Delayed Decision

Never do today what you can put off until tomorrow. I’ve always liked that idea. Why not work on what I believe is most important right now and go ahead and postpone that difficult or unpleasant decision. It can seam easy to conclude that no decision is a good decision. However, we can end up with a backlog of difficult or unpleasant decisions that have not gotten any better, and sometimes are worse. What a mess. From his book Life Promises for Leaders, Zig Ziglar helps us to understand the root cause of procrastination.

If we want to delay making a decision, we can always find an excuse. And some of us are board certified experts! After all, we don’t want to decide now because

• the situation may change,

• the problem might completely go away,

• somebody may come up with a better solution, or

• we might win the lottery or a tornado might blow us away-either way,

• we won’t have to make that decision!

Sometimes we put up with an incredible mess because we’re afraid of making a mistake. Certainly, we need to think through decisions, so we choose the best option, but sooner or later, it’s time to act. Procrastination is paralysis by fear, not astute planning. If you regularly have difficulty making decisions, look below the surface to identify your fears, and address them. No excuses!

Questions

What are some fears that can lead to procrastination?

How can I address my fears so they no longer interfere with my life?

Take a look

Proverbs 12:24

Ephesians 5:15-16

Ecclesiastes 10:18

—Mike