I asked my weekly Poll Readers to share their primary deterrent to accomplishing more, and the number one answer was – Procrastination. Unfortunately, procrastination is a habit that, I think, renders us all emotionally blind. We subconsciously close our mind’s eye to our behaviors or lack of them. There is no discrimination when it comes to procrastination. We are all capable of embracing this habit. Webster defines procrastination as the putting off, delaying, or deferring of an action to a later time and, I add, "with little serious consideration of the consequences."

Therefore, when 47% of my Poll Readers said Procrastination was their number one answer, I had to think that I am there as well. So, hear my words – "I am infected with this habit to the point where I can see it in others more easily than I am willing to see it in my own life." Nevertheless, even after I do admit I procrastinate, I continue to struggle and avoid the steps needed to change my actions. I wait until the consequences of not doing become greater than the activities I am deferring. Is it that way with you as well?

As I was thinking about why I procrastinate, I remembered an article I had written about 10 years earlier in which I talked a length about two types of people - those motivated by possibilities and those motivated by consequences. My final point concluded that neither one was inherently good or bad providing they served as motivators for action. However, procrastination is the lack of action, which steals our motivation to change anything, right now. We elect to defer and allow procrastination to rob of us of our sense-of-self.

The point where I change my procrastinating behaviors is when the consequences for not doing become greater than the burden of my inactions. However, I find I only procrastinate over a few things and not everything. Therefore, my handy rule is people matter more than things. I should never procrastinate over the people in my life, they are too important, and they have memories.

Therefore, my tips to the other procrastinators and myself:

• Set deliberate goals and define specifically what needs to be done and by when (Give your word and keep your word)
• Tell everyone involved that you have set a goal and that it will be done by (publically communicate)
• If you need help, ask for it (working together strengthens resolve)