In 1 Kings 12-14, Jeroboam made the following critical errors; these are telltale throughout 1 Kings; trusting your own wisdom, following your own rational, and ignoring the statues and charges from God.
Rehoboam at first listened to bad advice, but later on he listens to the prophetic advice and avoids wars. His concern shifted to the people, where as it was not with the people in the initial transfer of kingship from Solomon.
Jeroboam set up alternates in fear of losing the people, so he instituted idols (two golden calves), alternate worship sites, alternate festival, and alternate priests. This is an allusion to Aaron 'thinking to himself,' and not trusting that God was in control. A fear and panic set in, people then believed Moses would not come down off the mountain. Jeroboam, much like Aaron, received some very bad advice, and then he acted out on that advice. His spoken rational was that of a person seeking to win the people, or in other word, he wanted to be liked by the people. I can imagine Aaron acting with the same motives. The result was the dividing of worship from the true place of worship, instituting objects of worship, and appointing some not so holy priests. This had deviating results. In the end he ignored the prophetic warning on multiple occasion, along with all that he been given in scripture as commands.
Substitutes may win the people, but in the end you lose much more than you gain
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