Procrastination is the Enemy of Success

Have you ever put off doing something today because you believed you could do it tomorrow and not make any difference to the outcome? Then you find that tomorrow comes (in fact, 'tomorrow' never comes; there is only today), and something else has come up, so that thing that needed to be done gets put off again because the other things seem a higher priority. This pattern could go on for days or weeks until the thing that had to be done becomes so big that overwhelms kicks in, and it is even harder to do the thing!

 This is called procrastination. Procrastination is a thief; it robs us of our time, opportunity and potential to achieve what we desire most. Delaying or putting off what we know we need to do allows fear, doubt, and potential insecurity to take control. We tell ourselves we will start the thing tomorrow, next week or next month, but we often do not get to it, or it is left so late that the opportunity has passed. As Napoleon Hill said, “Procrastination is the bad habit of putting off until the day after tomorrow what should have been done the day before yesterday. ”

This happened recently when I needed to put the finishing touches to a client program and communicate it. Ultimately, I overpromised and underdelivered on timing, and I felt that I had let them down, and I had. It did not take away from the quality of the program. However, an even bigger issue was personal credibility and professionalism, which were aligned with the values and standards I have for being in business. It's not good enough, and I have given myself some well-worded feedback.

Being a business leader is hard work, whether you have a business or a leader in a larger organisation. Leaders create change through vision and planning, bringing people together to achieve outcomes. There will always be challenges to overcome and opportunities to maximise. Choosing what to focus on and prioritise can sometimes be a challenge; however, when we are clear about the focus and have a well-structured plan to achieve the outcome, procrastination can be managed or even eliminated.  It all comes down to what inspires us to achieve whatever the opportunity is. Success comes when we are intrinsically motivated to achieve what we set out to do. To be effective, no one else can motivate us, and we can only motivate ourselves. Other people can inspire and influence us to be motivated, but true, lasting motivation comes from within.

Think about elite athletes. If they have their heart set on a gold medal at the Olympic Games, do you think they would procrastinate with the level of training that they need to be committed to achieve that goal? No, they are inspired to be up and on every day for hours, days, months, and years to achieve their dream. All we see is the result, and we do not see the thousands of hours that go into the training and discipline to become the best. It is like an iceberg. We only see the result on the surface, not what has gone on under the surface.

It is the same in business. Success comes from doing the work, and procrastination will steal this success away from you if you let it. The best way to avoid procrastination is to learn to say no. We are always saying no to someone , and usually, it is ourselves. Suppose we have a desire to be successful. In that case, we put so much expectation on ourselves that we say yes to other people or opportunities, which often may not be in our best interest, and in doing so, we are saying no to ourselves. Saying yes to people or opportunities not aligned with your goals, values, plan, or priority list means you are saying no to yourself. This is what steals time. Time is one of the most precious unrenewable resources, and we owe it to ourselves to treat time with respect aligned with what we want to achieve. This requires us to say yes to ourselves more than we say no. The word 'No' is a one-word sentence, and we can use it. There are ways to say no to avoid offence, so that may be a blog post for another time.

For now, here are some tips to avoid procrastination and leverage your time to achieve what you wish:

Tip #1 - Set realistic goals and timelines.

Decide what you want to achieve, estimate the time it will take, and add 50%. To achieve a great outcome, it is better to underpromise and overdeliver on quality and timing. Have a plan that outlines how you will achieve your goal. When other opportunities arise, decide if they fit your plan; if not, say "no or not yet".

Tip #2 - Be organised.

An organised space to work will support you in having an organised mind. Declutter your space and then your mind by writing down what you want to achieve and, importantly, why you want to achieve it. When your why is big enough, the how will look after itself. When you are ready to do the work, remove distractions, turn off all technology and focus on deep work to achieve.

Tip #3 - Take small steps to progress.

Break down your goal/s into smaller, more manageable activities to achieve your timeline. When you have clarity on the activities or tasks required to achieve your goals, it is less overwhelming, and there is a perception that everything is more achievable. Perception is reality, so do one step at a time. It is about progress, not perfection.

Tip #4 - Hold yourself accountable.

No one else can hold you accountable, only you. Other people can expect that you will be accountable; however, only you can do it. If it will help you tell someone what you want to achieve, ask them to be an accountability buddy or check in with you on progress.

Tip #5 - Celebrate success.

We all like to achieve and be recognised for it. Even if you are doing it for yourself, acknowledge the progress you make and reward yourself. It does not have to be big. Sometimes, just an hour to do nothing, sitting in a lovely garden, can be a great reward. 

Procrastination is a thief that takes our time, so the power is within you to prevent this from happening. Saying no to things, not in your best interests is a good start. Follow these tips to inspire yourself to bring energy, focus, and action to what you wish to achieve.

 If you want support in overcoming procrastination and achieving your goals, click here to book a complimentary strategy session  with a coach at Leaders Network.