Ahern Advisory Procrastination - A Fatal Disease Part I

Several months ago, I wrote an article on procrastination and how some trucking companies fail because the Owner won't make a decision.

Phoenix, AZ (prHWY.com) January 7, 2013 - Several months ago, I wrote an article on procrastination and how some trucking companies fail because the Owner won't make a decision. We all procrastinate sometimes, but in my practice, more than 25% of people chronically avoid difficult tasks and deliberately look for distractions that unfortunately impact their business and their personal lives.

I honestly believe that procrastination, in a large part, reflects an individual's struggle with self control, as well as their inability to accurately predict how they are going to feel tomorrow or the next day.

Why do some companies fail? Procrastination: the inability to make a decision until the last minute.

Procrastinators can be identified fairly quickly;

* They do not pay their bills on time;

* They leave Christmas shopping until Christmas Eve, and;

* They don't recognize that this is a learned behavior and therefore, can be unlearned.

In my consulting practice when I am speaking to prospective clients, I ask a variety of questions, and based upon their responses, it provides me a pretty good insight into what some of problems are in with their business are or will be.

It is important to understand that procrastinators are made, not born. In essence, that is good news and bad news because it is a learned response and what is learned can be unlearned. The bad news is, while it is possible to change, it takes a lot of energy and you do not necessarily feel transformed internally, when you start making those changes.

What are the signs of a procrastinator?

* They overestimate the time they have left to perform tasks.

* They estimate the time it takes to complete a task;

* They overestimate how motivated they will feel the next day, the next week, the next month - whenever they are putting things off;

* They mistakenly think that succeeding at a task requires that they feel like doing it, and;

* They mistakenly believe that working when not in the mood, is suboptimal.

Procrastinators actively look for distractions, especially ones that do not take heavy duty commitment on their part. For example, checking an email is just about "tailor made" for this purpose.

If you are a procrastinator or know one, how do you cure this disease?

1. Make a list of everything you have to do;
2. Write a statement of intention;
3. Set realistic goals;
4. Break it down into specific task;
5. Make the task meaningful;
6. Promise yourself a reward;
7. Eliminate tasks you never plan to do. This means you need to be honest with yourself, and;
8. Estimate the amount of time you think it will take you to complete a task, then increase that amount by 100%.

We are starting off a new year, and one of the first things we should all do if we own or manage a business is to;

* Set goals;

* Set objectives, and;

* Stick to those goals and objectives.

As part of this process, you need a "business plan".

I am amazed how many times I speak with business owners and they have no plan. They have a general idea of what they want to do, they have a general idea of how they are going to accomplish it, but;

* There are no written goals and objectives;

* No time frames to accomplish the goals and objectives;

* No directives to their employees on what they have to do: when they have to do it: and what the end results need to be, and;

* There is no "carrot" for the employees to chase in order to perform at 110%.

To begin 2013 in the correct manner, you need to understand profits, and profits must be your first item of expense. It is amazing, but;

* When you budget your expenses;

* When you make profits important, and work them into your budget;

* You will be surprised what the results can be.

However, what normally happens is when we budget our expenses, we make profits so unimportant that we do not budget for them. My point, anyone who owns a business should understand that, the first premise of running a successful business is, profits must be your first item of expense.

When planning for 2013, take a hard look at your people and take a hard look at yourself. Companies fail because of people problems. Often the biggest problem is the person at the top. If you are the President, CEO, General Manager or head of your department, you must start with yourself and recognize there is always room to improve; that requires change.


How many times have you heard me say, if it ain't broke, break it? Because in the trucking industry, change is an inevitable part of "the process" and you cannot do tomorrow what you did yesterday and expect to be successful.

Next week, I will discuss the components that owners and managers must embrace to obtain results. And don't forget Ahern's philosophy - if it ain't broke, break it!

###

Tag Words: trucking software

Categories: Transportation

Press Release Contact
http://www.ahern-ltd.com/
Mr.Andre Ahern
CEO
2198 E Camelback Rd Suite 210
Phoenix, AZ
USA, 85016
PH: 602-242-1030
Claudia@ahern-ltd.com

Link To This Press Release:

URL HTML Code