productive.
- Talking through a problem feels productive.
- Even taking an assessment can feel productive.
Sometimes that's enough.... but, sometimes it isn't.
Because insight creates awareness. Action creates momentum.
📒Product Notebook
This has become one of my favorite questions to ask during product discussions:
What happens after the "aha" moment?
...I think this is where the real work begins.
It's surprisingly difficult to answer.
- An assessment creates awareness.
- A mentor offers perspective.
- A conversation sparks an idea.
Those moments are incredibly valuable.
But they're also temporary. If nothing changes afterward...
Was the insight enough?
Maybe the real challenge isn't learning
Maybe it's remembering.
- Remembering the conversation we wanted to have.
- Remembering the habit we wanted to build.
- Remembering why we were excited in the first place.
Life has a funny way of pushing those things into the background.
Urgent almost always wins.
And before we know it...
The insight that felt so important a few days ago has quietly faded into the background.
A sketch from my notebook
Most products stop at the top of that diagram.
The more I think about it...
Most experiences are really good at helping us reach an insight.
I'm becoming much more interested in everything that happens afterward.
One thing I'm trying myself
Lately I've stopped asking, "What did I learn today?"
Instead I've started asking, "What's one thing I'm actually going to do differently tomorrow?"
It's a much smaller question.
Ironically...
It's amazing how often one small decision changes everything that follows.
One question I've been thinking about...
What's one thing you've known for a long time...
...but haven't quite turned into action yet?
One thing I've realized while building Compass is that insight is incredibly valuable—but only if it changes what we do next.
