Work When You Just Don't Want To

All tasks are not created equal. When you’re responsible for your own output, this becomes crystal clear. Everyone desires more time, more inspiration, more zest of lie.

Regrettably, inspiration isn’t always on tap and motivation isn't always at its peak. Hence the necessity for a strategy...

TODAY IN 4 MINUTES OR LESS, YOU'LL LEARN:

✔️ Over Come Anxiety

✔️ Channel Your Inner Spock

✔️ Fight Through Boredom

✔️ Avoid Arrogance

I call it the PEPB (Pebble) plan - Prevention, Emotion, Planning, and Being Grounded. It's the contrarian framework that helped me get past my procrastination. This isn't a quick fix, but a gradual change in perspective and approach that could redefine your relationship with your tasks. In the upcoming sections, we'll explore each part of the PEPB plan and how it could steer you away from the path of procrastination. 

Consider you're navigating through a packed day, aiming to clear your to-do list. You stumble upon a task you've been avoiding.

Prevention focus implies we can't move forward without addressing this. "I was nervous about botching up a vital pitch and couldn't proceed until I had practiced sufficiently."

Ignoring emotions signifies we need to tackle this soon, but there's an interim solution. "I wasn't in the mood to design that complex spreadsheet, but I set my feelings aside and began working."

If-then planning suggests it would be beneficial to handle this. "I found the financial review tedious, but if I tackled it first, then I could devote my energy to more stimulating tasks."

And finally, for tasks you think are beneath you: "I felt I was too qualified for mundane administrative tasks, but I rolled up my sleeves and got them done."

• Anxiety = prevention focus

• Apathy = ignoring emotions

• Boredom = if-then planning

• Arrogance = rolling up your sleeves

Teach yourself to categorize tasks using this strategy, and you'll find that most tasks you've been avoiding are not as daunting as they seem. You're welcome in advance for the surge in productivity this will induce.

Conquering Inner Demons: One Task at a Time

Rather than dwelling on past mistakes, I've embraced the art of learning from them and turning them into valuable lessons. My journey hasn't been easy, but here's how I tackled each roadblock.

ANXIETY OVER PERFORMANCE

Instead of succumbing to the fear of making errors, I adopted a 'prevention focus'. Preparation became my mantra. The more I practiced and prepared for the task at hand, the less intimidating it appeared. It transformed my anxiety into a tool for improvement.

APATHY AND INDIFFERENCE

When tasks seemed uninteresting or tedious, my initial reaction was to push them aside. However, ignoring emotions was the game-changer. I learned to put my feelings on the back burner and focus on the task, turning indifference into action.

COPING WITH BOREDOM

Facing boring or complex tasks was always a challenge. However, if-then planning came to the rescue. By deciding to handle these tasks first, I was able to tackle them with a fresh mind and then move on to more engaging tasks. This converted my boredom into a productivity booster.

ARROGANCE AND PRIDE

Being the Founder and other executive roles throughout my entrepreneur often meant handling tasks that seemed beneath my qualifications. Initially, I struggled with this. But once I realized that no task is too small in a growing business, I started to roll up my sleeves and dive in, turning my arrogance into humility and understanding.

Just Start

Every entrepreneur knows that unnerving "what if I fail" feeling. It's universal, and it's stubborn. But the difference between success and failure is the courage to start despite the fear.

I can recall countless instances where I felt out of depth, overwhelmed by the challenges ahead. Did I let it halt my progress? Absolutely not.

There's Always a Demand

We often overlook our unique skills, assuming everyone possesses them. But this isn't always the case.

For me, it was the ability to efficiently juggle multiple tasks.

Focus on what you excel at and what others find challenging. Your unique selling point is right there, waiting to be recognized and put to use.

Adapt the Old to Suit the New

There are countless outdated methods still prevalent in various industries. By modernizing these, I not only carved a niche for myself but also capitalized on it.

Boredom, apathy, arrogance, and anxiety are universal feelings. Overcoming them is a crucial aspect of personal development. With a structured approach, you can convert these obstacles into stepping stones towards greater productivity.

When you meet a challenge head-on, magic happens.

Until Next Week

Jake