The Strategies You Need to Overcome Procrastination, Fear, and Self-Doubt so that You Can Build a Solid Foundation for Brand Success
If I told you I have never procrastinated, I’d be lying.
Procrastination has been a blessing and a curse for me.
I used to say that I worked better under pressure. That I could actually focus better when I knew I was under the gun. I convinced myself that it was OK to procrastinate because some of my best work was created under pressure.
Maybe there was some reality to this thought, but on the flip side of it, I was spending a lot of time in a state of inaction. The state of inaction led to increasing amounts of fear, anxiety, stress, and overwhelm.
Procrastination is the lack of action to accomplish something, anything. It’s a delay in taking action, oftentimes because of fear. It’s a vicious cycle.
Fear, procrastination. Procrastination, fear.
As 2020 comes to an end and we approach 2021, I ask you, what have you been putting off, and what are you willing to put back on the table to take strategic action to accomplish?
I’ve been doing a lot of soul-searching and mindset works the past two months and I want to share how moving from a state of procrastination is changing the scope of my business for 2021 and opening my life up to more success, less stress, fear, and overwhelm.
What is the number one enemy of productivity? Fear.
Fear will keep us in a place of inaction. Hold us back from achieving our goals and dreams. It will drive us to a place of anxiety and overwhelm.
We think we have to be doing something because everyone else is and they are showing strides forward and announcing successful months, and here we sit, stagnant, anchored by fear.
Self-Doubt
What anchors the fear? Self-doubt. The thoughts that we aren’t good enough, the voices we’ve heard, ours or others, saying that we didn’t go to school for that. You aren’t good enough. Who do you think is going to hire you? You can’t accomplish that. No one is going to hire you without certification or a diploma proving you are good enough. You really don’t know what you’re talking about.
Have you ever caught yourself thinking any of those thoughts? Hearing the statements as though someone else is saying them directly to you? Or, maybe your parents or partner or friends have said these things to you over the years.
The reality is, if you’ve been procrastinating the way I have over the years, you are robbing other people of the help you can give them. Of the service, you can provide for them to help them impact the world.
A Year Ahead of the Rest
Here’s the thing. You can help you that existed 3 years ago. What do I mean by that? You have lived and experienced and created over the past few years so much so, even weighed down by the anchor of procrastination, that you have the expertise to help someone else who is where you were.
Now is the time, as we close out 2020 and begin a new year, to lift the anchor and start taking action. You no longer have to wear the chains of negative thoughts and fear that have been holding you in a place of inaction. I don’t either.
How to Break Free from Procrastination
Remember that self-doubt and fear are the strongest chain links to holding the anchor of procrastination.
So how can we break the links between fear and self-doubt?
Let’s start with identifying your goals for your business or life in 2021.
Write them down. As Krista Resnick told us in Episode 93, there is power in writing our thoughts to connect our mind, body, and spirit.
Now, any time a thought of fear comes in and tries to hold you back, catch it, and write it down.
Once you have written it down, challenge it. What is the situation or circumstance? Is it writing a book, launching a program, becoming a coach, or opening a business? The situation or circumstance is real and valid, no one can argue it. But your thoughts around it may not be rational.
Next, change the negative or fearful thought you caught. If you want to become an author and the negative thought was that no one would buy your book, rephrase that thought to people who need this book. This book will help people. There will be sales of this book if I write it. Write these phrases and implement them as mantras. Say and write them down every day.
The next step is to take control of the thoughts by taking action. If you want to become an author, start by writing one paragraph every day, this will lead to one page a day and so on.
Taking action gives you control and will catapult you toward successfully accomplishing your goals, dreams, and desires.
Catch
Challenge
Change
Control
Catapult
The 5 Cs of breaking the chains of procrastination.
The Positive Mindset Content Pattern
In the past few episodes, we’ve talked about pivoting or rebranding, setting intentions and living with intention, job security, self-compassion, and now procrastination.
Do you see the pattern?
I chose these topics to help launch us into 2021 with a foundation of success. So much of our success is centered around mindset.
You can have all the skills and expertise, but if you don’t have the right mindset, you are going to sink yourself. Mindset is what propels us into intentional action and 80% of what we accomplish is due to action.
When I talk about working on mindset, I don’t mean to read about it. I mean, read about it and intentionally implement the strategies you learn. The only true way you will beat procrastination is to strategically work on it every single day.
With every link of the chain to the procrastination anchor that is broken, there becomes less fear and overwhelm and more light that will come to the surface.
Getting to the Root of Procrastination
The link between mindset and procrastination is that there is almost always a root cause for procrastinating. As I mentioned before, that root is most likely fear or self-doubt.
Taking intentional action to overcome fear and self-doubt will allow you to break the habit of procrastination.
The 5Cs, journaling around them, and creating a plan of action, even something as simple as time blocking, will be a great start. I can tell you it’s done wonders for me in the past few months.
Working with a Coach to End Procrastination and Have Accountability
Working with a coach has also made a huge difference for me in terms of getting out of my own way. I was afraid of spending the money, but I have been blown away by the return on investment and transformation I am experiencing. It proves to me that we all need support and other eyes on our businesses if we are going to continue to grow and succeed.
Break all the bad habits. Overcoming anxiety, fear, and self-doubt. Live with less procrastination and build foundations for success.
And this is why I am announcing a new coaching program for 2021. My goal is to help entrepreneurs build foundations for brand success. To create personal brands that stand out, attract clients, and make money while making an impact.
I want to contribute more to the ripple effect of making the world a better place. How better to do that than to help other women build solid foundations to in turn help others?
This program will have a heavy concentration on brand marketing strategy and personal branding, but also mindset. I will be taking a limited number of clients, so if you are ready to invest in your brand and business to build a solid foundation for success, be sure and reach out before January 11th when I officially launch. We will be accepting applications on January 2nd.
Choose a Word of the Year to Overcome Procrastination
Another idea to help break the habit of procrastination is to choose a word of the year. For example, two years ago, my word was confidence. I created a vision board with confidence in huge letters across the middle. It served as a constant reminder to believe in myself and be courageous over the fear that had been holding me back.
For 2020, my word was gratitude. It’s kind of ironic, but when I think about it, it was the perfect choice because having gratitude and patience is what has helped me get through this trying year.
And for 2021, my word is action. I have worked really hard to ramp up momentum over the past few months and I am going to continue to take intentional action to propel myself toward each of my goals for 2021.
Instead of setting a new year’s resolution, which who really keeps those anyway, think of a word that can inspire, motivate, and help you move forward throughout 2021.
If you struggle to find the “right” word at first, pray on it. Look back on 2021 and see where you needed the most help. Could action be the word for you? Maybe it’s confidence, courage, faith, gratitude, grace, discipline, love, and intention. It could be a value that you want to focus on.
You don’t have to create a vision board. Write the word at the top of each of your journal pages and then create a mantra around it that you can say and write daily throughout the year. Try it and see how it changes your mindset. It really is remarkable.
The Last Episode in 2020
On that note, this is the last episode of 2020. A year ago, I was just moving out of a state of procrastination to start this podcast. How I wish I’d taken action earlier in 2019. But it’s worked out and God has blessed me with more success for the podcast than I could have ever imagined.
As we move out of 2020 and into a new year, I wish you all a year of love, hope, gratitude, and success. Remember to give yourselves the gifts of grace and self-compassion daily.
And, I want to thank you for being here with me each week. I appreciate you and I especially appreciate the shares on Instagram and Facebook, and the ratings and reviews. All are how we continue to be able to host inspiring guests. So, if you enjoyed this episode, please screenshot it and share it! Hopefully, we can help many others move from the weight of procrastination to propelling toward success and joy.
Oh, and one more thing. As a podcast host, I sit here behind this mic, but I never know who is listening. It’s hard because I love to see people’s reactions and I love to get to know people. I love to hear your stories and hear how the podcast has helped you.
To learn more about your host, Robyn Graham, click HERE.
