Happy New Year – 2010!
This is a great time of the year to think about unfinished tasks. You do have some right?
If not, congratulations! You have conquered procrastination! Please share your secrets to successfully overcoming procrastination in the comments below. (Seriously I WANT to hear from you – you have something very valuable to share.)
I was watching a video from Doug Rea the other day, which is what got me thinking about these unfinished tasks. Take a look at what Doug has to say:
Doug Rea’s Channel on You Tube
Why do we procrastinate?
Here are some of the reasons that come to mind:
1. Indecision
Perhaps you cannot decide what to do next or how to tackle the next phase of the project, so it was laid aside for a while.
What went wrong? - Lack of planning.
What happens when you don’t plan a project in its entirety before you start?
- You lost interest and enthusiasm.
- You ran out of funds.
- You may even have forgotten where you were going with the project, or in other words, you lost the vision.
There is a parable in the Bible about counting the cost of something before you start. (You can read it in the Gospel of Luke 14:31)
What wisdom!
So take some time to sit down and plan today – even though you may have already started your project.
Regroup – plan – act!
2. You should never have started the project.
It never was your passion in the first place. That goes back to the lack of planning right?
Once you sit down to really plan a business venture, a project or an activity you have a chance to realize the cost involved and decide right then whether you REALLY want to start it or not.
Never, never allow anyone else to decide what you should be doing! Find YOUR passion and move with it.
A new book which I ordered was just delivered today. It is one of the top sellers right now and is about “Cashing In On Your Passion”. I think you will find it worth reading.
Take a look at Crush It!: Why NOW Is the Time to Cash In on Your Passion
3. Lack of discipline and diligence to continue.
Ok, so you were diligent with your plan, you set your short term and long term goals, you created a daily action plan and got off to a great start.
- Then “life happened”.
- You got distracted and then got behind.
- Then came discouragement and frustration —
and here you are with an unfinished task.
What can you do?
- Make sure that the project is still valid today. It is? good move to the next item on this list. It is not? Then scrap it completely.
- Evaluate the situation, where did you leave off, what do you need to do to start moving again?
- Get started today, no NOW!
- Purpose in your heart to continue working at this project EVERY day until it is completed, knowing that every successful venture DOES require a four letter word!
W O R K
4. Fear – this is a BIG reason for procrastination.
You get started with a project with great enthusiasm and the novelty of the new venture often blinds you and me to certain realities.
One of these realities is that success brings responsibility.
As you advance with the task, the finish may be in sight and suddenly this responsibility hits you and may become overwhelming. Your mind is flooded with all kinds of fear thoughts.
- Can I handle the volume?
- Can I handle the customer service?
- What if this happens? What if that happens?
Again good planning would help to anticipate some of these fears so you are ready to meet and overcome them when they show up.
I am sure you have some thoughts and experiences about unfinished tasks right? I would love to hear from you, please leave your comments below. See you there!
P.S.Here are some great motivational mp3s FREE that will help you to overcome fear as well as achieve success in every area of your life.
Download them right now (and listen to at least one today).
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January 5th, 2010 at 9:50 pm
[...] This post was mentioned on Twitter by Kiwi Champ (Jill R) and Doug Rea, Brianna Rea. Brianna Rea said: RT @Dougrea: Got this in a DM, "Hi Doug – Happy New Year! posted one of your videos http://bit.ly/8NEvCf – thanks for the inspiration" / … [...]
January 6th, 2010 at 11:54 pm
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This post was mentioned on Twitter by kiwichamp: Just posted Unfinished Tasks and Projects – 2010 http://thebizchamps.com/540/unfinished-tasks/...
January 20th, 2010 at 10:31 pm
I’ll take some of your suggestions and try to apply them.