posted
Some years ago I did a DayTimer course, I found it wonderfully valuable in helping to deal with time and procrastination. Can't say I'm perfect (yet) but the seminar does help evaluate what's really important based on one's personal values and priorities then shows the way to get done that which is important and put aside the less important.
------------------ Gray Hodge Cam River Signs Somerset, Tasmania.
posted
I was going to reply to your post earlier, but put it aside for a while!
I mean, I could have left it until tomorrow morning. But then I will be busy doing all the things I should have really done today .. that's if I don't leave them until the weekend .. or whenever
Am I a procrastinator? Have to think about that one for a while too
Seriously, I do try and list in my Diary each morning everything I HAVE to do each day in order of importance. It helps to refer to the list during the day and not leave it until the evening to find out what you should have done
But then, I have a wife to remind me hahahahaha
Jon
------------------ Bushie aka Jon Butterworth Jonsigns old signwriters never retire ... they just fade into the background! Toowoomba,Queensland Australia.
Posts: 4014 | From: Toowoomba, Queensland, Australia | Registered: Nov 1998
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posted
I learned many years ago that putting something off doesn't eliminate it. When dealing with a sign you would really rather not do, the best thing is to do it right away and forget about it. The longer you put it off, the less you want to do it and it haunts you until it is done.
------------------ Bill Riedel Riedel Sign Co., Inc. Little Ferry, NJ billsr@riedelsignco.com
Posts: 2953 | From: Little Ferry, New Jersey, USA | Registered: Feb 1999
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procrastination= taking the time to reorganize and regroup projects! It seems as though I have to have six things going at once, simultaneously, to really find interest in it as a whole multi-level project. such as, running two programs at once,cutting vinyl, running the washer, oven and coordinating three trips out and maybe having some music all at the same time; One time I was bored and out of time so I primed the side of my house and four signboards at the same time. (Same primer and rollers!)And talking to kids about mowing schedules and sign customers and neighbors. Crowds gather crowds! Hand them a paint brush, too!
------------------ Deb Creative Signs
Posts: 5373 | From: Loves Park, Illinois | Registered: Aug 1999
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I procrastinate when I have a job or task I don't want to do. Sometimes, I don't realize I don't want to do it....its deep inside me that keeps telling me not to do it, while my brain says I have to do it!
The conflict between the two really messes me up.
------------------ Draper The Signmaker Bloomington Illinois USA Be Sure to Check Out My Next Article On "Sign Shop Photography" in the March Issue of Sign Builder Illustrated! 309-828-7110 drapersigns@hotmail.com Draper_Dave on mIRC chat
Posts: 2883 | From: Bloomington Illinois USA | Registered: Nov 1998
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posted
sorry adrienne, i don't have time at the moment to raise my hand. i will raise my hand by this afternoon er...uh... maybe tomorrow morning, or it could be the middle or the end of next week before i get a chance...
posted
Remember my post way back about ADD (Attention Deficit Disorder)? For me, personally it's not so much putting stuff off I hate to do, it's that everything distracts me from doing what HAS to be done. Staying 'on task' is the hardest thing ever for me! Like these mural doors I'm doing...I stayed home while Steve and Barb went to San Francisco because I was trying to get them done....I got one done....well, it's been a week now...and, altho I havn't had any other pressing work, I haven't picked up the brush since. Client is anxious to see the other three finished...me too.....I need the money...and then there's this artical for SBI mag........
So....today.....
------------------ Adrienne Morgan Splash Signs www.splashsigns.com "Rainkatt'on chat
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Around these parts I am the Queen of Procrastination. I even put off getting dressed to go somewhere til the last possible moment. When I showed up early and even arrived before most of the family to my Mother's funeral it was a real shocker to them. Mom always said, "Kathy will be late for her own funeral." I have made arrangements with the funeral home to be rolled in after everyone arrives. I love to have the last laugh. But, I will probably put off dieing so long there will be no one left living to laugh!
------------------ Kathy Joiner River Road Graphics 41628 River Road Ponchatoula, La.70454 PH. (504)386-3313 casey@i-55.com
Old enough to know better...Too young to resist.
Posts: 1891 | From: Ponchatoula, LA | Registered: Nov 2000
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Adrienne, when I use to be homebased, I use to stay in bed and answer the phone as if I was open for business 5 hours ago. I was terrible. Then I'd have to work through the night to stay on schedule.
When I went storefront, it trained me to get back into biz shape. I HAD to be there at a certain time. And since I was there, during downtimes, I still spend my time doing work related stuff. I don't have home things to distract me. It really put biz back into perspective for me and made me more money by doing so.
I'm hoping my new training will keep me on target when I move back home!
However, there are things I do procrastinate doing at work. What helps me is a daily schedule. I keep it in the computer, and fill out what has to be done for the next day. What doesn't get completed, gets pushed to the next day. Sometimes I get so tired of seeing old projects on the list I actually just do them so I can get rid of the info on paper!
My suggestion for your pradicament... get up like you have to be somewhere every morning at a certain time. Force yourself out of the house. Once you're on the outside of your front door, you may as well go do some work after all this effort!
Can't get yourself to even do this? Reward yourself in some small way if you do it. Stop at your fav place for lunch, or get that brush you've had your eye on while you're doing your running around. Shopping for neat stuff wakes me up!
May I add, we may lose customers by procrastinating too long. Set a somewhat flexible deadline and stick to it. Losing a customer is normally enough motivation for me to keep on something.
posted
Thanks Adrienne I will post you tomorrow on this as right now I am thinking about other things!!!! AH Szit! I forgot what I was about to do!!!! THANKS ALOT! I really have to much on my plate right now!
Raven
------------------ Raven/2001 Airbrushed by Raven Lower Sackville N.S. deveausdiscovery@sprint.ca
Posts: 4327 | From: Lower Sackville, Nova Scotia, Canada | Registered: Jan 2000
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posted
I do remember your post on ADD...it helped me recognize something about myself and why all the very expensive time management seminars and equipment I've invested in have not worked.
I'm with you...it's the distractions as much as or more than procrastination that does me in. I've been trying to come up with a method that works to keep me on track, and when I do it will be patented!
I get so frustrated by it. For example, I'll be working on a really important project bid (with a deadline) and I have to get up to get some information; on my way to where I'm going I see umpteen things that require my attention and already I've forgotten why I'm walking through the office. Then someone complains their email is not working, so I stop to fix their problem, and while I'm doing that, a customer calls, so we discuss their needs. Now I hang up and pull their file, etc., etc., etc.....and I have absolutely no recollection that I'm supposed to be finishing the bid which has to be faxed by 3 pm. If I'm lucky, some mechanism will kick in, or by serendipity I return to my office and see my half-finished lettering with cursor flashing on the screen and I'll finish in total panic mode with 2 minutes left to fax. (Gee, I hope their clock is on the same time as mine is.)
And thus goes another day.
Add to that the purposeful procrastination on jobs that I'm not looking forward to and it makes for some pretty stressful days.
I wish I could report that I had something to keep me on task. I really wish my brain worked like my internet browser and I could just click "back", "back", "back" to find out what I was doing before I got here.
I know I'm supposed to be doing something right now, but I can't remember what it was. I guess I'll go for a walk around the office and hopefully the thing that commands my attention will be the one I'm supposed to be doing now. Sigh!
------------------ Diane Crowther, Metaline Graphics Ltd., Nova Scotia, Canada, ID #285
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I kill procrastination with toys..... um... I mean tools. One thing I always hated to do was cut a 4 x 8 down to a smaller size. Smaller sized sign jobs would be put off in favor of full 4 x 8's. So I bought a panel saw. Now I can't wait to cut those panels up since its so easy it ain't work any more.
I hated installations. Ladders, dangers, trying to find helpers, lifting....yuck. Answer? Bought a Van Ladder. Now I can't wait to install and charge $90 an hour to boot.
I hate paperwork. Billings weren't too bad, after all, that brings in the money. It was the sales & dispersments journals I hated, and I refuse to pay an accountant to do ALL the work. Bought Quickbooks Pro. Check book always balances, everything comes out perfect and total accounting fees were $200 for tax return including schedule C.
So that's my answer. If I hate doing something, I find a tool or process that makes it easier and more fun.
------------------ Dave Sherby "Sandman" SherWood Sign & Graphic Design Crystal Falls, MI 49920 906-875-6201 ICQ: 21604027 sherwood@up.net
Posts: 5400 | From: Crystal Falls, MI USA | Registered: Apr 1999
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Dave...You have the perfect solution. A man cannot have too many toys (tools). I hate the bookwork end of business too (except, like yourself, the writing of invoices) so I just do what you didn't do. I take everything to the accountant. He doesn't try to make signs and I don't try to do bookwork.
Do I procrastinate? Not a lot really, when it comes to work. I used to but then I realised that the jobs I was putting off were ones that I had priced too low. I solved that problem in the obvious manner.
This business is the most fun I have ever had working (and I use the term "working" when I should say "playing") and it pays better than any job or business that I have ever had so I look forward to doing every job! THAT makes procrastination a difficult thing.
NOW if you are refering to chores around the house!!!! TOTALLY different situation!!! LOL
------------------ Dave Grundy AKA "applicator" on mIRC "stickin' sticky stuff to valuable vessels and vehicles!" in Granton, Ontario, Canada 1-519-225-2634 dave.grundy@quadro.net www.quadro.net/~shirley
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Dave... You really should look into an accounting program. What you pay yuour accountant in 6 months would pay for the program.
Invoicing... results in a very professional invoice. Professional invoices in color have been proven to get paid faster than hand written or even preprinted black on white invoices. I love total control over statements. I can add interest with a click of the mouse on any or all account payables. Every sale is easily trackable which comes in handy in more ways than I have time to list here.
Checking...I can crank out checks when paying bills faster than I can stamp my signature on the check, shove it into an envelope, and put a stamp on it. I'm never half way thru before the printer is done printing the checks. Balancing the checkbook takes one minute each month. Its always right on.
Customer records...Its never been easier to keep track of customers phone numbers, address, fax numbers, contact names, sales history, etc. It takes about 1 minute to enter a new customers personal info.
Basicly, once you are set up, its just a matter of paying bills and writing invoices. A 30 second request for a report shows me sales and profit for any month or year to date. Come Jan. 1, I print a profit loss detail and that one report is everything my accountant needs for the business portion of my taxes. Takes 30 seconds plus printing time.
My accountant doesn't buy signs from me and I don't let him do my bookwork, just my taxes. Why stay with him if he's not a customer of mine? He's the best in the area for getting every legal penny back from the Gov.
------------------ Dave Sherby "Sandman" SherWood Sign & Graphic Design Crystal Falls, MI 49920 906-875-6201 ICQ: 21604027 sherwood@up.net
Posts: 5400 | From: Crystal Falls, MI USA | Registered: Apr 1999
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------------------ Pat Neve, Jr. Sign Man, Inc. 4580 N. US 1 Melbourne, FL 32935 321-259-1703 signman@signmaninc.com Capt. Sign Letterville Constituent constituent: "One of the individual entities contributing to a whole"
Posts: 2284 | From: Melbourne, FL, USA | Registered: Jan 1999
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yesterday, I did six projects that I have been putting on hold, so I wouldn't have to do the others! I'll get to them one of these days! It was a group of phone calls: doctor, dentist, and three business related...
------------------ Deb Creative Signs
Posts: 5373 | From: Loves Park, Illinois | Registered: Aug 1999
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