The Procrastination Calculation
“A year from now you may wish you had started today.” — Karen Lamb
By and large we all procrastinate. Some more (when is this blog due?), some less. From Bill Clinton to Leonardo da Vinci. Throw in Albert Einstein for good measure, and what would the common denominator be? They were highly successful individuals who, to different degrees, were procrastinators. Sorry, Leo. Sorry, Al. Think about that, from presidents to theories on relativity, these highly successful folks procrastinated, just like many of us do at times.
How many of us would raise our hands if asked: Do you occasionally procrastinate on acting to get done what really needs to be done? I’d have to say yes, but here are some other important questions to ponder. How many of you believe you must dread how hard it’s going to be to get done what really needs to be done? That the daily distractions you face are the biggest reasons why you can’t seem to get anything accomplished? Do you choose your tasks based on how easy they are to do, rather than the importance of what needs to be done? Any of this sound familiar?
It’s easy to get caught up in the swirls of the day when we’re pulled from one task to another. Priorities change without notice, and what was important this morning you’ll save for another day. And it’s that saving for another day, over and over, that can cause the harm.
What are the most important things you could be working on today, right now? What are the motivating factors that shape your priorities and those of your staff?
Being clear on what matters most and what will make the biggest difference in our businesses is something we should all be focusing on and making time for. Prioritize your needs and focus on them. Shut out those daily distractions that lead you astray. Clarify what you’ve been putting off. Actions and needs are not created equally, and the order of importance in dealing with them is not the same either.
The Procrastination Calculation (sounds like a game show doesn’t it?) is what you’re playing when real priorities are put off time and time again to deal with issues that are of less importance, rather than dealing with what is extremely important. It’s a game where there’s nothing good behind any of the doors, and you could end up losing when you didn’t have to. So why play? Think about what matters most in your dealership and what really does not. That’s one of the many things that procrastinators like Bill Clinton and Albert Einstein knew — what matters and what doesn’t.
Set aside time, and that means non-negotiable time. Deal with what you know really matters and what you’ve dreaded. Focus on what makes a difference and what you’ve been putting off, and history one day might be comparing you to the likes of Bill, Al and Leo. I do already.
Mark Mooney is director, retail performance for Pied Piper Management Company LLC, a Monterey, Calif., company that works with motor vehicle manufacturers and dealers to maximize performance of dealerships. One of Pied Piper’s most popular services for the powersports industry is Pied Piper Prospect Satisfaction Index (PSI) sales mystery shopping to help turn more motorcycle shoppers into motorcycle buyers.
Contact: mmooney@piedpipermc.com
Website: www.piedpiperpsi.com
