Is procrastination decimating your business?

When we procrastinate we run the risk of missing crucial chances to grow our business. And there are times when I do put things off…

So, when John Forde asked in his latest Copywriter’s Roundtable e-newsletter “Do You Have a Procrastination Problem?”

And he suggested “Take This Quiz and Find Out” (which is reproduced here with his permission), I gave it a go – and fortunately – I didn’t come out too badly… how about you?

“Procrastinate now,
don’t put it off.”
- Ellen DeGeneres

“Call it the secret sickness.

Something you do in the privacy of your home… behind drawn curtains… when nobody is watching…

Yep, I’m talking about procrastination.

If you don’t know the feeling, then maybe you can stop reading and get on with the rest of your to-do list.

But if you suspect you might be one of the millions of silent perpetrators… er, afflicted… worldwide, then I urge you to read on. Even if you feel like it’s something you’d rather do later.

I’ll even make it easy for you by cutting to the chase. The focus of this article is a quiz I came across a long time ago.

It was developed at the University of Alabama by H.E. Florey. And what it’s supposed to do is help you discover just how MUCH of a procrastinator you really are.

It has just a handful of questions. Try answering them and tallying up your score as you go.

Ready?

Rate each statement as it applies:

a) “It’s easy for me to find reasons for not getting started on tough assignments.”

4 = Strongly Agree
3 = Mildly Agree
2 = Mildly Disagree
1 = Strongly Disagree

b) “I know what I’m supposed to be doing, but often start doing something else.”

4 = Strongly Agree
3 = Mildly Agree
2 = Mildly Disagree
1 = Strongly Disagree

c) “I often carry books or work assignments with me but never get around to opening them.”

4 = Strongly Agree
3 = Mildly Agree
2 = Mildly Disagree
1 = Strongly Disagree

d) “I like last-minute scrambling because I perform best when the pressure is on.”

4 = Strongly Agree
3 = Mildly Agree
2 = Mildly Disagree
1 = Strongly Disagree

e) “If it weren’t for all these interruptions, I’d get more of my top priorities accomplished.”

4 = Strongly Agree
3 = Mildly Agree
2 = Mildly Disagree
1 = Strongly Disagree

f) “When faced with unpleasant decisions, I try not to answer directly.”

4 = Strongly Agree
3 = Mildly Agree
2 = Mildly Disagree
1 = Strongly Disagree

g) “If you take half steps, you can often avoid or delay unpleasant actions.”

4 = Strongly Agree
3 = Mildly Agree
2 = Mildly Disagree
1 = Strongly Disagree

h) “I would finish things, but sometimes I get too tired, nervous, or upset.”

4 = Strongly Agree
3 = Mildly Agree
2 = Mildly Disagree
1 = Strongly Disagree

g) “I need to straighten my office/room/kitchen before I get started.”

4 = Strongly Agree
3 = Mildly Agree
2 = Mildly Disagree
1 = Strongly Disagree

h) “Sometimes you just have to wait for inspiration before you sit down to get started.”

4 = Strongly Agree
3 = Mildly Agree
2 = Mildly Disagree
1 = Strongly Disagree

Okay, now let’s see how you did

If you scored below 20, says the research, you’re only an occasional procrastinator. Not so bad.

Score between 21-30, and you’re already in the chronic procrastination stage.

And — oh man — if you’re above 30, well… let’s just say I’m surprised you’ve even gotten this far in this post.

Heck, I’m surprised you got out of bed this morning.

What to do?

Some of my favourite suggestions are, appropriately, pretty simple.

First, I’m sure you already know the old standby from Eugene Schwartz. He applied it to writing sales copy, but you can apply this golden nugget to just about anything. It’s the famous ’33:33′ secret. Set a timer for 33 minutes and 33 seconds and just get started.

You can then go one of two ways.

Either just keep rolling when the timer dings, which often happens because in those moments you’ll find your momentum.

Or you can do what a very successful copywriter friend of mine does, which is insist on pulling at least six ’33:33′ sessions each day, before he does anything else. In all, that adds up to less than four hours of writing per day. Yet he’s extremely productive.

Second, you could opt instead for the ‘three big things’ approach. This is great for anybody who loves making ‘to-do’ lists (a great habit) but finds themselves making the SAME lists day after day, because they’ve made no progress (a terrible habit).

‘Three big things’ means simply listing everything you can think of that you need to get done, which is cathartic in itself, but then going back to pick ONLY the three biggest things on the list you need to do.

Get those three done, you’ll tell yourself, and that’s enough to pat yourself on the back for a good day.

And here’s my last suggestion: If even ‘three big things’ is overwhelming, try ‘one big thing.’

Isolate the single most important thing on your list to get started on. Finishing it isn’t your goal. Making progress is (during the course of which, you might find yourself getting it done anyway).

When you roll out of bed the next day, do the minimum of what you need to do to start the day and then do that thing.

No email or anything else until you’ve at least logged an hour on that one thing. Or 33:33, if you have to (no reason you can’t combine the timer and the list).

Of course, there are other great suggestions out there. If you have some favourites, share yours in the comments below

Until then… get to work!”

from John Forde
http://copywritersroundtable.com

A solution to procrastinating about writing Sales Letters

The most frequent excuses I come across for not writing sales letters are “I don’t know how to get started.” or “I don’t think it would be good enough.”

Are they genuine reasons? Or just disguises for procrastination?

If being unsure of what and how to write a sales message is a genuine reason for you not putting ‘pen to paper’ or ‘fingers to the keyboard’, keep a look out for an email from me offering a possible solution.

~ Carol Bentley

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