Let’s have a chat about the 3 Types of procrastinators that I come across in business.
If you google the types of procrastinators I am certain you will find more than three and I am sure there are more. These are the ones I encounter often as a business coach and consultant and want to address them to help you move past them to achieve more.
Before I share what they are I want to say that procrastination comes up due to fear, uncertainty, or risk that you potentially feel. Many times we do not even realize we are procrastinating or we know we are procrastinating but do not know specifically why we are doing it. Either way, you are limiting yourself from building business. The purpose of this blog is to show you some ways you can become aware and some ideas to make the shifts so you can create more cash flow in your business and build a stronger business for future success.
The three types of procrastinators that I most commonly come across in business are the Anxious Avoider, the Overbooking Optimist, and the Perfectionist.
What does that mean?
- Anxious Avoider – It feels hard, risky, and scary, and will become anxious because of an uncertain outcome. New to them experiences and experiences that they are still not quite confident in doing can stop them in their tracks and prevent them from reaching their business goals.
- Overbooking Optimist – Takes on more than they actually have time for. Doesn’t want to disappoint or miss out on something. Wants to keep personal and business relationships intact and overbook with the hopes that they can find the time to do what they want and what others want them to do for them too. I mean come on who wants to disappoint clients, family, and friends!
- Perfectionist – Fear of it not being their best work and overwhelmed that it won’t be seen as good enough. So many unfinished projects and to-do lists that never seem to get shorter create overwhelm and bring out the golden hammer to beat you up for it all not getting done and perfect.
What does it mean if you find yourself being one of these types of procrastinators? Statistically, procrastinators make less money. If you are consistently holding yourself back from doing what you need to do in your business then you are likely making less money than you could and that adds to the self-confidence and worthiness components in your life. When you hold yourself back because it feels hard, risky, scary, or less than perfect then you are also holding back your flow of income and building a solidly profitable business. Money is not everything – But money is how your business can expand and create ways for you to give back.
The same holds true when you overbook yourself thinking that you can get everything done. You over-commit, over-stress and overpromise with the hopes that people will like you, trust you and buy from you and yet many people don’t buy from you because they think you are just too busy to work with them. As much as they like you; they don’t want to be one of the things you talk about being so busy with. For you learning to say no to others so you can say yes to yourself and your business would be a huge win.
I know that changing your procrastination ways is not an easy thing to do. I am a recovering perfectionist with a hint of overbooking in me so I know how it feels to have to make the changes to be successful. Human nature says it is hard to change. It is uncomfortable and we are uncertain about the idea that if we change we will be different and we don’t know that different person so it is easier to stay with what we know because we are comfortable with what we know.
Yes, that is a long way to say it. What we know feels easy and what we don’t know feels uncomfortable and hard.
But what if the possibility was that you changed your ways as a procrastinator and it worked out fabulous for you and those around you?
What if you ended up having more clients, creating consistent cash flow, and reducing the stress and anxiety that you have been feeling?
What if you could actually get more done in a day and built some amazing friendships too?
We all only have the capacity to do so much. I once heard someone say “When your workload is equal to your capacity you can get things done”. If we can only do so much, then we have to take an honest look at making sure our workload is equal to or less than what we are capable of and stop trying to cram so much more into our lives. Delegating and building a community of support are huge. Saying no to the things that prevent you from saying yes to yourself is a huge value to your life and business.
Stop waiting for everything to be just right and when the anxiety comes up redirect it to getting the things done you can at the moment and build that muscle up to stop the fear from taking over. Do not let being an Anxious Avoider, an Overbooking Optimist and a Perfectionist prevent you from taking full advantage of being a successful business owner. You really are the one person who stops you from being successful in your business.
What else can you stop doing?
- Letting your fears take over and hold you back from success. You will survive!
- Expecting someone else to praise you in your business. You have to toot your own horn!
- Not setting healthy boundaries with other people and yourself. You deserve that!
- Letting other people dictate to you what you need to do. You are smart enough!
- Having bad habits that you have not been willing to correct. You are now better than that!
Lastly, stop dragging your feet and go get something done in your business that you have been putting off. Right now! Go girl you’ve got this! You will be grateful you took action today.