"I find that this technique works just as well for initializing actions that aren't short."

I should have been more clear. It'll get you started, but that's all it does. If it takes more than a momentary act of will power, you need new tricks.

For example, when you're jumping off a cliff, as soon as you start pushing off, you're committed. If, however, you're trying to trying to do a 1 1/2 off a diving board the 3 count won't help much since you can always bail part way through