STARTING YOUR FREELANCE CAREER - Don't Procrastinate

By Marilyn Crain

Procrastination can begin so innocently, but grow to drain the vitality from the most passionate of endeavors. Freelance professionals, full-time or part-time, can erode their career-potential by this insidiously dangerous habit.

To procrastination, no one is off limits. Dabblers and highly motivated go-getters can be struck down with ease.

It sometimes starts so innocently, with a decision to "wait until tomorrow" to start a new project instead of using a few available hours this morning to get a good start on it. Next, there's the plan to "wait until next week" because that deadline is so far away and you can still make with ease.

Then, one thing leads to another and you become accustomed to putting each project off a day or a week. You can find dozens of "valid" reasons to procrastinate. You might even invent "work" that has to be done, like cleaning out all your files or completely revamping your perfectly wonderful Web site. Actually, you'll just be using excuses to delay the inevitable work that earns you the freedom and ability to pursue this amazing career that you have chosen.

Human beings are sometimes so predictable. Procrastination precipitates more procrastination. You can actually get into a cycle where the more you delay, the less ability you actually have to be productive. That is why this habit is so dangerous.

In addition to consuming your creativity and productivity, getting into the habit of delaying work can cost you enormously. Those costs include:

· Deadlines missed

because you procrastinated and then an emergency came up and you just couldn't get the work done. The emergency could be real, but missing the deadline need not have happened.

· Reputation ruined

because you'll become known as someone who always waits until the last minute to complete any project, sometimes with disastrous consequences.

· New business lost

because you can't accept a new project since you have procrastinated and don't have your current projects finished. Now you just don't have time to complete that new dream job.

· Emotional and physical health impaired

from the needless stress you suffer from procrastination.

· Passion for your work lost

because you are always fighting to meet a deadline or worrying about how hard it's going to be to do even the simplest work.

I recently used the following "Quote of the Month" in a book review column that I write:

"There are two ways to get to the top of an oak tree: you can climb to the top of the tree, or you can sit on an acorn and wait."
-Dr. Janet Allen, Educator, Author and Literacy Specialist

I wish I had said that. I am using it here because it is the ultimate description of procrastination.

If you're just sitting on that acorn, get off and move over to the oak tree. Be so aware of what is happening in your career that procrastination does not have a chance to take root. If you find yourself already in the midst of a full-blown crisis, become proactive and find a way to remove this insidious habit before you put your freelance career at risk. Breaking the cycle of procrastination brings such freedom! It's like starting your freelance career all over again with that same passion and joy!

Marilyn Crain is a freelance writer with an extensive background in human resources, information systems and performance improvement. Most of her writing has been in these business fields, but she is now expanding her horizons into other areas. You may contact her at marilyn@smartwriters.com.

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Marilyn Crain

Marilyn Crain is a freelance writer with an extensive background in human resources, information systems and performance improvement. Most of her writing has been in these business fields, but she is now expanding her horizons into other areas.

She has had a lifelong love of reading and writing. Among her many passions is sharing history with children through her developing series of children's historical fiction soon to be out on www.ezetta.com.

She is a partner in the e-newsletter/e-marketing site evoicenewsletters, as well as, the soon to be launched eZetta.com, author's site devoted to e-book publishing and decodiva.com, a site filled with beautiful living resources. She is co-publisher of two newsletters, The eVoice and The Freelance Life. You may contact her: marilyn@smartwriters.com.