James Altucher writing for Techcrunch.com believes there are five great things about procrastination. His second point is “listen.”
Listen. Your procrastination is telling you something. Maybe the idea you were working on is bad. I started a software project once that I was going to make into a company. But I kept doing everything BUT the software project. Procrastination is your mind’s way of saying: “That bad! This good!” and puts your body at work on something you enjoy. Listen to it. Ask, why am I really procrastinating. Maybe I’m not calling the client back because I simply don’t like him.
Yes! It’s true. If you DON’T LIKE someone then you might not want to do business with them. People have this BS line, “its not personal, its just business.” No way! That’s why we procrastinate often. Because business, or anything you do, is personal. You aren’t a robot! You want to enjoy the things you do and be around people who uplift you and inspire you. And you procrastinate when your body and mind are telling you you don’t like something.
I agree with Altucher in part, but disagree with him on principle. As a compulsive procrastinator, this “great thing” can lead me to justify my actions.
For example:
My boss gives me an assignment and a deadline. I must complete the task to preserve my job, serve the client, and bring in revenue for the company. In fact, completing the task adds dollars to my wallet as well through the opportunity for spiffs, commissions, and bonuses. Then, I find myself working on other things—other clients, my freelance business, new ideas, Pinterest.
I agree with Altucher. My procrastination is telling me something. It’s telling me one of five things.
1. My procrastination is telling me, like Altucher, that I don’t like the project or client.
Guess what? You and I can’t always choose the projects we work on. We won’t always like our clients. Some of your clients will drive you bonkers at times. If you have the luxury of moving on to another project or client, perhaps that’s the right thing to do. Most of us, especially in this time of fear for the economy, can’t sacrifice a chunk of our current business.
If you listen to yourself when procrastinating and feel that this is why you’re doing so, then it’s time to do something.
- Go back to your boss and discuss the roadblocks.
- Call the client for clarification or adjustments.
- Or perhaps, do the best thing for procrastinators—turn off distractions and sit your gluteus maximus in the chair until the job is done.
2. My procrastination is telling me that I don’t have enough information to proceed.
Creatives get blocked, too. One thing creative (or writer’s) block should tell you and me is that perhaps our outlines aren’t detailed enough. Maybe the vision for the piece isn’t well defined enough. I instruct writers to go back to their outlines and speak through the major points out loud. The problem spot will become evident. The same thing can be true for any creative endeavor. Speak the outline or summary out loud. If it makes sense and feels complete, then get to work. If not, repeat the process until you feel you can identify the hole.
3. My procrastination is telling me I’m afraid.
Most creatives battle the fear of rejection.
What if the radio script isn’t witty enough? What if the TV commercial causes the viewer to change the channel? What if the sermon puts that bald guy in the seventh row to sleep again? What if no one contributes to this style financial appeal for my non-profit?
I’m sure you could add dozens of questions to this list. After 25 years of daily creative process, I’ve learned that fear will always sit in my office, car, and conference room. I try to silence the fear. You can, too. You can gag the yellow creature with reminders like this:
- The client hired you.
- The majority of your projects for this client have performed at or above expectations.
- If you don’t do your best, you’ll never know what the project could do.
- If you don’t finish or don’t finish on time, you risk your reputation and job.
Once I go through this litany, Fear will stop yelling at me and poking me with his spear. He’ll just sit in the corner and brood. He doesn’t stay gagged forever, but he leaves me alone long enough to get some work done.
4. My procrastination is telling me I need a break.
Breaks are good for the mind and soul. Naps are good, too. If you are procrastinating, you are not taking a break on purpose. Decide how long you should break and what you should do—or not do—on your break, then break. When the time is up, get back to work.
5. My procrastination is telling me I’m finished.
Stop playing Angry Birds and pull back for a minute. Look at the work you’ve completed. Is it enough? Were you trying to make the project too complicated, too long, or add another piece that doesn’t belong? Perhaps less is more this time. Spend an hour honing what you have into a completed piece. You might be surprised. You might be at the end instead of in the middle.
Like Altucher, I believe that procrastination can be positive at times. I’ve just blown up enough projects to know that I’ve got to keep working.
What messages does your procrastination tell you? Please comment below.
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