FM Walsh & Associates Inc.

Know Your Payoff

Just finished a session with a client who is struggling with procrastination.  She has a great opportunity in front of her but keeps putting off what she needs to get done to succeed and then beats herself up for not getting it done.   The pressure is becoming unbearable.

We came up with a simple solution today.  Instead of drawing up elaborate timelines or berating her for not getting it done, we focused instead on the payoff she would get from getting this project done.   Some were obvious – more revenue coming in, the prestige of this company as a  client.  Others were a little less obvious:  the confidence that would come from completing this large project, the credibility she would have for going after other large clients in that market sector, the peace of mind that would arrive when she was no longer beating herself up, the sense of relief that she could close bigger deals and get the work done.

Once we had gone through the list, she was completely motivated to get the work done!

Lesson learned: Focus on the payoff you’ll get once the work is done.  Write down those things and keep them in front to you to remind yourself not to keep avoiding it.