Dear friend,

I’ve been staring at my computer screen for about two hours trying to write today’s issue of Insider Secrets.

In that time, I’ve answered fifteen emails, helped brainstorm headline ideas with one of my copywriters, involved the office in a heated debate about whether it’s normal to flick through a magazine backwards or not and so on...

The only thing I’ve failed to do in that time, is the one thing I needed to do most... Write this email.

It’s safe to say, I’m a SERIOUS procrastinator.

But, as fate would have it, that’s exactly what today’s issue is about!

If, like me, you occasionally find yourself struggling to start a project, you could have a procrastination problem.

Take this quiz to find out how far up the procrastination ladder your problem lies... And how you can overcome it...

In the name of happiness,

Your Insider

PS: In case you were wondering, I scored an embarrassing 26 on the quiz.

-------------------------------------------------------------------

Do you have a procrastination problem? Take this quiz and find out
By John Forde

Call it the secret sickness.

Something you do in the privacy of your home... Behind drawn curtains... When nobody is watching...

Yip, I’m talking about procrastination.

If you don’t know the feeling, then maybe you can stop reading today’s issue and get on with the rest of your to do list.

But if you suspect you might be one of the millions of silent perpetrators... Er, afflicted... worldwide, I urge you to read on. Even if you feel like it’s something you’d rather do later.

I’ll even make it easy for you by cutting to the chase. The focus of this article is a quiz I came across a long time ago.

It was developed at the University of Alabama by H.E. Florey. And what it’s supposed to do is help you discover just how MUCH of a procrastinator you really are.

It has a just a handful of questions. Try answering them and tallying up your score as you go.

Ready?

Rate each statement as it applies:

4 = Strongly Agree
3 = Mildly Agree
2 = Mildly Disagree
1 = Strongly Disagree

a) “It’s easy for me to find reasons for not getting started on tough assignments.”
b) “I know what I’m supposed to be doing, but often start doing something else.”
c) “I often carry books or work assignments with me but never get around to opening them.”
d) “I like last-minute scrambling because I perform best when the pressure is on.”
e) “If it weren’t for all these interruptions, I’d get more of my top priorities accomplished.”
f) “When faced with unpleasant decisions, I try not to answer directly.”
g) “If you take half steps, you can often avoid or delay unpleasant actions.”
h) “I would finish things, but sometimes I get too tired, nervous or upset.”
i) “I need to straighten my office/room/kitchen before I get started.”
j) “Sometimes you just have to wait for inspiration before you sit down to get started.”

Okay, now let’s see how you did...

If you scored below 20, says the research, you’re only an occasional procrastinator. Not so bad.

Score between 21-30, and you’re already in the chronic stage.

And – oh man – if you’re above 30, well... Let’s just say I’m surprised you’ve even gotten this far in today’s issue.Heck, I’m surprised you got out of bed this morning.

-------------------------------------------------------------------
Do you have what it takes?

When you hear about all the folks:

• Making thousands of rands “working” only a few hours a day... And spending the rest of their time on the golf course...
• Losing 10kgs in two weeks...
• Buying their dream home and travelling around the Caribbean all summer...

It’s tempting to want to want to throw in the towel and just give up.

Don’t!

Johann Wolfgang von Goethe once said: “Knowing is not enough; we must apply. Willing is not enough; we must do.”

You need an action plan... A tool that'll help you live the life you’ve always dreamed of! A life where you’re wealthier, healthier and more successful than you’ve ever imagined you could be.

Today, I want to tell you about the ONLY tool you’ll ever need to help you do exactly THAT!

-------------------------------------------------------------------
What to do?

Some of my favourite suggestions are, appropriately, pretty simple.

First, I’m sure you already know the old standby from Eugene Schwartz. He applied it to writing sales copy, but you can apply this golden nugget to just about anything. It’s the famous “33:33” secret. Set a timer for 33 minutes and 33 seconds and just get started.

You can then go one of two ways...

Either just keep rolling when the timer dings, which often happens because in those moments you’ll find your momentum.

Or you can do what a very successful copywriter friend of mine does, which is insist on pulling at least six “33:33” sessions each day, before he does anything else. In all, that adds up to less than four hours of writing per day. Yet he’s extremely productive.

Second, you could opt instead for the “three big things” approach. This is great for anybody who loves making “to do” lists (a great habit) but finds themselves making the SAME lists day after day, because they’ve made no progress (a terrible habit).

“Three big things” means simply listing everything you can think of that you need to get done, which is cathartic in itself, but then going back to pick ONLY the three biggest things on the list you need to do.

Get those three done, you’ll tell yourself and that’s enough to pat yourself on the back for a good day.

And here’s my last suggestion...

If even “three big things” is overwhelming, try “one big thing”.

Isolate the single most important thing on your list to get started on. Finishing it isn’t your goal. Making progress is (during the course of which, you might find yourself getting it done anyway).

When you roll out of bed the next day, do the minimum of what you need to do to start the day and then do that thing.

No email or anything else until you’ve at least logged an hour on that one thing. Or 33:33, if you have to (no reason you can’t combine the timer and the list).

Now get to work!