What does different course of action mean?

Different course of action is a phrase used mainly when the plan or actions you are following are not producing the results you desire or expect.

This plan could involve finances, love, war, learning to skateboard, becoming a rock star, learning trigonometry, or absolutely anything else you are trying to accomplish. When the plan or course you are following is not working, you simply take on a different course of action, usually based partly on mistakes made in the first plan or course.