Procrastination

I am currently putting the finishing touches on a new EBook, 9 Ways Procrastination May Keep You From Getting The Job of Your Dreams (working title). I decided to write the EBook because I see too many people who procrastinate endlessly when it comes to preparation (crafting their story) and the job search process itself (telling their story).

There are a variety of ways people sabotage themselves, but few are more destructive, or have a more profound impact, than procrastination. Whether you have elevated procrastination to an art form or selectively deal with the issue, it is an important habit to break because it can lead to stress, illness, and low self-esteem.

How bad is it really? A quick quiz
Many people take being a procrastinator as a black or white proposition. They either see themselves as one or they don’t. The truth is, there are different degrees of procrastination. Almost everyone procrastinates to some degree in some area of life. That’s called being human. Procrastination becomes a problem, however, when it is so pervasive it impacts our behavior in ways beyond our conscious awareness.

To learn more about your procrastination habits, answer the following questions quickly and honestly:

1. Are you overwhelmed at the prospect of searching for a new job?
2. Do you spend hours searching through online job postings and walk away with the nagging feeling you haven’t actually accomplished anything?
3. Have you been sidetracked more times than you can count by other projects and interruptions?
4. Have you found yourself so busy with projects unrelated to the job search that you wonder how anything ever got done when you worked full-time?
5. Do you find yourself taking on additional responsibilities to help your spouse or partner around the house that take time away from the job search?
6. Have you put off contacting former co-workers who might be able to help if they knew you were in the market?
7. Have you put off updating your résumé because you know you need to make it more compelling, but don’t have a clue how to do it?
8. Are you spending most of your time looking for “safe” options rather than jobs that might be a reach, but would be far more energizing?
9. Do you often catch yourself worrying you will end up in a new job facing all the same issues you dealt with in the old job?

The scoring for this quiz is straightforward.

If you answered “Yes” to even one question, you need to think seriously about the reasons behind your procrastination. Is this something you can solve on your own through awareness and discipline? Or is it an issue that requires the assistance of a coach?

If you answered “Yes” to more than 3 questions, you need to get a copy of this EBook. Send an email to me (rob@careercraftsman.com) with the subject "Procrastination" and you will be among the first to know when the EBook is available.