What's your secret to preventing procrastination?
I start each day by answering the question:what is the most important thing I need to do today to move the needle in my business?
—Charles Gaudet CEO and Founder of Predictable Profits
State of mind. For me, procrastination is a task that I don't feel like using the mental capacity to do. Understanding the stress relief I will receive when the task is complete is what helps me stop procrastinating.
—Daniel Griggs, Founder and CEO of ATX Web Designs
I look at the project I'm having trouble with for one small thing I can do to get started, even if it's just a list of what needs to be done or an email to write. The hardest part of any project is often taking that first step. Once I get started, it's usually pretty easy to keep going.
—Pokin Yeung, Founder of Absolute Games
I live by my schedule! I've found that having a clear view of my day and blocking out email response times keeps me focused throughout the day. I'm also naturally a very goal-oriented person who doesn't like wasting time. Because I have many projects that I'm juggling at any given time, it's less stressful for me to focus and get things done than to procrastinate and do things that don't further my goals.
—Courtney Spritzer, co-founder of Socialfly
Procrastination gets a bad rap. This can be an effective way to prioritize as well as an effective way to invoke inspiration. That said, procrastinating to the point of missing deadlines or pulling an all-nighter just to catch up isn't sustainable. To avoid the latter, I make lists. Whenever I feel overwhelmed by the height of the mountain to climb, I find the lists help me put one foot in front of the other instead of worrying about how far I have to go.
—Apu Gupta, CEO of Curalate
I see it as a strength rather than a fault. I find that when I'm faced with a deadline, that's when I have the clearest mind and focus. So for me, the 11th hour is a help more than a hindrance…. If it's healthy and the job is done, why stop it?
—Kathryn Petralia, co-founder of Kabbage
