Breaking Through: Overcoming Procrastination to Reach Your Business Goals

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“If we are going in circles, it means your plan came before clarity” – Deliana Mineva

We make plans and SMART goals in our weekly and daily schedule. But then nothing happens because week after week something comes up: the kid is sick, then it’s my turn, then it’s the meeting with the banker that’s been planned for two months, then it’s the preparations for the other kid’s birthday party, then it’s an official holiday, and so the list of urgent things gets longer and longer, and for the business tasks, it turns out that we haven’t had any time left in the last month.

Does this scenario of procrastination sound familiar to you?

We often wonder why we fail to achieve our business goals despite our efforts and planning. What stops us?

Why do we make plans that we don’t follow through, procrastinate, and feel empty, drained, and tired?

Let’s explore some main reasons that block us from making the desired progress.

1. Procrastination linked to the fear of failure

One of the main reasons we don’t achieve our goals is the fear of failure. This fear can paralyze our actions and make us avoid risks. It’s important to realize that mistakes are part of the process, not definitive failures. We can only talk about failure if we give up and stop trying.

Imagine a child learning to write. Just because they don’t know how to write the letter “A” in the first week of school doesn’t mean they have failed. By practicing, they will learn to write.

The fear of failure often comes from our fixation on each step, thinking that every mistake means ultimate failure.

Another aspect of the fear of failure is comparing ourselves to others, whether someone or we compare ourselves to those around us.

2. Procrastination linked to the fear of Losing Comfort

Change often requires stepping out of our comfort zone, which can be frightening. We tend to cling to the familiar, even if it means giving up on our dreams. It’s important to remind ourselves that comfort can be temporary, and the reward for overcoming fear is often much more fantastic.

Sometimes, the fear of change (download the PDF for free )is more profound than reluctance to leave our comfort zone. We may fear that our personal lives and routines will change significantly if we start a business or a more demanding career. 

Ask yourself: who will be unhappy? Whose life will also be disrupted from its usual and comfortable routine? How will this person react? 

You might find that your partner won’t agree to support you in achieving your career plans and dreams. Maybe you fear that you will lose your relationship if you fail. 

What is your biggest fear? 

What is the worst thing that could happen if you step out of your comfort zone?

3. How can Misalignment Between Desires and True Intentions lead to procrastination?

Sometimes, we pursue goals that aren’t indeed our own. Maybe we chose a goal because we thought we “should” achieve it due to education or others’ expectations. 

It’s important to ask ourselves if this is our goal or if we are following someone else’s expectations.

Life is a process of constant decision-making. Today, you might decide to try something different without feeling guilty. 

Often, a lack of motivation for a goal means that the goal isn’t truly yours or isn’t suitable for you now. When you acknowledge this, you can focus on what truly motivates you.

For example, you might want to start a business, but you have a young child now. Your short-term motivation might be to stay home with your child, and in a few years, when you feel the need for intellectual engagement, you can return to your business ideas. This doesn’t mean you are giving up on your goals; you are adapting them to your current circumstances.

4. Lack of Clarity

Lack of clarity about goals and ways to achieve them can lead to stagnation. If we are going in circles, perhaps our plan came before clarity. First, understand exactly what you want and then create an action plan.

Starting a business after a corporate career can be confusing. Being employed and owning a business require different skills and approaches. To succeed as a business owner, you need passion, resilience, and the readiness to constantly adapt your plans.

5. Procrastination and Self-Sabotage

Instead of performing essential tasks, we often engage in pleasant activities or family “urgent” tasks that do not lead toward the business goal. It is often defined as self-sabotage, driven by various fears and doubts. We must understand that procrastination is not the problem but a consequence of one or more of the above issues. To deal with procrastination, we must identify its causes and develop strategies to overcome these obstacles.

How to Overcome These Obstacles and Procrastination?

• Work on Your Self-Esteem: Confidence in our abilities can significantly reduce the fear of failure.
• Accept failure as part of the learning and growth process. Mistakes teach us and prepare us for success.
• Accept Discomfort: Understand that discomfort is an inevitable part of growth and accept it as a positive sign of progress.
• Evaluate Your Goals: Work with your coach to ensure your goals are yours and reflect your natural desires and aspirations.
• Develop a Clear Plan: First, establish a clear vision of what you want, then create a specific action plan.
• Analyze your “mistakes” and build new action strategies.
• Recognize whose judgment worries you the most and view it not as criticism but as feedback on how the outside world perceives your actions. It can only be beneficial as it helps you rethink your action strategies.
• Deal with Procrastination: Identify the causes of procrastination and develop strategies to deal with them.

By achieving clarity and overcoming our fears, we can start taking concrete steps toward our goals and elevate our business to the next level. It’s important to remind ourselves that the path to success is often filled with challenges, but with the right approach and mindset, we can overcome them and achieve our desired direction.

In this article, I synthesized specific reasons that come to light for almost all clients seeking coaching for business growth and becoming inspirational leaders. These reasons manifest through different beliefs in each of us, and the most vital trait of a professional and certified coach is to help you discover what is holding you back personally and empower you to grow.

In the FREE PDF, you will find a powerful exercise that will help you focus on and work on your important goals in business and life. https://exceptional-woman.com/produkt/workbook-4-obstacles-to-eliminate-to-overcome-procrastination/

WORKBOOK 4 Obstacles to Eliminate to Overcome Procrastination

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