Procrastinating on Your Startup?
Try These 3 Simple Strategies to Get You Going Fast
Procrastinating on your start-up is like drinking seawater to quench your thirst. As a result you feel OK for a bit. But you know how well that’s gonna work out. Don’t you?
Subsequently we may be drinking mental seawater to feel better. How? By stalling with thoughts like: “I don’t know where to start.” “I don’t know how to.” “I’ll get right on that tomorrow” “It’s too complicated.”
Believe me I’ve used those excuses! When you delay with what you feel are valid reasons – stress goes away. For now, you’ve quenched that uncomfortable mental thirst that you need to get things done. Your issues sit on the back burner. You don’t feel overwhelmed. Face it – some tasks are boring and un-sexy. They’re just a pain in the a**.
Meanwhile procrastinating like this comes back to bite you. In the form of lost opportunities. Lack of confidence. And lost time. So, why do we put things off? There’s many reasons, but check these out.
3 Reasons for Procrastinating and Cures
FEAR:
As an entrepreneur you’re putting yourself out there as someone who knows their stuff. You’re the CEO of MMI Inc.(Me, Myself and I). The buck stops with you. You must bring your ‘A’ game everyday – no exceptions. Your worry: Can I handle it?
UNCERTAINTY:
Doubts about even starting. Such as, how do I pick a profitable niche? Where do I find help or the right resources for the business, website, or marketing?
TIRESOME TASKS:
I’m a ___________ (insert your passion/trade/calling). I hate networking, book-keeping, writing etc. I want to focus on what I’m good at and enjoy what I’m doing.
Setting up a new business or service is both exciting and scary all at once. It’s easy to delay your start-up by over analyzing every tiny detail . Yet, it does little to get your business and dreams going.
Let’s do something about it now! As you read these tips know this: the best way to apply them is the same way you eat an elephant. One bite at a time. Don’t do too much too fast. You want to build movement and momentum.
Here’s 3 easy ways to flush procrastination out of your system and get moving.
♦Strategy#1 Do a Brain Dump.
Fear of failure is one of the biggest obstacles to putting yourself out there. Doubts hide like specters in your mind. Waiting to pounce and attack when you act. You start to wonder – “How can I compete when I’m such a little fish?” “What if I fail big-time?” I can hear the ‘I told you so’ chorus from friends and family.
One way to deal with head-trash is by a brain dump. Take pen to paper or open a word processor. Write every excuse, fear or challenge that comes to mind. Don’t edit, don’t censor. Just write. Read them aloud to yourself. As you do, imagine a friend telling you they feel this way about themselves. Usually our response is to point out their positives and strengths. Do the same for yourself.
Dragging these dark thoughts, kicking and screaming into the bright light of reality does three things. You face what you’ve been avoiding. Your mind clears. Focus improves. Now you don’t have these mental itches sapping your energy. Instead you focus your resources on solving problems. For more details on doing a brain dump check out this excellent article at lifehack.org.
♦ Strategy #2 Focus on your ‘ONE THING’
After your brain dump you’ll likely have some business concerns or issues on your list. Now pick a drop-dead completion date for each. This will determine what’s holding you back. How? It’ll be an item giving you a bad feeling in the pit of your stomach when you see its’ drop dead date.
So which is it for you? Networking? How to create and launch your website? Marketing? Building e-mail lists? Choose one that’s your sticking point. Let’s say it’s building email lists. Start by finding a virtual hand holder. An online resource that’s quick and easy. It can be: YouTube tutorials, Wiki How, blogs.
Or a quick online course at Lynda.com or Gale.com. For example Mail Chimp offers a free video walk-though on setting up email lists. This is only one example. The point is: do something, anything, that will get you moving closer to getting out there.
♦Strategy#3 Time Blocking.
Now pick your top priority. Use a time blocking technique called the Pomodoro. Set a timer for 25 minutes. Work on your one thing to the exclusion of all else. Take a short 3 to 5 minute break when the timer goes off. And then repeat. Turn off your cell phone, email notifications, TV and radio.
If you do need some sound, instrumental focus music is best. Facebook, Twitter and IMs can wait. Don’t have 25 minutes? Even 10 minutes will get you going. So there you have it. If you’d like detailed information on time blocking get my free report “9 Tips to Immediately Create More Time for Your Startup”.
In Conclusion
If nothing else, your take-away should be to get moving. Do something critical to your business each day. No matter how little time you can devote, as long as you move forward. Every small productive step taken moves you ever so close to success. Remember – “little strokes fell great oaks.”
