The High Cost of Waiting
Why Procrastination Feels Safer Than Action - But Might Be Sabotaging Your Business
Happy Easter first and foremost! I really hope I wasn’t the only one desperately dashing to Tesco on Saturday night to replace the chocolate eggs I’d eaten in the run up to Easter which were meant for my daughter (please say I wasn’t…)
Thankfully things are back to normal tomorrow and I’ll be skipping back from the school run to a peaceful house! (thank GOD - it’s been a looooong two weeks) I’m jumping on here to let you know there will be a podcast on Wednesday PLUS a bonus episode on Friday for my paid subscribers. And this week it’s for the serial procrastinators. The sloths of the business world.
I mean, who doesn’t love a sloth? Slow and steady, just doing shit in their own time. Literally. I read somewhere that they only come down the tree to have a poo once a week. When I told my dad this fun fact, his reply was ‘the lazy buggers’.
Slow and steady is ok if you’re a sloth. Not so much if you’re a business owner.
It’s a common trait in us creative types and unfortunately this inability to make a decision and/or lack of action can lead to the untimely demise of our business. We don’t mean it to, in fact we often have the best of intentions and a great deal of enthusiasm to get something up and running - such as a new idea, product or service. The problem is never the ideas. The real issue is what happens in the period of time after we’ve had the initial spark or idea. That’s the destructive bit.
The bit when the doubt creeps in and we start questioning every decision we make (or don’t make). We spend more time deliberating than doing, seeking signs from the Universe or reassurance from every man and his dog on social media before we actually commit to putting it out there.
Now, it might make you feel slightly better knowing that it’s not all our fault and the creative brain can have neurological differences in it’s wiring that are responsible for the high level of procrastination and inability to make decisions quickly and efficiently. Phew.
However, that’s only part of the reason. You have to take some responsibility yourself. If you are struggling with putting an idea into action or maybe a business plan in motion, you have to ask yourself why. Why are you putting it off?
Procrastination is usually a sign that we are delaying something for a reason. And that reason, 9 times out of 10, is because we don’t actually want to do it deep down. And that’s fuelled by our insecurities, our fears and our lack of resources like time or money or energy. They are more powerful than our desire to make it happen. If you want to lose 2 stone but you find yourself more tempted to steal your kid’s easter eggs and stuff your face with them instead - then it’s probably safe to say that the desire to eat chocolate is much stronger than the desire to drop the weight. It’s pretty simple really.
Procrastination might be an occupational hazard of a creative - a result of a difference in the way their brain works which means they can struggle with skills like time management, decision making and even starting tasks in the first place. But it’s also a delay tactic. We hide behind it. Avoid things. Spend far too long questioning our every bloody move. And maybe, just maybe, it’s because the longer we put something off, the more likely it is that we won’t have to do it.
We deliberate FAR too much on things, particularly as creatives, and we don’t need to. Because the only thing procrastinating actually does is slow us down. Which, as you can imagine, doesn’t get you very far when it comes to starting up a business - or growing one if you’ve already taken the leap.
So this week’s podcast is for all the procrastinators out there. It’s going to save you a LOT of time and mental energy and more importantly, it’s going to help make things happen quicker for you. Which might be welcomed if you’re feeling like your business is suffering as a result of your inability to make a decision or start an idea. Maybe the overwhelm is so great that you quit before you even begin. Well, don’t miss this episode.
I’m talking all about how to handle procrastination as a creative business owner, the neurodivergent brain and why starting can just feel impossible at times. I’m delving into the cost to your business (and yourself!) of waiting too long, dispelling the myth of needing to have a ‘big launch’ and giving you my 5 step method to help you stop procrastination dead in it’s tracks.
And my bonus podcast episode will be going one step further! I’m sharing a step-by-step guide for creative business owners who will at some point, if not now, have something new to share but are reluctant to put it out there. It could be anything - a new product, branding or service for example. Well, I’m here to tell you that you don’t need a big launch. I’ll be teaching you my method to launching something quietly, without overwhelm. If you’re an introverted or neurodivergent creative who struggles with this whole concept - then you’re gonna love this bonus episode. I’m giving you permission not to do the loud, flashy launch - and I’m showing you how.
In the meantime, if you are a procrastinator and dream of being free of this struggle, you might want to check out my new Whatsapp Support Group. It’s for creative business owners - like you - to share worries, ask questions and learn from people who truly understand your business struggles and can help. You'll have a supportive community of creatives to bounce ideas off and motivate you when you're feeling unsure or uninspired and you can relax, knowing you will always have someone on hand to help you navigate your way through the uncertainties of being self employed. For more information on becoming a member of this wonderful creative community, please visit the Whatsapp Support Group page on my website.
Don’t forget my new podcast episode is out on Wednesday 23rd April and the bonus episode for paid subscribers on Friday 25th April.
Thank you so much for reading and if you enjoyed this article, please do share it with someone else who might like it too, I would be so grateful!
Joanne
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