Tip # 5 Goals not met because of procrastination
After listing the ways in which you procrastinate, make a second list of goals that you failed to achieve because you procrastinated.
Let’s take two typical examples: you promised your editor you’d get that article done by a certain due date. On the day the article was due, the editor calls you. You tell her sheepishly that you didn’t have time to do it, and you say something like, “My son was sick for days and I couldn’t concentrate” knowing full well your editor was generous with a deadline date.
Result? You took one step farther away from your goal of becoming a professional writer, and two steps farther away from developing a good relationship with an editor who picked you from the 25 writers who applied for the assignment. You can be sure your name has been taken off her address list.
Second example: you delayed lobbying for your colleague’s promotion even if he was the best man for the job.
Result? The job went to someone less deserving; second, your colleague resigned to take up another offer.
When you measure the consequences of a missed opportunity because you procrastinated, ask if the consequence was worth the delay.
Tip # 6 Taking the hint from tips 4 and 5: what is the dollar value of missed opportunity?
In fast-paced societies, people tend to think of time as precious and valuable. Expressions such as “time is of the essence,” “time means money,” “you missed the train”, “you missed a window of opportunity” reinforce the value of time.
When wheelers and dealers on the stock exchange take time off to whisper sweet nothings to their better half, those three minutes can mean hundreds, even thousands of dollars in missed transactions.
So, install a permanent calculator in your brain and calculate how much that missed deal meant in terms of dollar value.
The article you didn’t submit could have cost you $150.00.
Your colleague’s resignation from the company wiped off an important asset from your human resources ledger.
If we make it a practice to tag a dollar sign for each of our procrastinations, we’d probably resolve to procrastinate less.
