Tag: procrastination

  • It Doesn’t Help Anyone If You Leave It In the Box

    It Doesn’t Help Anyone If You Leave It In the Box

    I tend to make a big deal about how important it is not to procrastinate. Just get started.

    Do the thing when you think of it instead of putting it off.

    It almost never hurts to do something a little earlier than you absolutely have to, instead of waiting until the last minute.

    So I’m going to tell on myself.

    A while back, for my birthday, my dad bought me a portable car battery booster. One of those little jump-start packs. I didn’t even know I wanted it, but he got it for me, I said thanks, and that was that.

    Fast forward to a few days ago. One of my daughters called and said her battery was dead. And where was that booster?

    Still sitting in the original Amazon box in the back seat of my truck.

    Now, I’ve got jumper cables, so it wasn’t the end of the world. But it would have been easier. And that’s the point.

    Low-risk example. Same lesson.

    Normally I wouldn’t bother mentioning the booster itself because it has nothing to do with real estate. But these things are actually great.

    It fits in a small bag. You carry it in one hand. If your battery is dead, you hook it up and start the car. No second vehicle. No asking strangers for help.

    No waiting around in a parking lot hoping someone stops.

    I’m probably going to buy one for all my kids.

    My daughters especially worry about being stuck somewhere and having to deal with people they don’t know. If they’ve got one of these, they don’t need anyone. It’s just handled.

    You can also charge your phone with it. It charges by USB, so you can plug it in while you’re driving. It’s got a flashlight built in too.

    It’s not much more expensive than a decent set of jumper cables, and it takes up less space than most glove box junk.

    They’re just useful.

    If you’ve got kids, it will give you peace of mind.

    If you have one already, don’t be like me. Take it out of the box. But if not, go buy one and actually use it.

    You can get the same one I have from Amazon at the link below.

    Or buy a nicer one. I don’t care. Just don’t leave it sitting in the box like I did.

    Disclosure: As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. That means if you buy something—anything—after clicking that link, I may receive a small commission. It doesn’t change your price.

  • Stop Putting It Off

    Stop Putting It Off

    Happy New Year.

    Depending on when you’re reading this, you may not have even broken your New Year’s resolution yet. That is, if you’re the sort who makes them.

    As I’ve gotten older, I’ve learned I’m usually more successful if I just start whatever it is at the moment I have the idea.

    More successful doesn’t mean totally successful. But when the idea shows up, that’s usually when motivation is highest. Waiting turns it into a “someday” thing. Those don’t tend to get done.

    We all want to improve ourselves and our situation. Or at least we should. Most of the things that actually help aren’t big willpower moves.

    If you own lots or land, one simple thing you can do right now is click below and let me put together a free value analysis for you. No cost. No obligation.

    You may not be thinking about selling today. You may think you’re never going to sell. Ever.

    That’s fine.

    But things change.

    And the best time to prepare for a big decision is usually well before you’re forced to make it. That way, when the time comes, you’re not starting from zero.

    The report includes real sales in the immediate area of your property, with real prices. It also covers market trends, utility considerations, planned developments, new roads, and anything else that materially affects your property.

    After you get it, if you ever want me to, I’ll update it. Just ask.

    I know you’re not looking to sell today. I’m not going to pester you about that.

    Will I follow up and stay in touch? Of course.

    Will I badger you or try to talk you into selling if it’s not in your interest? Never.

    It doesn’t cost you anything. It takes almost no effort. Just a couple of clicks and some basic information.

    In return, you get something useful even if you never sell. And you get to work with someone who does what he says and listens.

    Is there any downside to just checking it out?

  • Good Enough Gets Better Results Than Perfect

    Good Enough Gets Better Results Than Perfect

    If you’re trying to “get it right” before you start, you’re probably lying to yourself.

    I’ve written before about goal setting and success, and the basic formula is pretty simple:

    1. Decide what you want.
    2. Figure out what it’ll take to get there — or what it’ll cost.

    Then comes the step everyone forgets: check if what you did actually worked. If it did, great. If it didn’t, adjust and repeat. Every round should get you closer.

    Most people get stuck at step 2. I see it all the time. A client once told me they were “waiting until they figured everything out” before listing their land. A year later, prices dipped, interest rates spiked, and the window they thought they had disappeared.

    That’s the trap.

    If you’ve never done something before, you probably don’t know the “right” way to do it. You’ve got two choices:

    • Start now, learn as you go, and adjust along the way.
    • Or wait until you have every detail perfect before taking the first step.

    Guess which one succeeds faster? Right — the first one.

    Guess which one most people pick anyway? Also right — the second one.

    And we know it, but we can’t help ourselves. We decide we want everything lined up before we move.

    Not because failure is fatal, but because we don’t want anyone to see us fail.

    The irony? Nobody’s watching.

    Here’s the truth: perfectionism and procrastination are the same thing.

    Perfectionism just wears a tuxedo and pretends it’s working hard.

    We tell ourselves we’re “waiting until we figure it out,” but we’re really just putting off action. We make it sound smart. Responsible. Even strategic.

    But deep down, it’s fear in a tailored suit.

    Stop trying to perfect everything. Most of the time, “good enough” is exactly what gets results.

    Take land, for example. Maybe it’s not the right time for you to sell — or buy — today. That’s fine. But here’s the thing: how will you know when the timing is right if you’re not paying attention?

    It doesn’t have to be perfect to start. The first step is knowing where you stand right now.

    Is it ever the wrong time to have a quick conversation and get the facts from someone you trust?