That little voice in your head that keeps saying "Don't
get started until..."
There is a closely related syndrome called unlessitis.
Of course, until and unless never actually happen, so
you never get started at all.
When I was first thinking about setting up the BizE-
zine web site I suffered from these complaints the
whole time.
'I'd better not start until I learn HTML'
'It would be better if I wait until I've bought Paint
Shop Pro.'
'I can't design a web site unless I've researched the
field thoroughly.'
'I won't get started until I've read a few books about
e-commerce.'
And on and on.
But you know what? None of these objections really
mattered. They were really just my subconscious demon's
way of stopping me from putting my head above the
trenches.
We all have that little demon living inside our brain.
It evolved with us as a survival instinct - so we think
twice before doing something dangerous. And in that
respect it is very useful. But when it gets the upper
hand and prevents us from doing anything at all - that
is the time to take action.
How do we quieten that annoying little voice?
It is all a matter of behavioral training. Like with a
dog. Be firm, and provide the right rewards and pretty
soon it will be helping you rather than hindering.
Here are some tips that really work:
1. You have to become aware of the demon before you can
learn to tame it. As you go through your day, observe
the times that you put something off - no matter how
small. In time, you will recognize the signs. At this
stage, don't try to change your behavior, just become
aware of it.
2. Start to consciously use the demon for positive
purposes. So, when you are about to start, or are in
the middle of something, and the voice keeps telling
you to do something else, pause for a second and say to
the demon 'I will stop, but only when I have finished,
and then I will give myself a reward.' Promise yourself
some small token of your own appreciation - a cup of
coffee, a candy bar, a phone call with your best friend
- anything that will make you feel good. But only
reward yourself for completing the task.
3. Once you get into the habit of making the demon
wait, you can move on to the next stage: making it
worry less. You procrastinate because the demon fears
failure. All the 'unlesses and untils' are put up to
prevent you from failing by not even starting. When you
become aware that you are putting off something, stop
and get a sheet of paper. Write down a full description
of the action you want to take. Then, under it, write
down all the bad things that can happen if you take
that action. Then, under each bad thing, let your
logical mind answer them.
For example, when I was dithering over whether to
launch BizE-zine, I wrote down the following header:
'I want to launch an email newsletter dealing with
practical matters pertaining to business, internet
market and personal development. It will be published
weekly to opted-in subscribers.'
Under it, here are some of the 'demon-thoughts' I
listed - and my conscious rebuttals:
1. I will have to build a web site.
And why is that a problem? I have worked in
marketing, both online and off, written more copy
and designed more ads than I care to remember. No,
it wont be a problem - it will be fun.
2. I don't have any subscribers.
Do you think any of the thousands of e-zines out
there started out with huge subscriber lists? Of
course not! So you'll start small - doesn't mean you
have to stay small. After all, you do understand
marketing, don't you.
3. People might think I'm crazy?
I am, so they won't be surprised, will they.
4. Or I might look like a fool.
What is worse - to look a fool to other people for
trying to do something, or to look a fool to
yourself for not. In any case, if people don't like
what I write they can always unsubscribe.
5. Will it cost me a lot of money?
The Internet is still the closest thing to a free
lunch. Sure I might have to spend a little, but only
as much as I want, when I want. It certainly isn't
going to be a significant drain on resources.
Besides, I can afford it.
6. Will it take up too much time?
This is the unknowable. So how about this. I will
schedule in a set number of hours each week that I
know I can devote to it. Then I can review it as
time goes on.
You can see from my own small example, that it is only
by understanding all the obstacles that your demon is
dreaming up that you can get past them. Of course, some
of the obstacles may be real. Your demon may be truly
trying to protect you from something that you hadn't
consciously seen. This method will help you find that
real problem and perhaps even deal with it.
The voice inside our minds is not so much an evil
monster trying to stop us from acting at all, rather it
is a benign old watchdog who is scared of its own
shadow.
Even an old dog can learn new tricks.
About the Author
Martin Avis publishes a free weekly newsletter:
BizE-Zine - your unfair advantage in Internet
marketing, business and personal success.
To subscribe, and get 6 great free gifts, please visit
http://www.BizE-zine.com