I’m going to make this incredibly simple. A couple minute read with the full blueprint for how to never procrastinate again.
It’s a five-piece puzzle; three-year-olds can complete a five-piece puzzle. You’re smarter than a three-year-old. Not even you can sell yourself that short.
But allow me to be drier than usual so I can make this quick.
Piece 1: how procrastination works
When humans feel pain, we flinch away. You touch something hot, your muscles send you flinching violently in the opposite direction. You are incredibly quick and capable when it comes to avoiding pain.
When you feel that pain in relation to a task, you avoid that pain by avoiding that task. You ‘procrastinate’.
Meaning if we reduce the pain related to that task, you’ll stop procrastinating.
Piece 2: the pitfall you’re running towards
We’re doing the sparknotes here, so I’ll do this abridged (I made a full version in video below).
You’re gonna hit three ceilings as you climb out of procrastination.
The first one is tiny; you’ll either listen to this shit a couple times and stay, or you’ll listen a couple times and get distracted and wander off. I have no judgement whatsoever either way; I know how demoralising procrastination can be, and wandering off is just easier—you get to pretend that there was nothing that you needed here anyway.
The second one is bigger. You’ll start really listening to this shit, you’ll take the steps and you’ll make progress, but then things will get hard. And when they do you’ll want to say none of this works and you must just be useless—all to try to justify giving up and fucking off. But if you stick around then (no extra work, just stick around) things will get heaps better, easier, lighter, less painful.
The third one is monumental. Think the second one multiplied by a few. It won’t be any more painful, but it’ll feel like a bigger deal because you’ve been committed for longer. The main difference will be that you have waaay more confidence in yourself when you face this ceiling. But you’ll still want to run away, and when you don’t—when you stay—your identity will change. You’ll see yourself as a different person, and you’ll be a different person, and procrastination won’t have a choke-hold on you ever again.
Those are the obstacles ahead. My suggestion? Try to hit them. Make it a goal to hit them, life will transform.
But what are the steps that take you towards them?
Piece 3: the failsafe, step-by-step, formula
I call this the Engine of Fives. It’s four steps that you only have to complete five times each, looping through, until you’ve learned how to eliminate the pain that causes you to procrastinate. Bear with me—there’s a lot more to say on them but this is abridged:
Come up with an idea of what you think the pain that’s causing you to procrastinate might be. If you do this five times (usually less), you’ll have found at least one insight (i.e. you’ll be onto step 2).
Find an insight for how you might be able to reduce the pain. Often you’ll accidentally skip step 1 and jump straight here, but worst case scenario if you do this five times (usually less), you’ll have found at least one idea (i.e. step 3).
Ideate how you could try reducing the pain. Come up with ideas for how you could reduce the pain that you identified in step 1. If you do this five times (usually less), you’ll have found at least one experiment to try (i.e. step 4).
Experiment to learn what reduces the pain. We’re not trying to magically solve your procrastination here; we’re learning how to reduce YOUR pain. When you become someone who understands where your procrastination comes from at the source, and how to kill that pain, procrastination will become a memory. But first of all you gotta learn how.
NOTE: if you conduct five experiments, you’ll have learned how to make the pain less painful. If you make the pain less painful five times, you’ll have learned how to make it chill, if you make it chill five times, you’ll have learned how to effectively eliminate it. You will have learned how to keep procrastination at bay forever.
Piece 4: how to accelerate the shit out of it
Piece 4 is a series of accelerating steps. They aren’t essential, but they’ll make the whole process go x7 faster. I’m not going to share them here because this is the sparknotes version, and you can hear about them in the video below (or here—there’s even a chapter marker so you can skip ahead).
Piece 5: the thing you probably won’t do rn, that will change everything when you do
At some point you’re gonna have to make a decision to do things differently in some way. I’ve tried to make that as easy as possible by making the action that decision requires as simple as possible. One very simple step. Do whatever it takes to complete this step, and I’ll handle the rest.
Message me on Skool (click that link) with the following message: ‘Sam I’m ready to overcome procrastination’ (or really anything you like). Do whatever it takes to complete this step, and I’ll handle the rest. I’ll put you on a list of people for whom I will not rest until you are beyond procrastination.
This is just the beginning. Everything’s gonna be fuckin’ amazing really fuckin’ soon.
The full failsafe system
For those who want to make it easier
On Sunday at 7pm EST I’m running a Masterclass on how to pick a project/dream/goal aligned with your purpose. You can book here.
And in one week I’m running a 4-week course helping a few people kickstart a project they’re excited about—but that they’re struggling to start and stick to.
It’s only $97, you can reserve your place here now (limited places) find more details here, or send questions & inquiries to coachsamwatson@gmail.com (if you’re keen but unsure). I’d love to help you find out if it’s a good fit, (or to set up a plan, if the cost is difficult).
Fin
After you start this process, shit will be less painful tomorrow, painless soon, and exciting as shit in no time. Give it a chance.
Overcoming procrastination isn’t some big, impossible project. It’s in view, not too far ahead—and it’s really just the first step of a much more important journey.
What journey?
You living a life that’s so fuckin’ you that you’re STOKED to wake up every morning, and you make the lives of everyone you love better and richer everyday.
Procrastination is step 1, and having read this formula you’re so close. Don’t stop now.
And don’t just click join. Hang around. Make the Foundry your new home (and I can back you even more if you take a leap of faith over here too).
Looking forward to seeing you around. <3
Sam