1. "shortcut" is interesting case in my opinion.
First of all there is idom "срезать путь" (to cut path?) which means "to walk directly from point A to point B ignoring roads (because there is no direct road), often over lawn/grass".
So you can say "Нельзя срезать путь к успеху". But this is verb.
There is no direct one-word analog for "shortcut". "Короткий путь" (short way) is applicable: "Нет короткого пути к успеху".
So, there is "cut" and there is "short", but they do not compose noun "shortcut" in russian.
Another examples:
"shortcut key" is "быстрая клавиша" (quick key)

2. Нам нужны действия. Действия вызывают реакцию.