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Procrastination versus Effective Action

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We all know that in order to be successful, we must take action. Its simple, right? Then why is it so hard to do? Often it’s because the tasks are boring or difficult, or something we just don’t want to do. So, how do we overcome this? The problem is that denial won’t cause the task to go away. Procrastination wont make it any easier; in fact, it will make it harder. So what do we do?

Here are a few ideas that can help:

1. Take a look at your thinking. If your mind is full of negative thoughts, you will start to believe that the task is impossible and that it’s okay to give up, put it off, or leave it unfinished. Instead of thinking, I can’t do this, tell yourself, I will get this done now.

2. Get to know when you’re peak performance time is. Regardless of how you feel about the task, choose that time to do it if it’s urgent or important.

3. Make the main thing the main thing. Decide what your most important tasks are and do them first. Prioritize and organize. Often people use the excuse of working on email as a way to put off more important work. It isnt being rude to ignore your email; it’s prioritizing and taking responsibility for what you need to do.

4. Are you overextending yourself? Learn to say no. Many times it’s hard to say no either because we don’t want to let somebody down or because we’re afraid to turn jobs away. But the truth is that if we overextend ourselves, we might not finish any of our jobs or we might finish them late. Either way, our clients will be unhappy. Most clients will respect an honest no if you are too busy, and will either opt for a later time or find someone else for the job, but they will remember and appreciate your honesty.

5. Be careful about distractions. People may come to you and say, I just have a quick question, and that might be true. But if 20 people come to you with a quick question, your day is used up with other people’s work. Either tell them you will get back to them at another time, or, better yet, don’t answer the request in the first place. When you’re important tasks are completed, you will find time to answer the questions you really want to answer.

6. Learn to make decisions decisively. Some people train themselves to do this by setting a stopwatch. They give themselves 1 minute to make a decision and then move on. If you spend too long deciding, you might not make a decision at all.

7. Don’t forget to treat yourself. No matter how hard we work on our mindset, there will always be some tasks we just don’t like. There’s nothing wrong with a bribe for completing the things we don’t like to do.

8. Take a look at the time you waste when you’re away from your computer. What do you do when you’re shopping, driving, or standing in lines? Is the real estate between your ears going to waste? Do you fill that time was worrying or negative thoughts? Instead, train your mind to be thinking about new things you can do for your job or business. Take a notebook with you and write down any ideas you have that might improve your business. This is a very popular technique because frequently people have great ideas but can’t remember them by the time they get to a place where they can write them down.

9. Don’t overwhelm yourself. Just as you don’t want to be overwhelmed by people or things outside yourself, you don’t want to set unreasonable goals for yourself. Come to understand what you can reasonably accomplish in a
certain period of time and make that your goal. Then, break it down into steps so that you wont be overwhelmed in the process of completing it. Remember the old adage,” By the yard it’s hard, by the inch it’s a cinch.”

10. For tasks that you find especially daunting or unpleasant, you could make use of some tools that lots of people like. One is a simple kitchen timer. Set it for 10 or 20 or 30 minutes and work as intensely as you can on the project. Then take a break and work on something else for a while and come back to it. A tool that people especially like is a piece of software called the Action Machine. It works on both Mac and Windows computers.

 

5 Traits Of Successful Action Takers

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The most successful people share certain secrets. Call them ideas or call them traits, people with power or success or money seem to have these things in common:

1. The power of persistence
2. The power of passion
3. The power of self-control
4. The power decision and action
5. The power of creativity

The Power of Persistence

We all know and admire people who have failed and gone on to great success. Before he invented the electric light bulb, Thomas Edison failed more than 1000 times. He never saw it as a failure; he saw it as one more step towards succeeding. Henry Ford is another example. He came from a poor background with no education, but he looked at the horse and buggy, and saw the amazing cars we drive today. Abraham Lincoln failed in business and in running for government several times, but we all know how he ended up.

Persistence will carry you when intelligence and luck do not. Many of us give up too soon. Winston Churchill, a hero in horrible times, is well known for this phrase,” Never, never, never, never give up.”

The Power of Passion

You’ve probably heard the expression,” if you can believe it, you can achieve it.” That’s telling us that a good idea alone is not enough. You have to believe in it. Ill bet you know people who are very intelligent but have never risen very high in life. And Ill bet you know other people who haven’t had much going for them but have succeeded in spite of obstacles. Its very likely due to their determination to achieve their goals in spite of anything that comes against them. To the extent that you can acquire this attitude, you will succeed.

The Power of Self-Control

As we’ve discussed in the last three chapters, entrepreneurs have a lot of power over their jobs, but if it’s used incorrectly, it can lead to failure. The power of self-control in business is really about the way you handle your thoughts and your emotions. As you to take action instead of procrastinate, to manage any drivers that keep you stuck, and to focus, you will increase your ability to succeed.
The Power of Decision and Action

Studies have shown that one of the greatest causes of failure is lack of decision. Along with that, procrastination is the most common thing that holds people back from achieving their full potential. Studies have also shown that millionaires make a habit of making decisions promptly and then only changing them when necessary.

Decision-making is not just about the ability to do it promptly; it’s also about having the correct information on which to base the decision. You may need to rely on others for help or information, but base your decision on the most accurate facts possible. Once you feel you have those, take action.

The Power of Creativity

This quality, creativity, is an underrated. No doubt. Creativity does not just apply to writing a novel or painting a portrait; it applies to the life you create for yourself and the business you create for yourself in all their aspects. And so much of your success will depend on how creative your solutions are. Have you noticed? Almost every great success story in business begins with one good idea. If you can’t think for yourself and imagine possibilities, you must depend only on what others before you have done. That might not be right for you. That might not be your best.