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<p>Perfectionists are often great procrastinators. Having stalled until the last minutes, they tear into a project with dust flying and complaints about insufficient time. <a href="https://www.wellandgood.com/perfectionism-procrastination-loop/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Perfectionist-procrastinators</a> are masters of the excuse that short notice kept them from doing the quality job they<em> could</em> have done.</p>



<p>But that’s hardly the only variety of procrastination. Mine comes with a gnawing feeling of being fatigued, always behind. I try to tell myself that I’m taking it easy and gathering my energies for a big new push, but procrastination differs markedly from genuine relaxation—<a href="https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0272460" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">which is truly needed</a>. And it saves me no time or energy. On the contrary, it drains both, leaving me <a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/how-to-overcome-self-doubt-and-become-the-hero-of-your-story/">with self-doubt</a> on top of self-delusion.</p>



<p>We’re all busy. Every day we seem to have a giant to-do list of people to see, projects to complete, <a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/7-ways-to-free-up-an-extra-25-hours-a-week/">emails to write</a>. We have calls to answer and calls to make.&nbsp;</p>



<h2 id="h-by-the-inch-life-s-a-cinch-by-the-yard-it-s-hard">By the Inch Life’s a Cinch, by the Yard It’s Hard</h2>



<p><a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/amyblaschka/2021/04/03/youre-not-lazy-youre-scared-how-to-finally-stop-procrastinating/?sh=76b24aaa6dab" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">People usually procrastinate</a> because of fear and <a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/8-daily-tips-for-building-self-confidence/">lack of self-confidence</a>—and, ironically, become even more afraid when under the gun. There are many ways to experiment and test new ground without risking the whole ball game on one play.</p>



<p>Experience has shown that when people go after a big goal at once, they invariably fail. If you had to swallow a 12-ounce steak all at once, you’d choke. You have to cut the steak into small pieces, eating one bite at a time. So it is with prioritizing. <a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/forbesbooksauthors/2022/12/29/what-it-means-to-take-a-proactive-approach/?sh=18d887467330" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Proactive goal achievement</a> means taking every project and cutting it up into bite-sized pieces. Each small task or requirement on the way to the ultimate goal becomes a mini-goal in itself. Using this method, the goal becomes manageable. When mini-mistakes are made, they are easy to correct. And with the achievement of each mini-goal, you receive reinforcement and motivation in the form of positive feedback.&nbsp;</p>



<h2 id="h-moving-from-procrastination-to-proactivation">Moving from Procrastination to Proactivation</h2>



<h3 id="h-1-set-your-wake-up-time-a-half-hour-earlier-tomorrow-and-keep-the-clock-at-that-setting">1. <a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/how-to-wake-up-earlier/">Set your wake-up time</a> a half hour earlier tomorrow and keep the clock at that setting.&nbsp;</h3>



<p>Use the extra time to think about the best way to spend your day.</p>



<h3 id="h-2-memorize-and-repeat-this-motto-action-tnt-today-not-tomorrow">2. Memorize and repeat this motto: “Action TNT: Today, Not Tomorrow.”&nbsp;</h3>



<p>Handle each piece of incoming mail only once. Answer your email either early in the morning or after working hours. Block out specific times to initiate phone calls, personally take incoming calls and meet people in person.</p>



<h3 id="h-3-when-people-tell-you-their-problems-give-solution-oriented-feedback">3. When people tell you their problems, give solution-oriented feedback.&nbsp;</h3>



<p>Rather than taking on the problem as your own assignment, ask what’s the next step they plan to take or what they would like to see happen.</p>



<h3 id="h-4-finish-what-you-start-to-avoid-procrastination">4. Finish what you start to avoid procrastination.&nbsp;</h3>



<p>Concentrate all your energy and intensity without distraction on successfully completing your current major project.</p>



<h3 id="h-5-be-constructively-helpful-instead-of-unhelpfully-critical">5. Be constructively helpful instead of unhelpfully critical.&nbsp;</h3>



<p>Single out <a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/how-to-make-others-feel-significant/">someone or something to praise</a> instead of <a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/what-happened-when-i-didnt-complain-for-30-days/">participating in group griping</a>, grudge collecting or pity parties.</p>



<h3 id="h-6-limit-your-television-viewing-or-internet-surfing-to-mostly-educational-or-otherwise-enlightening-programs">6. Limit your television viewing or internet surfing to mostly educational or otherwise enlightening programs.&nbsp;</h3>



<p>Watch no more than one hour of television per day or night, unless there is a special program you have been anticipating. The internet has also become <a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/what-happened-when-i-ditched-technology-for-7-days/">a great procrastinator’s hideout</a> for tension-relieving instead of goal-achieving activities.</p>



<h3 id="h-7-make-a-list-of-five-necessary-but-unpleasant-projects-you-ve-been-putting-off-with-a-completion-date-for-each-project">7. Make a list of five necessary but unpleasant projects you’ve been putting off, with a completion date for each project.&nbsp;</h3>



<p>Immediate action on unpleasant projects reduces stress and tension. It is very difficult to be active and depressed at the same time.</p>



<h3 id="h-8-seek-out-and-converse-with-a-successful-role-model-and-mentor">8. Seek out and converse with a successful role model and mentor.&nbsp;</h3>



<p>Learning from others’ successes and setbacks will inevitably improve production of any kind. Truly listen; really find out how your role models do it right.</p>



<h3 id="h-9-understand-that-fear-as-an-acronym-is-false-evidence-appearing-real">9. Understand that fear, as an acronym, is False Evidence Appearing Real…</h3>



<p>…and that luck could mean Laboring Under Correct Knowledge. The more information you have on any subject—especially case histories—the less likely you’ll be to put off your decisions.</p>



<h3 id="h-10-accept-problems-as-inevitable-offshoots-of-change-and-progress">10. Accept problems as inevitable offshoots of change and progress.&nbsp;</h3>



<p>With the ever more <a href="https://www.mckinsey.com/capabilities/mckinsey-digital/our-insights/tech-at-the-edge-trends-reshaping-the-future-of-it-and-business" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">rapid pace of change</a> in <a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/forbesbusinesscouncil/2021/02/25/the-unprecedented-pace-of-change/?sh=3743c89440ed" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">society and business</a>, you’ll be overwhelmed unless you view change as normal and learn to look for its positive aspects—such as new opportunities and improvements—rather than bemoan the negative.</p>



<p>There is actually no such thing as a “future” decision; there are only present decisions that will affect the future. Procrastinators wait for just the right moment to decide.</p>



<p>If <em>you</em> wait for the perfect moment, you become a security-seeker who is running in place, unwittingly digging yourself deeper into your rut. Get <a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/how-to-get-comfortable-being-uncomfortable/">out of your comfort zone</a> and go from procrastinating to proactivating. Make your personal motto: “Stop stewing and start doing!”</p>



<p class="has-small-font-size"><em>This article has been excerpted from </em><a href="https://amzn.to/3M0aiyM" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">The Power of Coaching: Engaging Excellence in Others</a><em> and edited for length and clarity. This article was published in February 2016 and has been updated. Photo by DimaBerlin/Shutterstock</em></p>

It's easy to fall victim to procrastination—especially when working from home. But follow these 10 tips, and you'll become more productive.

It's easy to fall victim to procrastination—especially when working from home. But follow these 10 tips, and you'll become more productive. | SUCCESS

10 Ways to Stop Procrastinating and Get Things Done

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Stop Procrastination: 10 Ways to Get Things Done | SUCCESS

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Denis Waitley

<p><a href="https://www.betterup.com/blog/integrity-in-the-workplace" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Integrity is a standard</a> of personal morality and ethics. It is not relative to the situation and doesn’t sell out to expediency. Its short supply is getting even shorter. But without integrity, leadership is a façade.</p>



<p>Learning to see through exteriors is a critical development in the transition from adolescence to adulthood. Sadly, many people continue to be taken in by big talk and media popularity, flashy looks and expensive possessions. They move through their life convinced that the externals are what count, and are thus doomed to live shallow lives. Those who rely on their looks or status to feel good about themselves inevitably do everything they can to enhance the impression they make. And they do correspondingly little to develop their <a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/why-focusing-on-your-personal-growth-now-is-more-important-than-ever/">inner value and personal growth</a>. The paradox is that the people who try hardest to impress are often the least impressive. Puffing up to appear powerful is an attempt to hide insecurity.</p>



<p>In our friends, products and services, we prefer truth. In people, <a href="https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/your-wise-brain/201807/speak-honesty-and-sincerity-0">we value sincerity</a> more than almost any other virtue. We expect it from our leaders, politicians, media outlets, business leaders and sports greats. We must also demand it of ourselves.</p>



<h2 id="h-why-is-integrity-important">Why is integrity important?</h2>



<p>Integrity that strengthens an <a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/are-you-honoring-your-values/">inner value system</a> is the real human bottom line. Commitment to <a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/succeeding-with-intergrity/">a life of integrity</a> in every situation demonstrates that your word is valuable. It means you don’t base your decisions on being politically correct. You do what’s right, not fashionable. You know that truth is absolute, not a device for manipulating others. And you win in the long run, when the stakes are highest.</p>



<p>If I were writing a single commandment for leadership, it would be: “You shall conduct yourself in such a manner as to <a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/rohn-6-essential-traits-of-good-character/">set an example</a> worthy of imitation by your children and subordinates.” In simpler terms, if they shouldn’t be doing it, then neither should you. I told my kids, “Clean up your room,” and they inspected the condition of my garage. I told them that honesty was our family’s greatest virtue. They commented on the radar detector I installed in my car. I told them about the vices of drinking and wild parties. They watched our guests at adult functions from the upstairs balcony.</p>



<p>It’s hardly a secret that learning integrity and ethical standards begins at home. A child’s first inklings of a sense of right and wrong come from almost imperceptible signals received long before they reach the age of rational thought about morality. In other words, they learn by example.</p>



<p>Some of our political and business leaders don’t understand that what you are speaks so loudly that no one really pays attention to what you say. But even more true is, if what you are matches what you say, then your life will speak forcefully indeed.</p>



<p>Don’t tell me how to live, or try to impress people by talking about your accomplishments. Instead, <a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/do-your-actions-match-your-values/">let your actions</a> and integrity speak for you.</p>



<p class="has-small-font-size"><em>This article was published in April 2016 and has been updated. Photo by</em></p>

When it comes to being a good leader, integrity is important. Without it, leadership is a façade. Here’s why—and how to ensure you have it.

When it comes to being a good leader, integrity is important. Without it, leadership is a façade. Here’s why—and how to ensure you have it. | SUCCESS

Does Who You Are Match What You Say?

Why is Integrity Important? How to Be a Good Leader | SUCCESS

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My Grandmother Taught Me My Greatest Life Lesson

Relationships

Relationships Archives

Relationships | SUCCESS | What Achievers Read

<p>My grandma Mabel Reynolds Ostrander and I shared one of those special relationships as rare as a double rainbow. She was 53 when I was 10. That’s when we planted our first Victory Garden together during World War II. We planted seeds together—in the soil, and in each other.</p>



<p>Grandma lived 87 years without a complaint. I was 44 when I last saw her. But I remember every mince and lemon tart, every bite of made-from-scratch apple pie and every lingering wave of her hand as she stood (out of sight, or so she thought) behind the rayon Priscilla curtains in the little house at 718 West Pennsylvania Ave. in San Diego, California, where I was born and raised. As our station wagon full of kids and contentment would slowly pull away from the curb, we would all look back at her and wave—and I would gaze at her fragile silhouette through the rear-view mirror, wishing I could frame her there forever, just that way—wondering how many more Easter and Christmas dinners we would share.</p>



<p>Most of all, I remember my grandma and I planting seeds. We planted squash, beans, corn, watermelons, beets, pansies, mums and other flowers. I’ll admit, I rode my bike those 20 miles each Saturday more for the bonus of the conversation and the homemade pastries than for the vegetables and flowers. But no matter how full I was after I ate, I was always left hungry for more of the wisdom and optimism she shared with me.</p>



<p>I’ll never forget the day we tasted our first harvest as a result of crossing a plum tree with an apricot tree. The ripe fruit was pink, not purple like a plum or orange like an apricot but a combination of both. “Gee, do you suppose they’ll be any good?” I asked. “Why of course they will be wonderful,” she chided. “Didn’t we do the planting, nurturing and pruning?”</p>



<p>Sure enough, they were delicious, even though they were different from any fruit I’d ever seen before. “That’s because they are uniquely unlike any other fruit you’ll ever eat. They are plumcots!” she said. ‘“You always get out what you put in,” she continued as we sat under the tree eating most of what we had picked.</p>



<p>“Plant apple seeds and you get apple trees, plant acorns and you get majestic oak trees, plant weeds and you will harvest weeds (even without watering), plant the <a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/18-out-of-the-box-ideas-to-spark-creative-inspiration/">seeds of great ideas</a> and <a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/6-ways-great-leaders-give-rise-to-great-ideas/">you will get great individuals</a>,” she said softly and intently, looking directly into my eyes. “Do you understand what I mean?” I nodded, remembering how I’d heard her say the same thing before in different ways.</p>



<p>I learned from my grandma that <a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/everything-you-need-to-know-to-become-a-great-leader/">the seeds of greatness</a> are not special genes, dependent on the gifted birth, the inherited bank account, the intellect, the skin-deep beauty, the race, the gender or the status. The <a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/why-attitude-matters/">seeds of greatness are attitudes</a> and beliefs that begin in children by observing, imitating and internalizing the lifestyles of significant role models and heroes.</p>



<p>“Model your thoughts and actions after men and women who have been passionate, excellent, honest, unselfish and creative in <a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/serve-others-to-get-all-you-want/">their service to others</a>,” my grandmother had counseled. Armed with that affirmation, I ventured forth to sow and reap my own legacy in life.</p>



<p>“I’ve traveled the world to the seven seas.</p>



<p>I’ve been up at the top and down on my knees.</p>



<p>I’ve been blessed with abundance and plenty of weeds.</p>



<p>But I’ve never stopped <a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/tracybrower/2021/09/19/empathy-is-the-most-important-leadership-skill-according-to-research/?sh=27d279133dc5" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">caring about others’ needs</a>.</p>



<p>As you tend your own garden, unlike any other.”</p>



<p>Remember the words of my lovely grandmother: “If you’re hoping to harvest <a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/garrettgunderson/2020/09/08/serving-others-is-as-important-as-food-and-sex/?sh=42714c2e7ede" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">a life of great deeds</a>, remember you first have to plant some great seeds.”</p>



<p class="has-small-font-size"><em>This article was published in February 2008 and has been updated. Photo by </em><em>@SBphoto</em><em>/Twenty20</em></p>

I learned from my grandma that the seeds of greatness are not special genes, dependent on the gifted birth, the inherited bank account, the intellect, the skin-deep beauty, the race, the gender or the status

I learned from my grandma that the seeds of greatness are not special genes, dependent on the gifted birth, the inherited bank account, the intellect, the skin-deep beauty, the race, the gender or the status | SUCCESS

My Grandmother Taught Me My Greatest Life Lesson | SUCCESS

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Personal Development

Personal Development Archives

Personal Development | SUCCESS | What Achievers Read

Success

Success Archives

Success | SUCCESS | What Achievers Read

Stressed? Author and speaker Denis Waitley shares three guidelines to <a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/article/5-simple-habits-to-manage-your-anxiety">transform negative anxiety</a> into positive success. Follow these rules and take action now to let go of your stress.
<blockquote>
<p class="rteindent1"><em>Related: </em><strong><a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/article/11-strategies-for-managing-stress">11 Strategies for Managing Stress</a></strong></p>
</blockquote>
<h2><strong>1. Accept the unchangeable. </strong></h2>
Everything that has happened in your life to this minute is unchangeable. It’s history. The greatest waste of energy is looking back at <a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/article/rohn-how-do-you-attract-opportunity-into-your-life">missed opportunities</a> and lamenting past events.

Grudge collecting, getting even, harboring ill will and vengeful thinking do no good. Success is the only acceptable form of revenge.

By <a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/article/4-ways-to-truly-forgive-and-forget">forgiving your trespassers</a>—whoever or whatever they are—you become free to concentrate on going forward with your life and succeeding in spite of those detractors. You will live a rewarding and fulfilling life. Your enemies, on the other hand, will forever wonder how you went on to become so successful without them and in the shadow of their doubts.

<strong>Action idea: </strong>Write down on a sheet of paper things that happened in the past that bother you. Now crumple the paper into a ball and throw it. Really. This symbolizes letting go of past misfortunes.
<h2><strong>2. Change the changeable.</strong></h2>
Change your reaction to what others say and do, and you can <a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/blog/4-ways-to-actively-reprogram-your-thoughts">control your own thoughts</a> and actions by dwelling on desired results instead of the penalties of failure.

The only real control you have in life is your immediate thought and action, and because most of what we do is a reflex—a subconscious habit—it’s wise not to act on emotional impulse. In personal relations, it is better to wait a moment until reason has the opportunity to compete with your emotions.
<h3 class="rtecenter">The only real control you have in life is your immediate thought and action.</h3>
<strong>Action idea:</strong> Write down one thing you will do tomorrow to help you relax more during and after a stressful day.
<h2><strong>3. Avoid the unacceptable.</strong></h2>
Go out of your way to get out of the way of intolerable or perilous behaviors and environments.

Take these examples: When people tailgate you on the freeway, change lanes. When there are loud, obnoxious people next to you at a restaurant, change tables or move locations. When someone is being a <a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/article/rohn-how-to-deal-with-the-negative-influences-in-your-life">Debbie Downer</a>, complaining about this and that, excuse yourself and walk away.

Always be on the alert for negative situations that can be dangerous to your health, personal safety, financial speculation and emotional relationships.

<strong>Action idea:</strong> What is one unacceptable habit you or others have that you will avoid starting tomorrow?
<p class="rteindent1"><em>Related:</em> <strong><a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/blog/23-questions-to-ask-yourself-when-youre-stressed-out">23 Questions to Ask Yourself When You’re Stressed Out</a></strong></p>
<em>Editor’s note: This post was originally published in September 2014 and has been updated for freshness, accuracy and comprehensiveness. </em>

Plus, action steps to take for each. | SUCCESS

3 Rules for Turning Stress Into Success

3 Rules for Turning Stress Into Success | SUCCESS

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We too frequently become adept at pointing out our flaws and identifying failures. We need to become equally adept at citing our achievements. We have to be willing to say to ourselves, <em>I’m on the right road. I’m doing OK. I’m succeeding.</em>

How do we change our mindset from fault-finding and uninspiring to one that’s positive and motivating? Here are three ways to stay motivated:
<h2><strong>1. Chart your progress.</strong></h2>
Identify things you are doing now that you weren’t doing one month ago… six months ago… a year ago. What habits have changed?

Doing well once or twice is relatively easy. Continuously moving ahead is tough, in part, because we so easily revert to old habits and former lifestyles. So <a title="Not Getting Any Feedback at Work? Give Your Own | SUCCESS.com" href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/article/not-getting-any-feedback-at-work-give-your-own" target="_self" rel="noopener noreferrer">give yourself regular feedback</a> to monitor your performance and reinforce yourself positively. Don’t wait for an award ceremony, promotion, friend or mentor to show appreciation for your work. Take pride in your own efforts on a daily basis.
<h2><strong>2. Keep the end result in sight. </strong></h2>
Always <a title="What Happens When You Realize Your Work Really Matters? It’s Called a Mission Moment | SUCCESS.com" href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/blog/what-happens-when-you-realize-your-work-really-matters-its-called-a-mission-moment" target="_self" rel="noopener noreferrer">see the big picture</a> of the ultimate goal you’re working for and the benefits that come with it.

During World War II, parachutes were being constructed by the thousands. From the workers point of view, the job was tedious and repetitive. It involved crouching over a sewing machine eight to 10 hours a day, stitching endless lengths of colorless fabric. The result was a seamless heap of cloth. But every morning the workers were reminded that each stitch was part of a life-saving operation. As they sewed, they were asked to think that this might be the parachute worn by their husband, brother or son. Although the work was hard and the hours long, the women and men on the assembly line understood their contribution to the larger picture.

The same should be true with your work. Each thing you do benefits <em>someone</em>,<em> something</em>—the lives and well-being of adults and children throughout the world, not just generally, but specifically. These are the visions that drive us through tedious details to the top.
<h2><strong>3. Set up a dynamic daily routine. </strong></h2>
Getting into a positive routine or groove, instead of a negative rut, will help you become more effective. Why is the subway the most energy efficient means of transportation? Because it runs on a track.

Think of the order in your day, instead of the routine. Order is not sameness, neatness or everything exactly in its place. Order is not taking on more than you can manage, without still being able to do what you really choose. Order is the opposite of complication; it’s simplification. Order is not wasting a lot of time trying to find things. Order is avoiding a lot of recriminations because you didn’t do something you promised. Order is <a title="8 Ways to Effectively Prioritize the Things on Your To-Do List | SUCCESS.com" href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/article/8-ways-to-effectively-prioritize-the-things-on-your-to-do-list" target="_self" rel="noopener noreferrer">setting an effective agenda</a> with others so neither of you is disappointed. Order is doing in a day what you set out to do. Order frees you up. Get into the swing of a healthy, daily routine and discover how much more control you’ll gain in your life.

<a title="Top of Mind: How Do You Find Motivation When You're Not Feeling It? | SUCCESS.com" href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/article/top-of-mind-how-do-you-find-motivation-when-youre-not-feeling-it" target="_self" rel="noopener noreferrer"><strong>Now you know how to <em>stay</em> motivated, but how do you <em>get</em> motivated? Check out 6 pieces of advice on getting inspired—even when you’re not feeling it. </strong></a>

Stop rationalizing, stop stewing. Get up out of your chair and start doing.

Stop rationalizing, stop stewing. Get up out of your chair and start doing. | SUCCESS

3 Ways to Stay Motivated and Keep Moving Forward

3 Ways to Stay Motivated and Keep Moving Forward | SUCCESS

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<p>Are you a procrastinator?</p>



<p>The science of physics recognizes two laws of inertia, both of which can be related to procrastination. No. 1, "Standing objects tend to remain stationary" and No. 2, "Moving objects tend to stay in motion."</p>



<p>Which one represents you best? And how can you go from "standing" to "moving"?</p>



<p>Try these strategies to stop procrastinating:</p>



<h2 id="h-1-take-five-minutes-to-list-out-the-things-you-were-going-to-do-tomorrow">1. Take five minutes to list out the things "you were going to do tomorrow."</h2>



<p>On a blank sheet of paper, note several important activities you are delaying or have put on hold.</p>



<h2 id="h-2-look-at-your-list-and-do-one-thing-on-it-right-now">2. Look at your list—and do one thing on it right now.</h2>



<p>Put the energy you've been directing toward <a title="Stop Using These 3 Excuses If You Want to Be Successful | SUCCESS.com" href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/blog/stop-using-these-3-excuses-if-you-want-to-be-successful" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">excuses</a> into the activity you've been avoiding. Action eliminates anxiety.</p>



<h2 id="h-3-pick-a-time-today-to-work-on-the-list">3. Pick a time (today) to work on the list.</h2>



<p>If getting started is the hard part for you, set aside a designated time slot, at least 30 minutes, for work specifically on one job, project or personal goal that you've been "leaving until later."</p>



<h2 id="h-4-quit-trying-to-be-perfect">4. Quit trying to be perfect.</h2>



<p>What counts is quality of effort, not perfect results. Don't let yourself get bogged down with <a title="5 Ways Perfectionism Is Getting in Your Way | SUCCESS.com" href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/blog/5-ways-perfectionism-is-getting-in-your-way" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">a preoccupation for perfectionism</a>.</p>



<h2 id="h-5-if-what-you-re-putting-off-involves-other-people-talk-to-them">5. If what you're putting off involves other people, talk to them.</h2>



<p>Your reasons for delaying action might be imaginary. Lack of communication often turns molehills into mountains.</p>



<h2 id="h-6-ask-yourself-what-s-the-worst-thing-that-could-happen-if-i-did-this-today">6. Ask yourself, <em>What's the worst thing that could happen if I did this today? </em></h2>



<p>Do you fear the consequences associated with the action you've been avoiding? The worst-case scenario most likely would be a minor inconvenience or a temporary setback.</p>



<h2 id="h-7-imagine-how-you-ll-feel-once-you-do-whatever-it-is-you-ve-been-postponing">7. Imagine how you'll feel once you do whatever it is you've been postponing.</h2>



<p>Freedom from anxiety. Freedom from nagging pressures. Freedom from self-doubt. Accomplishing put-off tasks will give you a great boost of confidence and energy.</p>



<p><a title="6 Tips to Be a Productive Procrastinator | SUCCESS.com" href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/article/6-tips-to-be-a-productive-procrastinator" target="_self" rel="noopener noreferrer"><strong>Did you know procrastination can be a good thing, when used strategically? Check out 6 tips to be a productive procrastinator.</strong></a></p>

What to do when you don't feel like doing anything

Are you a procrastinator? The science of physics recognizes two laws of inertia, both of which can be related to procrastination. No. 1, "Standing objects | SUCCESS

7 Simple Ways to Stop Procrastinating

7 Simple Ways to Stop Procrastinating | SUCCESS

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Imagination and motivation are powerful things, and with them on your side, you have all the reason in the world to achieve your grandest dreams. Need proof? Take the story of how the first bridge over the Niagara River near Niagara Falls was built in 1847….

You see, to build a bridge over the giant gorge, the builders first had to get a line over the canyon, from one side to the other—from the United States to Canada with roaring rapids underneath. Except the engineers couldn’t cross the river in a boat because it would go over the falls, the airplane hadn’t been invented yet, and the distance was way beyond bow-and-arrow range.

The designing engineer, Charles Ellet, pondered the dilemma until he came up with a revolutionary idea: to sponsor a kite flying contest. A $5 prize (a small lottery back then!) would go to the person who could fly a kite across the gorge and let it go low enough to the ground for someone on the other side to grab the string. It was successful—a young American boy won the contest on his second attempt.

The kite string, fastened to a tree, was used to pull a cord across, then a line, then a rope. Next came an iron-wire cable and then steel cables, until a structure strong enough to build a suspension bridge was in place. The bridge opened on August 1, 1848. And it all began with an idea and one thin kite string.

That string is like a single thought. The more vivid and clear the thought, and the more you come back to it, the stronger it becomes—like the string to the rope to the cable. Each time you rethink it, dwell on it or layer it with other thoughts, you are strengthening the structure on which to build your idea, like building a bridge over Niagara Falls.

But unlike a kite, there is no string attached to how high and how far your goals may take you. They are limited only by the power of your imagination and the strength of your desire.

<a title="John C. Maxwell: 5 Reasons Why Dreams Don’t Take Flight | SUCCESS.com" href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/article/john-c-maxwell-5-reasons-why-dreams-dont-take-flight" target="_self" rel="noopener noreferrer"><strong>A lot of us never see our dreams come true. Why? There are 5 reasons.</strong></a>

... as far as the power of your imagination and motivation

Imagination and motivation are powerful things, and with them on your side, you have all the reason in the world to achieve your grandest dreams. Need | SUCCESS

How Far Can Your Dreams Take You?

How Far Can Your Dreams Take You? | SUCCESS

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<p>The drudgery and routine of our daily lives presents the greatest danger to our dreams. Why? We run the risk of losing our focus and motivation to achieve what we want most. By re-energizing and renewing ourselves frequently, though, we can avoid burnout and become much more motivated and productive.</p><p><em>Balance</em> and <em>consistency</em> are the keys.</p><p>Enjoy the process, not just the result. Don’t fight the passing of time. Don’t fear it, squander it, or try to hide from it under a superficial cosmetic veil of fads and indulgences. Life and time go together. Do enjoy each phase of life. Do make the most of each day and <a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/article/5-ways-to-amplify-the-good-life" target="_blank" title="5 Ways to Amplify the Good Life | SUCCESS.com" rel="noopener">draw maximum joy from each moment</a>.</p><p>Good time management means that you maximize the daily return on the energy and mental effort you expend. Here are eight ways to maximize your time productivity:</p><p><strong>1. Write down in one place all your important goals and priorities.</strong> Write down every commitment you make at the time you make it.</p><p><strong>2. Stop wasting the first hour of your workday.</strong> Having that first cup of coffee and socializing at the water cooler are two of the costliest opening exercises that lower your productivity.</p><p><strong>3. Do one thing at a time—well.</strong> It takes time to start and stop work on each activity. Stay with a task until it is completed.</p><p><strong>4. Don’t open unimportant mail.</strong> More than one-fourth of the mail you receive can be tossed or deleted before you even open or read it.</p><p><strong>5. Handle each task only once</strong> <strong>and never more than twice.</strong> Don’t set aside anything without taking action. Carry work, reading material and your laptop with you everywhere you go—convert downtime into uplink time.</p><p><strong>6. Spend time planning your to-do list—</strong>20 minutes at the beginning of each week and 10 minutes at the beginning of each day.</p><p><strong>7. Set aside personal relaxation time during the day.</strong> Don’t work during lunch. It’s neither noble nor nutritional to skip important energy input and stress-relieving time. Throughout the day, ask yourself, <em>What’s the best use of my time right now?</em> As the day grows short, focus on projects you can least afford to leave undone.</p><p><strong>8. Take vacations often,</strong> mini-vacations of two or three days, and <a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/article/how-to-leave-behind-work-take-a-real-vacation" target="_blank" title="How to Leave Behind Work &amp; Take a Real Vacation | SUCCESS.com" rel="noopener">leave your work at home</a>. The harder you work, the more you need to balance your leisure time.</p><p><a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/article/6-tips-to-be-a-productive-procrastinator" target="_self" title="6 Tips to Be a Productive Procrastinator | SUCCESS.com" rel="noopener"><strong>Are you a procrastinator? Check out 6 tips to be a<em> productive</em> one.</strong></a></p>

[node:summary] - How to make the most of your time on the clock

The drudgery and routine of our daily lives presents the greatest danger to our dreams. Why? We run the risk of losing our focus and motivation to achieve | SUCCESS

8 Ways to Balance Your Workload for Max Productivity

8 Ways to Balance Your Workload for Max Productivity | SUCCESS

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A Dad’s Lesson: ‘Keep Your Light Bright’

My dad had a keen imagination.

When I was little, we would often play a good-night game that became our special ritual. He would come into my room to talk to me and listen to the triumphs and tragedies of my day. As he was leaving, Dad had a way of leaning back against the switch by my door and rubbing against it to “magically” blow out my light, like the birthday candles on a cake.

He would say, “I’m blowing out your light now, and it will be dark for you. In fact, as far as you’re concerned, it will be dark all over the world—because the only world you ever know is the one you see through your own eyes. So remember, Son, <em>keep your light bright</em>. The world is yours to see that way. I love you. Good night.”

I used to lie there in bed after Dad left and try to understand what he meant. It was confusing to think that the whole world was dark when I was asleep and that the only world I would ever know was the one I would see through my own eyes.

What Dad was trying to tell me was that when I went to sleep at night, as far as I was concerned, the world came to a stop. When I woke up in the morning, I could choose to see a fresh new world through my own eyes—if I kept my light bright. In other words, if I <a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/article/make-every-morning-a-good-morning" target="_blank" title="Make Every Morning a Good Morning | SUCCESS.com" rel="noopener noreferrer">woke up happy</a>, the world was happy. If I woke up not feeling well, the world was not as well off.

My dad’s guidance about self-perception and the power in the eye of the beholder was invaluable. What he was trying to teach me with his little light show was this: Everything depends on how you want to look at what happens in life. It doesn’t make any difference what is going on “out there”—what makes a difference is how you take it.

Beauty (or ugliness) is in the eye of the beholder. Abundance (or want) is in the eye of the beholder. Being the best (or being mediocre) depends on the eye of the beholder.

So instead of teaching me that my glass was half-empty, my dad taught me that my <a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/article/9-ways-to-say-no-to-negativity" target="_blank" title="9 Ways to Say No to Negativity | SUCCESS.com" rel="noopener noreferrer">glass was more than half-full</a>. He taught me to view life as something that was continually opening and expanding with new opportunities and events to enjoy.

Those good-night rituals with my father taught me that it didn’t make any difference what the other kids said, what the other kids wore, what the other kids did. Their opinion of me wasn’t that important. What was important was the way I handled what they did and said.

And the same is true for both you and me today…. <a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/article/how-to-deal-with-critics-and-rejection" target="_blank" title="How to Deal with Critics and Rejection | SUCCESS.com" rel="noopener noreferrer">People’s opinions of you aren’t what are important</a>; it’s the way you <em>handle</em> their opinions and actions that makes the difference.

How did <em>your</em> dad impact your life, or the person you’ve grown up to be?

<strong><a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/article/advice-from-my-dad-for-father%E2%80%99s-day" target="_self" title="Advice from My Dad for Father’s Day | SUCCESS.com" rel="noopener noreferrer">Happy Father’s Day to all the dads out there! Read some more fatherly advice to celebrate the dad in your life.</a></strong>

&nbsp;

<em>Excerpted from </em><a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0671701673/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&amp;camp=1789&amp;creative=390957&amp;creativeASIN=0671701673&amp;linkCode=as2&amp;tag=sm0fe-20&amp;linkId=YSDA6ZOKMOYKX2YV">Being the Best</a><em> by Denis Waitley</em>

My dad had a keen imagination. When I was little, we would often play a good-night game that became our special ritual. He would come into my room to talk

My dad had a keen imagination. When I was little, we would often play a good-night game that became our special ritual. He would come into my room to talk | SUCCESS

A Dad’s Lesson: ‘Keep Your Light Bright’ | SUCCESS

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