Tomorrow is fine

Dear Tomorrow is fine,

Procrastinators are not bad people who just want to goof off. They are usually hard working, busy, productive individuals who feel inadequate and guilty about their "condition". For instance, you own your own business. Obviously, you have not whiled away all your time in Margaritaville. But, you do say your procrastination is exacting a cost and you want to do something about it. Here’s the rub. If I tell you what to do, as an official procrastinator, you’ll put off the cure. So, the only way to deal with this trait is to embrace it.

Look, I know I’m late writing this column, and I can start feeling so miserable and inadequate that I’d never write another word again. The truth of the matter, however, is that while I kept putting off writing your answer, please forgive me, I wrote half a dozen other columns and a full article for other editors, met and interviewed some very interesting people, and completed a whole other bunch of productive endeavors.

I think procrastinators need to hold some piece of unfinished work up for ransom. Or maybe it’s like offering a sacrifice to the gods so they’ll leave you alone while you go about doing other things. I think every contractor I’ve ever met is able to effectively and productively procrastinate. And, it doesn’t seem to bother them. They go around smiling and have no pangs of conscience telling me I’m on their list. They don’t care if the money I’m holding is 10 times worth the value of the work they need to do to complete the job. I smile back and keep their money in my bank account.

You have to sneak up on your procrastination trait. Label your list "Things Not To Do". Give yourself the feeling that you are not giving up your right to not finish what’s expected. Also, sneak a peek back at all the things you have accomplished. Be proud of being such a procrastinator.

Corporate Shrink