Archives for May 2015

Procrastination should be a four letter word. When you hear the word, most cringe. Everyone does it, all the time. Sure, there are strategies you can use to overcome procrastination and you can find them everywhere, including my blog. But despite the most effective strategies, you will procrastinate. Why?

It’s neurological, for the most part. Taking action on something you don’t want to do requires that you exert willpower. Willpower engages your pre-frontal cortex (conscious part of brain). This engagement requires that the brain marshal additional fuel (glucose) that powers your brain. The brain does not like to use glucose. That’s why it created habits. Habits limit the consumption of brain fuel. Your own brain is begging you not to engage in any and all activities that need willpower to get you started. So, don’t beat yourself up about procrastination. It’s hardwired in all of us.

The most effective strategy to overcome procrastination is to do the willpower-driven activity when you have the most energy. For most, that’s the first thing in the morning, right after waking up, or after breakfast. Post-lunch is the worst time to engage in any willpower-driven activity (unless you follow lunch with a short nap, which restores energy) because that is when your energy resources are at their lowest.

There are many shades to habits. Habits affect numerous parts of the body and mind, help you strengthen your relationships and can change your life for the better. Here are a few examples:

• Healthy Habits (Daily Exercise Habit and Daily Meditation Habit) – Reduces stress and disease by turning off cortisol production (stress hormone).
• Self Improvement Habits (Daily Reading Habit and New Activity Habits) – Grow your brain and IQ.
• Rich Thinking Habits (Practiced Optimism and Practiced Gratitude) – Increase happiness by adjusting dopamine levels.
• Relationship Building Habits (Hello Call, Life Event Call, Happy Birthday Call, Networking, Volunteering and the Power Help Habit) – These habits help forge stronger relationships. Relationships are the currency of the wealthy.

Self-made millionaires don’t get there on their own. The greatest wealth accumulation occurs through the pursuit and realization of a dream. And almost 100% of the time it requires a team effort. Those individuals who are able to elevate themselves from ordinary to self-made millionaire status, are the ones who have found their apostles – fanatics who share your dream and your passion for that dream.

It’s not an easy thing to do. Unfortunately, most people who will be drawn to your cause won’t become apostles. It’s hard to find people who will commit themselves 100% to your dream. Most everyone you find is pursuing their own initiatives, projects, dreams and goals. You have to keep searching to find your apostles. But it’s worth the effort. You don’t need twelve. Just one apostle is all you need to make the magic happen.

The Difficult can be accomplished in a short period of time. The Impossible, however, takes a bit longer. What seems impossible is really just a long period of hard work and individual growth. The Impossible requires that we change and evolve. We need to learn new things, new skills. Impossible becomes Possible once you grow into the person you needed to become in order to gain the knowledge and skills that transform the Impossible into the Possible. So, pursue your dreams. The Impossible only seems Impossible today.