Ewwwwwwww…..That ugly “P” word!
I don’t know about you, but I can tell you I’ve gotten stuck in a rutt more than once in 2009 thanks to procrastinating.
I have been blessed to have an absolutely PHENOMENAL year so far, but when I think about a few of the little things I could have done to make it an even GREATER year, I want to kick myself! Now granted, anyone who knows me personally or professionally, can tell you that I am an on-the-go work-horse and a stickler for dotting the T’s & crossing the I’s. However, no matter how much of a “go-getter” you might be, no one is exempt from “dragging their feet” when it comes to certain things.
I’m sure you’ve heard that expression…the early bird gets the worm, right? Well that’s truth and nothing but the truth. When we step up to the plate early (be it in business or in our personal lives) not only do we free up our time to pursue other goals but we also give ourselves a chance to take advantage of great opprtunities that may be right in front of us. Here are a few tips to kick procrastination to the curb:
1. Schedule it! When you know you have a task that must be completed, be sure to write it down on a wall calendar or schedule it in your Blackberry or phone calendar.
2. Write it down! Creat a “To Do” list. Research shows that when you write something down, your chances of actually following through on the goal are increased dramatically.
3. Do the hardest or longest tasks first! If you focus on getting the biggest challenges out of the way first, doing the easiest things later will be a piece of cake.
4. Learn how to delegate! If you find yourself getting stuck on the minor things you need to get accomplished, learn how to delegate that task to someone else who can help lighten your load. Whether it’s an assistant, intern, friend or relative…don’t be afraid to ask for help.
5. Like NIKE Just Do It! The hardest part of doing anything is taking the first step. Don’t worry about doing it “right”… Just do it. If you make a mistake, you can always go back and re-do it.
LESSON LEARNED: Stop putting off until tomorrow or the next week what you can clearly do today!
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