Overcoming Procrastination
Yesterday a friend and I were talking about self-motivation and procrastination. We wanted to know why we put off things that we knew were crucial to our future success.
I wish I could say that we came up with answers but I did have an epiphany about my own procrastination patterns.
Here’s some background…
For many months (too many months!) I’ve been working on (or rather thinking about or talking about working on) a home study program to help people improve their communication skills. It will be based on the free e-course I offer called Dress for Success: Add STYLE to Your Conversational Wardrobe. This home study program will have audio lessons, worksheets to analyze your own relationships and more.
While I love the concept of putting this home study program together, I am not doing it.
While I believe the information and activities will help people improve their relationships at home and in the workplace, I am not doing it.
While I enjoy the process of writing and recording the materials, you guessed it, I am not doing it.
So what’s my problem and what’s my epiphany?
Here’s what I realized yesterday… I can see myself on the journey to create this home study program. I can see myself holding the finished product in my hands.
What I can’t see if what happens next. I can’t see how to get the product from my hands to your hands. I can’t see you popping the CD into your car stereo system and listening to the information that could improve your marriage, help you reconnect with your teenage children or put you on a fast track for that promotion you’ve been hoping for.
When Candy and I were talking yesterday I told her about my success at self-publishing Glow more than three years ago. I was a woman with a mission. Nothing was going to stop me and plenty of things tried to.
So why could I finish Glow but I can’t finish this home study program?
I think the fact that I still have cases and cases of Glowstored in my mother’s garage has something to do with it. When I published Glow I didn’t worry about what I’d do with 1,100 copies of it. I just wanted to hold the book in my hands. I didn’t worry about what comes next.
Now I’m seeing there’s got to be a next step. Perhaps when I figure out what that next step is, I’ll be able to finish my STYLE home study course.
Well, I better sign off for now. I need to do some work on a costume I’m making for my son. Luckily this is one task that I don’t feel the need to keep putting off.
Have a great “get it done” day!
–Donna
