Now What?® Coaching

Category: Life Lessons

Here’s How to Overcome Procrastination

We’re heading into the holiday season, and I’m hearing lots of talk about hanging it up for the year — postponing job searches, client prospecting, and important projects until January.

Yes, you deserve a break and plenty of time for celebrations. But in many cases, the holidays are just the excuse du jour to cover for a stubborn case of procrastination.

Procrastination is a tough habit to break. We know better, yet we keep doing it anyway.

You put something off for far too long, and you kick yourself later. It could’ve been so much easier, less stressful, and more successful if you’d timed it better.

So what gives?

Why do we continue procrastinating when we know we’ll pay the price for it?

It could be any number of things, but the big one: FEAR

This sometimes surprises people. “Fear? Fear of what!?” You convince yourself that you’re putting things off because you’re busy or tired or have too much else going on. And sometimes you just don’t wanna.

But more often than not, there’s something else going on beneath the excuses.

When I dig a little deeper with clients, here’s what I find:
Fear of failing. “What if my idea totally bombs?”
Fear of not being good enough. “What if I try and don’t make the cut?”
Fear of conflict. “What if I bring this up, and they get upset with me?”
Fear of success. “What if my book’s a hit, and I have to be in the spotlight?”
Fear of change. “What if I lose the weight and look so great I can’t handle the attention?”

All of this leads to procrastination. It sends us into loops of anxiety about doing it and not doing it. It stops people from achieving their goals.

How do you overcome procrastination?

Look at the fear behind it. That’s where you’ll find the keys to what you need to unlock.

Take some form of action. Pick one: Do it. Delegate it. Dump it. Don’t know how to do it, or don’t want to? Delegate it. If it’s truly not a priority? Dump it and let it go. Clear the way for what’s most important.

Focus on the prize. What’s your WHY? As the outcome of doing this thing — what do you want to have? Who do you want to become? Dangle the carrot and go after it.

In my line of work, I encounter far too many people who let procrastination stop them from making their next move. Whether it’s something routine that needs to get done, a power play needed to make progress, or pursuing a big scary life changing dream — don’t let procrastination stop you.

It’s a habit you can break if you recognize it for what it really is and commit to working on it.

November 20, 2022
Lessons From My Jigsaw Puzzles

I have a thing for jigsaw puzzles. Big, 1,000-piece brain twisters — the harder they are, the better.

I love a challenge! It’s the best way to learn. So I thought I’d share some insights I’ve picked up along the way while sorting through piles of chaos and piecing it all together…

Lesson #1: Start with Structure

If you’ve ever done a puzzle, you’ve probably noticed that it’s easiest to start with the edges. Lining up the pieces with flat sides first allows you to build a frame. That framework serves as a strong starting point — a structure for completing the rest of the puzzle.

The same holds true for your life, career, or business.

When people have trouble achieving a goal, a lack of structure is usually to blame.

Starting with a framework provides a clear path forward.

Lesson #2: Perspective Matters

When working on a puzzle, I vary my approach along the way. Sometimes I look for colors, sometimes shapes. Sometimes I move the puzzles around, move myself around, stand up, and look down.

Shifting my perspective helps me see the big picture.

When solving a problem in business or in life, try looking at it from different angles. You may be surprised by what you find.

Lesson #3: Give Yourself a Break

At some point, while doing a puzzle, I always walk away and take a break. Whether it’s for an hour or a day, the same thing always happens. As soon as I get back, all of a sudden, I see where pieces fit where I couldn’t find them before.

Stepping away means I’m suddenly able to see things more clearly when I return.

This works for other kinds of conundrums too. Struggling to find the answer? Take a break, go for a walk, have some tea. You’ll return with so much more clarity.

Lesson #4: Keep Going!

I said I love a challenge, but sometimes puzzles become downright frustrating. When the going gets too tough, I want to quit! But I imagine destroying all the work I’ve done and decide to keep going.

No matter what tough goal you’re pursuing, you’re going to want to quit at some point. The reality is, sometimes quitting is appropriate. But you have to be willing to look at how far you’ve come and assess the situation carefully to determine if it’s worth the effort to keep going. Hint: it usually is!

Lesson #5: Pass It On

Once I’ve completed a puzzle, it never goes back on the shelf. There are still lessons to be had, so I pass it on to a friend.

I do the same thing in life and in business. When I solve a problem, I pass it on. I strive to be of service, and it always comes back to me in some way. I encourage you to do the same. Be generous in your work and see what happens.

Solve your career “puzzle” by doing the “soul search” before the job search with us and start the new year with FOCUS, CLARITY and ACTION!

November 13, 2022
Do You Create Roadblocks or Does Someone Else?

When I talk to folks about making their next career move, I’m often met with an imaginary roadblock. At this point, I’ve come to expect it.

This phantom obstacle comes in the form of a prerequisite they’ve conjured up (one that doesn’t actually exist) — an unmet qualification, a missing credential, or insufficient experience.

It’s something they perceive as necessary, and it stops them from moving forward.

But the reality is, they’re usually just counting themselves out. They become their own gatekeeper.

Don’t get me wrong …

Sometimes a job requires a legitimate credential, as it should.

You wouldn’t want to board an airplane with a pilot who hasn’t completed the requisite number of flight hours. And you certainly wouldn’t trust your life to a surgeon who dropped out of medical school.

But for most careers, almost anything goes.

With enough creativity, confidence, and tenacity, you can usually chart your own course … within reason, of course.

Letting a self-imposed prerequisite block your path is self-sabotage.

“They’ll never promote me to director without an MBA.”
“I need a C-suite title before that firm will even consider my resume.”
“Nobody’s going to hire me as a developer without a computer science degree.”

Sound familiar?

Not too long ago, I was working with a client who was eyeing a VP position. She felt up for the challenge but was convinced she needed to reach for a lower rung on the ladder first. I encouraged her to go straight for the executive level role … and she landed it — just like that!

I often work with entrepreneurs who tell me they’re expecting to make about 600k but hoping for a million. I tell them to run the higher numbers, take million-dollar action, and go for it.

It’s like the Norman Vincent Peale quote:
“Shoot for the moon. Even if you miss, you’ll land among the stars.”

Even if you don’t reach your stretch goal, you’ll find yourself closer to where you really want to be.

Looking further down the road means seeing past the imaginary obstacles and roadblocks you’ve placed in your own way.

Bottom line: GO BIG!

And if you start second-guessing yourself, check for that slippery slope of self-imposed prerequisites.

Are YOU getting in your own way?

November 6, 2022
Career Change in the Land of Possibility

I was working with a client recently who had 23 years of experience in the mortgage industry. She didn’t think she could do anything else because her resume said she was a professional lender. This client honestly couldn’t imagine any other possibilities.

I had my work cut out for me, but I knew my methods were proven and that we’d find new paths. Above all, as a coach, you know our job is to stand in the Land of Possibility. We can’t believe the “story” that there are no other options.

That doesn’t mean we are out of touch with reality. I’m always telling my clients I’m not going to lead them off a cliff or ask them to run away with the circus. I am here to help them decide where to invest their time, attention, and energy.

Are they investing in what can’t happen? Or are you investing in what CAN happen? Are you investing in what can’t happen or what can? (for yourself)

Consider this —

People often tell me they can’t land their dream job, change careers, reach for their dream income, or start a business because of their age.

Is there some truth to that? Yeah!

But does it serve you to dwell on it? Does the fact that limits exist mean you should sit at home, doing nothing — investing in the impossibility of your next moves? Of course not.

Limitfull thinking won’t get you anywhere.

When you’re a committed pessimist, you are vying for the worst possible outcome — fully vested in proving yourself right. But what if you’re wrong? Why pursue defeat?

This is why it’s important to make a distinction between what’s possible and what’s probable.

Think about it…

When we first created the U.S. Space program, did we think it was probable that we’d make it to the moon on the first shot? Well, it wasn’t likely. But somebody had to think it was possible, or why bother? And look what happened.

Now consider what you’re telling yourself about your career:
”I’m too old.”
“I don’t have the enough experience.”
“Nobody’s gonna hire me.”
“This’ll never work.”

Does investing in this “impossible” thinking serve you? No.

What does serve you is standing in the Land of Possibility.

With my client — the professional mortgage expert I mentioned earlier — we broke down the blocks she was experiencing, and l got her back in touch with all the things she LIKES to do but had stuffed down as impossibilities.

That list came in handy when she found herself facing big industry shifts and a potential layoff two months later.

Rather than staying stuck in the “impossible,” I challenge you to invest your time, attention, and energy into what’s possible too.

I challenge you to do the work and explore the Land of Possibility with clarity and gusto.

October 30, 2022
Spouses, Partners and MONEY, OH My!

It’s no surprise that the topic of money comes up a lot in my work.

After all, we are talking about livelihoods here.

Often these conversations venture into money and relationships.

After all, when someone is married or partnered or raising a family, their career, business, and money-related decisions affect more than just the individual. Other household dynamics need to be considered too.

But, as we all know, money talk can be tricky.

It’s easy to go from discussing dollars and cents (or sense!) to allowing your emotions to get the best of you.

Can you really afford to quit your job and chase your dreams, or will that move put an unfair burden on your partner?

Is it feasible to retire your spouse and bring him into your business to work for you, or would that make money too tight (and tensions too high!) in the home?

Does it make sense for you to go back to work now when childcare expenses would pretty much wipe out your salary?

The thing is, money matters — and it matters even more than we sometimes want to admit when emotions are running high.

Unhappy in your current career?
Wishing for fulfillment outside of the home?
Taking on your partner’s job woes?
Convinced the grass is greener anywhere but where you are?

If you’re not careful, these scenarios can take a serious toll on you and your significant other.

Stress and uncertainty around careers, business, and money can cloud your thinking, lead to irrational actions, and cause strife in your life and relationships.

The bottom line is, you have to value what each of you brings to the table.

You have to consider your desires along with what the other person wants, and what you both need.

You’re counting on each other, and you may have others (children or aging parents) counting on you too.

I’m not saying put everyone else’s priorities before yours, but I am saying to step back, look at the big picture, and realize there are more ways to think about this than you may see at the outset.

Before moving forward with any consequential changes, what you need is clarity.

Watch the latest video below on this topic for some specific examples of how spouses divvy up the money conversation.

October 23, 2022
Seeking Answers? Look in the Mirror.

Have you ever been stuck in a rut, wondering what you’re doing wrong or what you could do better?

You look everywhere for answers — books, blogs, seminars, friends, therapists, coaches, turning over rocks, praying to god, chatting with complete strangers online.

And you just can’t figure out how to get unstuck.

You think to yourself, “whyyyy can’t I get this right?…reach this goal?…make this change?”

It’s a crummy, lonely, desperate feeling. The longer you let it go on, the worse it gets.

So what do you do when it seems like there’s nowhere left to look?

Sometimes the answer’s right in the mirror.

Sometimes the very thing that’s frustrating you most is something you are doing yourself.

Does nobody ever take your advice? Maybe it’s because you’re always ignoring the advice you’re given.

Not landing a job — any job! — even though you’ve told countless recruiters you can do pretty much anything? Maybe it’s because you don’t really know what you want, so they don’t really know why to hire you.

Can’t find clients because nobody wants to invest in your services? Maybe it’s because you’re not investing in yourself or your business for the services you need.

It might sound like I’m blaming you for what’s going wrong, but I’m not.

I’m simply suggesting that you might need to give more of what YOU are not getting.

You might need to look in the mirror to figure out what that is.

No, you won’t always find the answers there. But it’s another place to look — one that’s most often overlooked.

I know this isn’t the easiest advice to accept, but you’ll thank me later.

So why not get started now?

I want to challenge you to identify the ONE biggest point of frustration in your career or business today. Then take a look in the mirror. Can you see where you might need to give more of what you’re not getting?

To your success,
Laura

October 16, 2022