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The 3-Minute Coach

April 26, 2002, Issue #37
Procrastination Busters

Welcome to The 3-Minute Coach

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Food for Thought

"We waste time looking for the perfect lover, instead of creating the perfect love." --- Tom Robbins

Keep It Simple

Hard Work vs Struggle

Did you know that there is a BIG difference between hard work and struggle? Hard work feels good; struggle hurts. The result of hard work is something you can be proud of, but doesn't hold you in place. The result of struggle is something that you feel so fiercely proud of that you are not willing to let it go, even when it holds you back.

Most cultures have an underlying work ethic that often confuses hard work and struggle. You know, 'no pain, no gain' 'if it looks too good to be true, it probably is', just for starters. These maxims are true as far as they go, only they don't go far enough!. The problem is that while it's possible to accomplish something with just good old hard work, we feel that we MUST struggle. Because we 'must' struggle, we make everything tough to handle, even when it's not.

It truly is possible to allow yourself to experience life with everything coming easily and effortlessly. Before you get there, however, you must allow yourself to stop struggling and only work hard!

Feature Article

Top 10 Procrastination Busters
[Reasons for Procrastination & How To Get Over Them!]

Clouded Vision - Get a Grip
Step back. It's time to look at the forest. What exactly are you trying to accomplish. Sometimes we get so caught up in the detail we forget where we're going.
The Task is Overwhelming - Break it Down
The bigger the task, the more we need to define the natural milestones within the task. Want to lose 100 pounds. Go for 20 pounds, five times! Need to clean the garage? Break it down to North, South, East, and West. Or divide it into tasks that can be done in a certain block of time (15 minutes, 2 hours, etc).
Fear of the End Result -Breathe deeply, acknowledge the fear, then take the next step.
Sometimes we're afraid we'll fail; sometimes we're afraid we'll succeed. The outcome is the same: fear of what will happen when we're done scares us so much we don't work at it. Fears are like small children. They yell loudest when they feel they are not being heard. Once you acknowledge them, they usually quiet down. Breathing deeply allows you to go past the fear into the next step.
The task is unpleasant or boring. - Focus on 'why' you are doing it.
You hate to clean, but love living in graceful surroundings. You hate to do laundry, but love your family. You hate to make phone calls, but the you need the information on the other end of the line to make your project go faster or easier. There are many tasks or chores we do that we don't like to do, but are necessary to live the life we want to live. Focus on the bigger picture.
Indecision. - Take a deep breath, remember there are no wrong choices, and do something, anything.
There are very few things that can't be undone, or done again. Can't decide what color to paint, so you let your walls remain stained and grungy? Pick three colors. Start with the lightest. If you don't like it, go on to the next.
You lack confidence. - Take a deep breath and figure out if your lack of skill is real or imagined.
If it's real, find out where to gain the skills you need or find someone with the right skills who can help you. If it's imagined, look at #3.
Not enough time. - Break it down into steps that are doable in 5 to 15 minute chunks of time.
This is related to #2, but has more to do with time than feeling overwhelmed. Large, uninterrupted chunks of time are very hard to come by. (And if we're honest, when they do come, we'd rather do something fun!) A good rule of thumb I use is "5 or 15". I either do 5 things (file 5 pieces of paper, fold 5 articles of clothing) or do something for 15 minutes. You'd be surprised how much gets done that way, and without pain!
Distractions. - Be honest with yourself, then get focused.
Are you unconsciously inviting distractions so that you have a 'good' reason not to get something done? It's a way we often sabotage ourselves. Give yourself a gift of time to work on a project. Don't answer the phone or door for one hour. If you're in an office setting, ask the person if you can get back to them in an hour. Take control of the situation.
Not allowing adequate time. Figure out how long it will take, then double it, or better yet, triple it.
When we envision a project in our minds, we see ourselves flying through it, on a straight and narrow path. Because of that we tend to vastly under-estimate how long it will take. Partly because we forget about Steps 1 through 8! Eventually you'll get better at this, but to begin with, start doubling how long you think it will take. This will allow you to plan better and, perhaps, even complete a project without stress!
Too many other projects. Ask for help or establish priority.
If you've got too much on plate, speak up! Either to your boss, your family, or to yourself. What is the most important thing to do right now? Focus on that. Also, work on "Important" tasks, not just the "Urgent" ones!

Related Quotes

"Procrastination is the grave in which opportunity is buried." -- Author Unknown

"Procrastination is the thief of time." -- Edward Young

"Procrastination is the art of keeping up with yesterday." - Don Marquis

"Know the true value of time; snatch, seize, and enjoy every moment of it. No idleness; no laziness; no procrastination; never put off till tomorrow what you can do today." - Lord Chesterfield

"Take time to deliberate, but when the time for action has arrived, stop thinking and go in." -- Napoleon Bonaparte

The Welcome Mat Guest Column:

Don't Quit Your Job --- Yet!
by Myrtis L. Smith

Now that the economy has picked up, many people are considering making a job change. Before you take that leap its important to consider why you are leaving, what you are trying to accomplish, and ensuring that you've exhausted all avenues at your current place of employment.

Don't get me wrong, I am all for moving up and moving out. If the job you have is not meeting your needs there is nothing wrong with searching for greener pastures. But looking for a new job is not an easy task. It requires a lot of time and energy. There is a lot of work involved with the job search process. Unfortunately for many people look for a new job as a knee-jerk response to dissatisfaction at their current job. The good news is that a new job doesn't necessarily mean a new company. Let's examine several options you may want to consider before submitting that resignation letter.

Know why you are leaving. Is it the money? Lack of growth potential? Personality conflicts with co-workers? Company policies? Invest time to understand why you want to leave your current employer and what you hope to find at your new employer. If these reasons are not clear to you, you may find yourself in the exact same situation within months of starting at your new job.
Run TO something, not FROM something. If you have a dream job, and the opportunity appears for you to get that job, then go for it! All of us should be so lucky to know exactly what we want to do and have a chance to do it. But if you're leaving because something at your current company is not right, your desire go somewhere, anywhere, may affect your ability objectively weigh a job offer.
Don't let money rule. You can always leave your current job, go somewhere else, and make more money. Its no secret that companies generally pay more to woo new comers. But think about the other financial compensation you may have at your current company. Things like vesting in the retirement plan, stock options, employer's 401K match, and better benefits. Dollar for dollar, these things are worth a lot more than a higher salary.
Look for other career opportunities within your current company. If you've built a decent reputation at your current company investigate other career opportunities there before looking elsewhere. Most companies have an internal job posting system that will allow you to apply for positions in other parts of the company. Switching to another department within you current company gives the much needed change that comes from starting a new job, but you won't lose any of the benefits (vesting, vacation, etc.) that you've built up over time.
Look to change your current work situation. Maybe there are personality conflicts in your current team. Maybe you're working a great deal of overtime or have a ghastly long commute. Examine every facet of what you don't like about your current job and see if there is a solution that will change your situation for the better. Can you arrange to work from home one day a week? Have you developed friendships with the people in your department? Have you found a mentor who can help guide you through career decisions? All of these little changes can make a huge impact on how you feel about your job.
Look to other areas of your life. Your problem may not be your job after all. If your spending habits are out of control, getting a job that pays more is not going to solve your problem. While you're examining things that are wrong with your job also invest time to see what in your life is not as you would like it to be. Problems in your personal life can affect your perception of your professional life (and vice versa).
Get more involved. Having a sense of ownership in what's going on at your company may change your perception. These days many employers are looking to their employees for feedback about how to make things better. Join a task team, help plan the annual picnic, or write articles for the company newsletter. This type of activity will get you increased visibility and may lead to future opportunities.
Become a mentor. Unless you are at the very bottom of the totem pole, there is always someone younger and newer within the company who can benefit from what you've learned. Your experience and knowledge will help another individual avoid some of the mistakes you've made. Sharing your experience with others is a great way to show yourself how valuable your experience with the company has been. Plus, showing a strong aptitude for mentoring could also pave the way for a team lead or manager position.
Get to know people higher on the food chain. Managers, executives, and VPs all have a different perspective of the organization than the average employee. Talking with them may help you see the bigger picture and understand better how your role fits in. In addition, you can learn about their rise in the organization in order to help you set your own career path.
Check out your company's subsidiaries and affiliates. Sometimes you can leave the company without really leaving the company. Acquisitions and mergers have created unique opportunities that enable you to go to other companies that your current employer may have a vested interest in. Working for a "friend of the family" may allow you to retain your seniority, benefits and salary while at the same time working in a new environment

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© Copyright 2002 All Rights Reserved. Myrtis Smith is a personal coach. She works with people who are undergoing a career change. Sign up for her free newsletter Change Now! at www.premeditatedlife.com
Premeditated Life .......because life doesn't just happen

Principles of Attraction

Attraction is the ability to consistently draw the best things in life towards you: opportunities, strong finances, rewarding relationships, whatever you define as 'the best things'. Additionally, it means to draw them forth effortlessly, without striving, scuffling or struggling.

Thomas J. Leonard has developed 28 Principles of Attraction in his book "The Portable Coach". (Visit Amazon.Com) .

Each newsletter I will take one principle and highlight its key points. For a pdf version of all 28 principles, email attraction04@touchpointcoaching.com .

Principle #7: MARKET YOUR TALENTS SHAMELESSLY
If you're embarrassed about what you do well, you won't be very attractive.

CLARIFICATION

Most people think of attraction as a 'passive' process, but in fact, it's very much an 'active' process - based on planting seeds, adding value, telling (versus selling), responding, and yes, marketing! The difference is that when you're attractive, these activities don't feel like work! A key component here is that your are marketing your talents, not yourself. That's a very fine distinction to draw, but is the difference between confidence and arrogance. Arrogance is definitely NOT attractive!

KEY POINTS

Know exactly what you provide (or deliver) to others, and be able to articulate it. Work on this until it becomes completely comfortable.
Make it impossible for potential buyers not to buy, or leave with something! People get 'ready' to buy at different times, after different exposures. If they're not ready for the 'whole kit and caboodle' right now, what other packages, costing less in money and time, do you have to offer? And what free offering can you give to help people remember your name - and the value you can provide?
Feel incredibly proud of what you do and what you have to offer. If you don't you'll have a difficult time attracting others to partake of what you do. If you don't love what you do, ask yourself some hard questions and answer them honestly.

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