Do little things keep you from being productive?

12 replies
I find that little decisions keep me from making as much progress as I should. Like when I had to decide on a new webhosting company or a email hosting company, I wasted weeks contemplating the decisions. It wasn't like there was some major issues to think over I just allowed these little things to hold me up. This stopped the progress of a lot of my work.

I am try to get in the habit of making this simple decisions faster so I can accomplish more.

What little things cause you to waste time? What methods do you use to overcome the time wasters?
#fast decision #productive #things #time
  • Profile picture of the author jlt
    I think often times it all comes back to fear. These little things (and I have had plenty of them) really come back to our fear of the unknown. If we make that decision then we are stepping that much farther into the unknown so we keep holding back. It feels safer that way. We feel like we are doing something because we are contemplating that web hosting service, etc., but we really aren't doing anything productive to move ourselves forward. I am sure it isn't like this for everyone, but I just think in a lot of cases it does go back to fear. At least that is how it has been for me many times in the past.
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  • Profile picture of the author Owen Smith
    I find Facebook and Warriorforum a huge distraction to me!
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    • Profile picture of the author Kaie
      In addition to online distractions, I find myself worrying over things like my new website theme and searching that instead of working on my content. I just went through a cycle of that and have set a deadline for myself to have a certain amount of content ready by a certain date and THEN I will install theme. (This is something I am battling at the moment)
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  • Profile picture of the author RedShifted
    If you are that indecisive of a person, I hate to tell you this, but thats a really bad thing for marketing especially.

    Successful people with high social status, are not indecisive people.

    They realize there is no such thing as a "wrong decision" because a "wrong decision" will TELL YOU what the RIGHT DECISION IS. Sometimes, the only way to know whats right, is to fail a thousand times doing the wrong thing, like Thomas Edison and the light bulb.

    Successful man, obviously not indecisive. He kept deciding to make a light bulb, even when he had a TON OF EVIDENCE to convince him he was doing the wrong thing, he ignored it.

    The right brothers were ALSO making the "wrong decision" trying to fly a plane when the rest of the world kept telling them they were stupid/out of their minds.

    They didn't listen, and JUST MADE A DECISION.

    Live is all about making decisions. There are constructive decisions and deconstructive ones, but I don't believe any of them are "wrong". As the deconstructive decisions, teach you how to make constructive ones... so really, JUST MAKE A DECISION AND STICK WITH IT!!

    Not to mention your example was a hosting company, I mean really, why?
    You know how I chose mine? I went online, made a thread, after that thread was over I took the company that was mentioned the most, and just DECIDED to use them.

    Some of this stuff really isn't rocket science. Also, if you are REALLY that indecisive of a person, you might want to forget about marketing altogether. I've met indecisive people, they can't accomplish anything. They are perfectionists, and while the world is always perfect in their perfect little brains, their lives are anything but.

    So for the benefit of your own life, either stop it, or find something where indecisiveness would be useful... which honestly I can't think of one thing at the moment. =]

    Take care & g/luck! - Red
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  • Profile picture of the author Velant
    Originally Posted by PassiveIncomeTeacher View Post

    What little things cause you to waste time? What methods do you use to overcome the time wasters?
    The approach that works for me is distinguishing BIG from small and on small minimise/eliminate contemplation and take action. Time is a real asset in IM, and nothing teaches you better than making mistakes and achieving little victories. So stop thinking - JUST DO IT!
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  • Profile picture of the author Jay Brass
    Originally Posted by PassiveIncomeTeacher View Post

    I find that little decisions keep me from making as much progress as I should. Like when I had to decide on a new webhosting company or a email hosting company, I wasted weeks contemplating the decisions. It wasn't like there was some major issues to think over I just allowed these little things to hold me up. This stopped the progress of a lot of my work.

    I am try to get in the habit of making this simple decisions faster so I can accomplish more.

    What little things cause you to waste time? What methods do you use to overcome the time wasters?
    You are very correct. Decisions like the ones you stated definitely can halt your work process by weeks and even months in some cases. That's why it's critical to be on top of everything and stay organized. Read some reviews about certain products, but don't dig so deep that you mindf*** yourself.

    For me, it's not those types of decisions that distract me, rather, it's small things like playing music on YouTube and having to switch the song ever 3 minutes.
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    • Profile picture of the author Blimeyoreilly
      I wouldn't necessarily regard thinking a lot about something in-depth was actually a retarding factor at all. Most of my drawbacks or bugs for progress if you like; are when I have rushed into something all hot headed without applying enough thought into it.

      Tell me then in reality, what in IM can't really wait a few weeks at the stage you are at anyway? Let's face it, we could spend that long dithering on a copy title just to get it perfectly right. There are many successful marketers that would have done a world of things differently & in fact have commented about wishing they had thought things out a little bit more.

      Anyway, all I am saying is there is a difference between procrastinating & analysing things in depth before making decisions. Only you as an individual would actually know which of these two categories your mindset falls under. All the sound advice given by members above deals smartly with the former but the latter I would advise turning into a habit.
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      • Profile picture of the author cashp0wer
        The WF is a big distraction for me, Facebook can be off and on depending on my mood.
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        • Originally Posted by Kaie View Post

          In addition to online distractions, I find myself worrying over things like my new website theme and searching that instead of working on my content. I just went through a cycle of that and have set a deadline for myself to have a certain amount of content ready by a certain date and THEN I will install theme. (This is something I am battling at the moment)
          Yeah, a friend and I were talking about distractions keeping us from creating content. He actually decided to do the same thing you are doing; set a deadline to complete content and then focus on other things.

          Originally Posted by Owen Smith View Post

          I find Facebook and Warriorforum a huge distraction to me!
          Originally Posted by cashp0wer View Post

          The WF is a big distraction for me, Facebook can be off and on depending on my mood.
          I agree WF can be a distraction, but it is beneficial.
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  • Profile picture of the author Joni D
    I find my email inbox is a big distraction and even tho I have learned alot from others and bought some awesome courses and SW, I found I had to unsubscribe from most as nothing gets done. UNSUBSCRIBE from unnecessary newsletters! picking 1 or 2 favorites for me is enough. Make a list for the day before you hit the pc power button, look at the list at the end of the day and make tomorrows list at least for a guide or your email may take you somewhere for a few hours (even to facebook updates etc.) set a time limit for email or soc media etc. as it can be all day for whatever grabs you. Start talkin to yourself or set a timer if you have to. I haven't set a timer yet but it may come to that
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  • Profile picture of the author rajat2k2k
    I agree making a list while starting a computer...even handwritten list anywhere will do.
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  • Profile picture of the author Gerald Arno
    Banned
    Originally Posted by PassiveIncomeTeacher View Post

    I find that little decisions keep me from making as much progress as I should. Like when I had to decide on a new webhosting company or a email hosting company, I wasted weeks contemplating the decisions. It wasn't like there was some major issues to think over I just allowed these little things to hold me up. This stopped the progress of a lot of my work.

    I am try to get in the habit of making this simple decisions faster so I can accomplish more.

    What little things cause you to waste time? What methods do you use to overcome the time wasters?
    Definitely thinking about performing tasks that are not highly profitable.

    Being aware of what you should focus on, is the first step to changing your habits. indecisiveness is one of the number one reasons for failure in most online businesses.

    If you jump to conclusions, hour by hour, through and through, you'll never have your focus on fully following through your top paying ideas.

    Additionally, if you live with fear or a mind full of ideas without the power to implement any of those, you're wasting your time.

    Identify what keeps you from making sound decisions, and take proper actions to form new habits so that you'll be able to make decisions and choices based on ROI.
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