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ByTimUrban

Note:Tobestunderstandthispost,youshouldfirstreadPart1ofWaitButWhyspreviousposton
procrastination.
___________
Backinhighschool,ifyouhadaskedmeifIwereaprocrastinator,Iwouldhavesaidyes.Highschool
studentsaregivenalltheselecturesaboutpacingyourselfonlongerprojects,andIproudlypaced
myselflessthanalmostanyoneIknew.Inevermissedadeadline,butIonlydidanythingthe
nightbeforeitwasdue.Iwasaprocrastinator.

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ExceptIwasnt.Highschoolisfullofregulardeadlinesandshort-termprojects,andevenlongterm
projectshadsub-deadlinesthatforcepacinguponyou.Therewereafewdiremoments,butforthe
mostpart,IwasjustdoingeverythingatthelastminutebecauseIknewIcouldprobablystilldowell
thatwaysowhynot.
TherewasdefinitelyanInstantGratificationMonkey 1 inmyhead,buthewascutemorethan
anything.Withdeadlinesloomingconstantly,myPanicMonster 2 wasneverfullyasleep,andthe
monkeyknewthatwhilehecouldhavesometimeatthewheeleachday,hewasnttheoneincharge.
HS1

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Oneday,highschoolended,andsodidmylifeasasomewhatnormal-actingperson.Collegeisnotlike
highschool.Theassignmentsarebig,withalotoftimebetweendeadlines,andsinceyourenotachild
anymore,classesdonttreatyoulikeonenooneforcesyoutopaceanything.AsaGovernmentmajor,
mostofmyclassesinvolvedacouplepapers,amidterm,andafinalexamoverafour-monthstretch,
whichmeansmostofthetime,therewerenoharddeadlinesanywhereonthehorizon.
Withoutdeadlinestooccupyhim,myPanicMonster,whocantthinktoofarahead,begantospenda
lotoftimeinhibernation.MyRationalDecision-Maker,whoneverrealizedhowmuchhehadreliedon
thePanicMonster,begantohavedifficultiescarryingouthisplans.

ThemorethePanicMonsterslept,themoreconfidencethemonkeygained.TheRationalDecisionMaker,theonlymemberofthebrainwhoseestheworldclearly,wasconcernedheknewthatcollege
assignmentswerealotbiggerthanhighschoolassignments,andthatpacingwasnolongersomething
toscoffat,butacriticalthingtodo.Hedputhisfootdownaboutsocialcommitmentswhenadeadline
begantodrawcloser,butthatwouldntsolvetheproblem.

TheRDMwouldslipfurtherintodespair,andonlythetimeswhenthingsreachedtheirmostdirewould
anythingchange.

ItdidntmatterhowobviousadecisionseemedtotheRDM,itwasbecomingclearthathewastotally
unabletocontrolthemonkeywithoutthePanicMonstershelp.

WhilecollegewasoftenadishearteningexperienceformyRDM,itwasafullrenaissanceformyInstant
GratificationMonkey,whoexploredawiderangeofactivitiesinanefforttofindhimself.WithaYamaha
electrickeyboardrightnexttomydesk,themonkeybecameincreasinglypassionateaboutplayingthe
piano.ItalmostseemedlikethetimesmyRDMwasstompinghisfootthehardestaboutgettingto
workweretheexactmomentsthemonkeywouldfeelthemostspiritedaboutputtingonthe
headphonesandbecominglostforhoursinthepiano.

Whencollegeended,thrilledtobedoneforeverwithformaleducation,whichwasclearlynotmything,
Iburstoutintotheworldwith1,000ambitionstodo1,000things.Justwaittilltheworldsawme.Ihad
everythingimaginabletoofferexceptknowledge,skills,andworkethic.
MyRDMhaddonealotofthinkingaboutthis,andheunderstoodthatthemonkeyhadspentcollege
tryingtotellhimsomethingimportantIwantedtobeacomposer.ThatwasclearlythethingIwas
mostdrawnto,andfinally,itwouldbecomethethingIwassupposedtodoeachday.Nomorefighting
themonkeyhewasgoingtogetexactlywhathewanted.Ihadfiguredoutlife,andImovedtoLAto
writemoviescores.
Inordertopaymybills,IbegantutoringkidsafterschoolontheirhomeworkorfortheSAT,asidejobI
chosebecauseitwouldntdistractmefrombecomingthenextJohnWilliams.Itwastheperfectsetup,
Iwasbrimmingwithexcitementaboutmusic,andthingswerestartingtomovewhentheweirdest
thinghappened.JustwhenIwassureIhadfoundmyself,themonkeybegansoulsearching.Whenthe
RDMandIwouldsitdownatthepianotowritesomethingtheexactactivitythemonkeyspentcollege

obsessedwiththemonkeywouldthrowafitandrefusetojoinus.TheRDMbegantofeelhelpless,the
samewayhedidincollege.
Meanwhile,themonkeyhadfoundanewinteresthehadbecomefixatedwithmysidejob.Tutoring
wasgoingwell,referralswereincreasing,andwhiletheRDMwouldinsistthatwewerealreadyworking
withtoomanystudents,themonkeywouldaccepteverynewjobthatcameourway.Soon,themonkey
startedthinkingbigger,andwithoutrunningitbytherestofus,hebeganhiringmyfriendstotutorfor
me.TheRDMwouldwakeupeagertodiveintocomposing,butthewholedaywouldendupbeing
spentonphonecallsandburiedinspreadsheets.Themonkeyhadstartedabusiness.
MybrainandIendedupinanunpleasantno-mansland.Themonkeyrefusedtoletuspourourselves
intoourmusiccareer,andtheRDMrefusedtoembracethemonkeysnewbusinesscareer.Iwas
doingalotofthingsandnotgivingmyalltoanyofthem.

ItwasaroundthenthatmybestfriendAndrewmovedtoLA.Andrewisntlikeme.Helivesand
breathesbusiness,withnointerestinpursuinganythinginthearts,andeversinceImethimwhenwe
werefive,hismonkeyhasbeenatamelittlebitchwhodoeswhathestold.Afterhemoved,westarted
talkingaboutmaybegoingintobusinesstogethersomehow.MyRDMhadrefusedtoentertaintaking
businessseriouslyuntilthen,buttheprospectofstartingacompanywithAndrewandactuallyputting
afulleffortintoitwasenticingandthemonkeywasclearlyintoit,somaybethiswasthethingIwas
supposedtobedoingallalong.Idecidedtodivein,andbuildingoffofwhatIhadstarted,wefounded
anewtutoringcompanytogether.
TheRDMstillwrestledwiththedecisiontoputapauseonthemusicsideofthings,butthecompany
wasgrowingquickly,beinginbusinesswithAndrewwasagreattimelikeplayingacomplexstrategy
gamewithyourfriendandtheRDMfinallystartedtofeelokayaboutbecomingtotallywrappedupin
business.
Whichwasthemonkeyscuetobecomeanavidblogger.

Ihadbeencasuallybloggingforafewyearsatthatpoint,butbusinesstakingoffwasjustwhatthe
monkeyneededtokickhisnewwritinghobbyintofullgear,andoverthenextfewyears,Iwrote
hundredsofblogpostsinmyoffhours.Iwentintoworkeveryday,andIdbeengagedwhileIwas
therebutinsteadofdoingwhatanentrepreneurissupposedtodooutsideofworkandkeepthe
wheelsturning,mullingoverthestrategyandallowingthesubconscioustodropkeyepiphaniesonyou
fromtimetotime,Idbethinkingaboutwhattoblogaboutnext.
In2013,whenAndrewandIdecidedtostartsomethingnew,welookedatmymonkey,sawhow
absorbedhealwayswaswithhisblog,andthoughtmaybethatwasthethingIwassupposedtobe
doingthiswholetimesowestartedWaitButWhy.Andrewwouldcontinuetogrowourcompany
whileIdfullyimmersemyselfinthisnewproject,givingthemonkeyexactlywhathesobadlywanted.
___________
WhatwasclassicprocrastinationincollegemorphedintoabizarreformofinsanityonceIenteredthe
realworld.Onaday-to-day,microlevel,therewasstillalwaysanelementofthenormalRDMtries
todosomething,monkeymakesitdifficultthing,butinabroader,macrosense,itwasalmostasifI
werechasingthemonkey.Afterhedefeatedmesosoundlyincollege,Iwonderediffightingagainst
himinthefirstplacewasmymistake.Hesbornfromsomeinner,primalpartofme,sowouldntit
makesensetopayattentiontohisinclinationsandusethemasmyguide?
SothatswhatItriedtodowhenhedbecontinuallydrawntosomething,Ideventuallytakehislead
andbuildmylifearoundthat.Buttheproblemwas,hewasalmostlikeamirageonceIdgettowhere
hewas,hewouldntbethereanymore.Hedbesomewhereelse.Thiswasconfusingwashethere
beforebecauseheactuallywantedtobe,orwashejusttherebecauseitwaswheretheRDMwasnot?
Didheactuallyhavepassionsofhisown,orwashejustsomeelusiveevilcontrarianinsideofmewitha
missiontoholdmebackfromeverdoinganythinggreatwithmytalentsandenergies?
Lastyear,IcameacrossalittlediagramthatIthinkholdsthekeytothesequestions.Itscalledthe
EisenhowerMatrix:

TheEisenhowerMatrixplacesanythingyoucouldspendyourtimedoingontwospectrums:onegoing
fromthemosturgentpossibletasktotheleasturgent,theothergoingfromcriticallyimportantto
totallyinconsequentialandusingtheseasaxes,dividesyourworldintofourquadrants.
ThematrixwaspopularizedinStephenCoveysfamousbook,TheSevenHabitsofHighlyEffective

PeopleandisnamedafterPresidentDwightEisenhower.Eisenhowerwaswell-knownforbeing
tremendouslyproductive,whichCoveycreditstohisfirstthingsfirstattitudeonhowtospendyour
time.AndtoEisenhower,thefirstthingswerealwaystheimportantones.Hebelievedyoushould
spendnearlyallofyourtimeinQuadrants1and2,andheaccomplishedthiswithasimpleD-wordfor
eachquadrant:

AndthatsfantasticforDwightfuckingEisenhower.ButyouknowwhatDwightclearlydidnthaveinhis
baldhead?Anall-powerfulInstantGratificationMonkey.Ifhehad,hedknowthataprocrastinators
matrixlookslikethis:

IfyoueverwantanyinformationonQuadrant4directions,placestoeat,etc.justaska
procrastinator.Theylivethere.Foranon-procrastinator,Q4isahappyplacetospendtime.Aftera
productivedayworkingonimportanttasks,itfeelsgreattokickbackinQ4andunderthose
circumstances,theresanameforQ4:TheHappyPlayground.Butprocrastinatorsdonttendtohang
outinQ4afteranefficientdayofhigh-levelworktheyretherefarmoreoftenthanthat,againsttheir
will,becausethemonkeyhasdraggedthemthere,allwhiletheRationalDecisionMakerisbeggingthemtoleave.AndtheyhaveadifferentnameforQ4:TheDarkPlayground.
AsforQuadrants1and3theurgentquadrantsmostprocrastinatorswillenduptherefromtimeto
time,usuallyinafullsweat,withthePanicMonsternexttotheirfacescreaming.Q1andQ3keepthe
procrastinatoroffthestreets.
AndthentheresQuadrant2.Toaprocrastinator,Quadrant2isastrangeandforeignland,far,far
away.KindoflikeAtlantis,orNarnia.Heknowsitsanimportantplace,andhestriedmanytimestogo
there,buttheresabigproblemthemonkeyisrepulsedbyit,andthePanicMonsterisntconcerned
withit.Andthatsthedeadlycombothatdefeatstheprocrastinatoreverytime.
Thereasonthisisdisastrousisthattheroadtotheprocrastinatorsdreamstheroadtoexpandinghis
horizons,exploringhistruepotential,andachievingworkhestrulyproudofrunsdirectlythrough
Quadrant2.Q1andQ3maybewherepeoplesurvive,butQ2iswherepeoplethrive,grow,and
blossom.
Butifyoureaprocrastinator,youreinluck.Youhaveanaceupyoursleevesomeonedaringand
fearless,withbountifulenergyanddynamictalent,andsomeonewhocandefeatthemonkeylike
steppingonanant:FutureYou.
FutureYouisaprocrastinatorsmostimportantallysomeonewhosalwaysthereandalwayshasyour
back,nomatterwhat.Iknowallaboutthisfirsthand.FutureTimisanamazingguy.
WhenmyalarmgoesoffandIdontwanttowakeup,Ijustpressthesnoozebutton,whichdolesout
thejobofgettingoutofbedtoFutureTiminstead.Myto-dolisthastwopartsashort,easyonefor
me,andalongone,fullofallthethingsIcantimagineeverdoing,becausetheyresoicky-seeming.
FutureTimalwayshandlesthatone,withoutacomplaint.FutureTimalsohasnoproblemwitheventhe
vilestofsocialobligations.Iwasrecentlyinvitedtoattendafeedback-givingsessionforathree-hourlongplaywrittenbysomeoneIbarelyknowIcertainlyhadnointentionofeverdoingthat,butIwould
alsohavefeltguiltyjustsayingno,soIexplainedthatIhaveabusycouplemonths,butthatIdbemore
thanhappytojoinwhenithappensagainthissummer,atimewhenitllbeFutureTimsproblem,not
mine.
FutureTimalsohasadisciplineandbalancetohislifestyleIcouldonlyeverdreamof.Iveneverbeen
muchofanexerciserbutFutureTimbelongstoagymanddoesallthejoggingforbothofus,andI
lovehowintocookinghealthymealsFutureTimis,becauseIpersonallydonthavethetime.FutureTim
isthekindofguyweallwanttobelikeIsuggestgettingtoknowhimyourself,whichyoucandoby

buyinghisbooks,sincehesaprolificauthor.
ButthemostimportantroleFutureTimplaysinmylifebringsusbacktotheEisenhowerMatrix.Ina
convenientstrokeoffate,FutureTimhappenstospendalmostallofhistimeintheoneplaceIcan
neverseemtogettomyself:theall-importantQuadrant2.FutureTimisQuadrant2swarden,and
whenImakealistofimportantto-doitemsandnoticethatmostofthemseemtolandinQ2,Idont
havetodespair,becauseIknowFutureTimisontopofthem.Whichisgood,consideringhowdirea
situationPastTim,thatuselessfuck,hasoftenleftmein:

ButforallofFutureTimsvirtues,hehasonefatalflawthatkindofruinseverything:hedoesntexist.
ItturnsoutthatFutureYouisasmuchofamirageasthemonkeyspassionforahobby.Ibankedon
FutureTimsreal-worldexistenceformymostimportantplans,buteverytimeIdfinallyarriveatatime
whenIthoughtIwouldfindFutureTim,hewasnowheretobefoundtheonlypersontherewouldbe
stupidPresentTim.ThatsthethingthatreallysucksaboutFutureYouwhenevertimefinallygetsto
him,hesnotFutureYouanymore,hesPresentYou,andPresentYoucantdothetasksyouassigned
toFutureYoubecausethosetaskscanonlybedonebysomeonewithoutamonkey.Youassignedthem
toFutureYouinthefirstplacebecausehedoesnthaveamonkeythatwasthewholepoint.Soyoudo
whatyoualwaysdoyoure-delegatethemtoFutureYou,hopingthatnexttimetimecatchesupwith
FutureYou,heactuallyexists.
Thisiswhatleftmeunable,foryears,togivelifemyfulleffort.Theimportantworktobedoneusually
livesinQ2,aplaceIhadahardtimegoingto,soIddirecttheextraenergytoapassionatehobby
instead.Themonkeywouldgetsuperintothesehobbies,becausehobbiesare,bydefinition,inQ4
aplacethemonkeylovestobe.
SohereswhatwentonwhenIwassupposedtobepursuingacomposingcareer:

AndwhenIdecidedtofollowthemonkeysleadandtakeonbusiness,Iwasmissingthekeypoint:
takingonbusinessmeantmakingbusinessthethingIwassupposedtodo,whichturneditfroma

notimportanttaskintoanimportantonemovingbusinessfromQ4,themonkeysfavoriteplace,to
Q2,hisleastfavoriteplace.

ThefactthatIexpectedthemonkeytoremainobsessedwithbusinessaftertheswitchtoQ2shows
howlittleIunderstoodthemonkey.Themonkeyspassionneverwasmusic,orbusiness,orblogging
themonkeyspassionwasalwaysQ4.
AndthethingthemonkeyreallylikesaboutQ4isntanythingaboutQ4inparticularitsthatQuadrant
4isntQuadrant1or2.Themonkey,whosecoredriveistodowhateverseasiest,cantstand
theimportantquadrants,becausetheimportantquadrantsarewherethepressuresonitswhere
theressomethingtoprove,whereyouractionshaveconsequences,wherethestakesarehigh,and
whereyoureshootingforthestars,whichmeansyoumightfailtoreachthem.Nofuckingthanks,says
themonkey.Writing300blogpostswhileIwassupposedtobedreamingupbrilliantbusinessgrowth
strategieswasnteasyinthesensethatIdidnthavetoworkhardtowritethemitwaseasyinthat
therewasnothingatstake.Stakesarereallywhatshardforahuman.
___________
WhenIstartedwritingpostsforWaitButWhy,IknewIwantedtowriteaboutprocrastination.Ineeded
totrytoarticulatethemadnessthatwentoninmyhead.Afterassigningthatdauntingmissionto

FutureTimforawhile,Ifinallybitthebulletanddidit.
Thereactionwasoverwhelming.Inadditiontotheover1,300commentsonthetwoposts,heresthe
breakdownofemailsIvereceivedfromreaders:

Therehavebeenthousandsofemails.Apparentlythiswholethingisntjustme.
Andtheemailsarentquick,HeyIlikedtheprocrastinationpostsbyenotestheyrethorough.And
heartfelt.Agoodnumberofthemmentionthatthepostsmadethemcry.Andtheyrenotcrying
becausetheyweremovedbymyshittystickdrawingstheyrecryingbecausetheywerereading

aboutoneofthebiggestproblemsintheirlives.
Theprofilesofthosewhohaveemailedrangewildly,coveringallages,allkindsofprofessions,and
hailingfromalmosteverycountryintheworld.Iveheardfroma13-year-oldinPakistan,amiddle-aged
professorinArgentina,an80-year-oldretirednurseinMississippi;aGermangraphicdesigner,an
Australianauthor,aGhanaianfilmmaker,aKoreanentrepreneur.AndthePhDstudentsthehordesof
PhDstudentsdoingtheultimateQ2task.
Inoneway,thesepeopleallhavethesameexactproblem,andthesameproblemIhaveanInstant
GratificationMonkeytheycantcontrol.ButIvenoticed,afterreadingeveryoneoftheirstories,that
theextenttowhichthisproblemisruiningtheirlivesvariesdrastically,dependingonafewkeyfacts
abouttheirparticularcircumstances.Thisdistinctionplacesthereaderswhohaveemailedintothree
categories:

1)TheDisastinators

Ofallprocrastinatorsoutthere,theDisastinatorsareintheworstshape.ADisastinatorispermanently
campedoutinQuadrant4,andprocrastinationiscompletelydestroyingtheirlife.Aprocrastinator
usuallybecomesaDisastinatorforoneoftworeasons:
A)TheirmonkeyhasstoppedbeingscaredofthePanicMonsterandhasbecomeall-powerful
B)Theyreanormalprocrastinatorbuttheyreinalifesituationwithnoexternaldeadlinesor
pressure
SituationAissuper-dark,andasIvelearnedfromreaderemails,notthatuncommon.Thesepeople
havelosttheabilitytodoalmostanythingthatmatterstothemandareeitherinadownwardspiralor
havegivenupentirely.
InSituationB,theDisastinatorisntaworseprocrastinatorthananyother,itsjustthattheir
circumstancesareacatastrophicmatchfortheirpersonality.Thenatureoftheirlifeandworkgivesthe
PanicMonsternoreasontowakeupatall,andunfortunately,themonkeyisntscaredoftheSelfLoathingMonster.

TheoutcomeisthattheDisastinatorgetsnothingdone,ever.ManyofthePhDcandidateswhoemailed
mefallintothiscategory.

2)TheImpostinators
WehaventtalkedmuchaboutQuadrant3,butitmightbethemostdangerousquadrantofall,andits
wheretheImpostinatorreignsking.TheImpostinatorslifelookslikethis:

TheImpostinatorseemsproductive,butshesreallyanimposteraprocrastinatorwearinga
productivepersonmask.ByspendingallofherworktimeinQ3,sheseemsbusysheisbusybutshe
neverseemstomakemuchprogressonherrealgoals.
Impostinatorshaveclevermonkeys,andQ3isthemonkeysmostclevertrick.Themonkeyknowsthat

theRDM,whocanbegullible,canbeappeasedifhespendsampletimeoutoftheQ4DarkPlayground.
SotheImpostinatorsmonkeycreatesabattlethatgoesbackandforthbetweenQ4andQ3,andthat
worksbecauseQ3feelsproductivetotheImpostinator.Itreliesononemajordelusionofthe
Impostinatorthatbusy=productive.
SoanImpostinatorwillspendthewholedayansweringemails,runningerrands,makingphonecalls,
organizinglistsandschedules,participatinginmeetings,etc.andifshesjudgingherselfbytimespent
outoftheDarkPlayground,shesasmashingsuccess.Butattheendoftheday,thesatisfactionshe
feelshasahintofemptinesstoit,andtheHappyPlaygroundisneverquitefullyhappy.Shemayhave
deludedherselfintothinkingsheslivingaproductivelife,butinhersubconscious,sheknowsshesnot
doingwhatshessupposedtobedoing.Herfeelingsofaccomplishmentcomealongwithan
undercurrentofdespair.
Inreality,sheslivinginagrand,overarchingprocrastination,brilliantlycraftedbyhermonkey.Rather
thantrytowinthetug-of-warbetweendoingwhatmattersthestuffupinQ2andtheDark
Playground,theImpostinatorsmonkeytrickstheRDMintofightingonthewrongbattlefield,andhe
letstheRDMbeathimonthisbattlefield,whichleadshertobelieveshesdoingagoodjob.
TheotherdifficultytheImpostinatorfacesisthatsometimesQ3disguisesitselfasQ1.Abusy
Impostinatoroftenbelievesthattheurgentworkshesconsumedwithisimportant,buttheproblem
withthatiswhatEisenhowerhimselfsaidbest:

Whatisimportantisseldomurgent,andwhatisurgentisseldomimportant.
Inotherwords,Quadrant1oftendoesnotexist.Thisisntalwaysthecase,butitsespeciallylikelytobe
trueforpeoplewhohaveyettogettheircareerrolling,becauseusuallywhenyourtrulyimportant
workisalsourgent,itmeansyouhavesomethinggoodgoingon.Thiscreatesacatch-22,wherethe
peoplewhomostneedurgencyinordertodothingsprocrastinatorsearlyintheircareerareoften
thosewithatotallyvacantQuadrant1.
Themoretimegoeson,themoreIthinkthatbeingsuperbusytendstomeanhavingapackedQ3
(usuallymixedinwithtoomuchQ4time).IknowthatwhenIminoneofthosezoneswhereImtelling
everyonehowbusyIamandhowlittletimeIhaveforthem,itsalmostalwaysbecauseIm
overloadedwithQ3bullshit.Peoplewhoarereallyontopoftheirlifereallyincontroltendtohave
plentyofspaceintheirschedules.Butsocietysmilesuponbusypeople,thephraseIthinkyouhave
toomuchtimeonyourhandsisaninsult,andthatleavesImpostinatorslookingandoftenfeeling
liketheyredoingitright.AndwhiletheImpostinatorwillalwaysfeelsuperiortotheDisastinator,the
truthisthatintermsofrealproductivityonthingsthatmatter,theyreequal.
ThemajorlessonhereistobewareofQuadrant3.Q3grabsyoubythecollarandthrustsyouontoa
treadmillofreactingtothings.Itsnotaplaceofselfcontrol.Andifyourenotcareful,Q3willsuckyour
lifeaway.Iknow,becauseIvespentalotofmylifeasanImpostinator.
OfthemanyImpostinatorswhoemailedme,themostcommonprofessionswereartistsofsomekind
orentrepreneurs.Inbothofthosesituations,yourethebossofyourownlife,andtheimportantwork
todoimprovingyourskills,deepeningyournetwork,executingacreativevisionisrarelyurgent.

3)TheSuccesstinators
Afterspendingmostofmylifefeelingunabletomaximizemyself,sincestartingWaitButWhyayear
andahalfago,Ivewrittenover250,000wordstheequivalentof1,000bookpagesandwhatIm
doingreallymatterstome.Forthefirsttime,thesatisfactionofaccomplishmentdoesntcomealong
withatwingeofguiltoremptinessordespair.Ivedoneit!Imadoer.
Notquite.
Therealityis,IhaventovercomemymonkeyproblemsoneouncemorethantheImpostinatorsand
Disastinaterswhoemailedmethebigdifferenceis,IvegottenmyselfintoasituationwhereIhavea
big,fatQuadrant1inmylife.NotafakeQ1thatsreallyQ3indisguisebutagenuineQ1,andits
packed.Theintimaterelationshipabloghaswithreal,livingpeopleandthepressurethatgenerates
turnsabloggersimportantworkintourgentwork,assoonasthereareenoughreadersthatthe
PanicMonstertakesinterestinthings.
Foraprocrastinator,thisistheoppositeofthePhD-typesituation,whichIdescribedasacatastrophic
matchforaprocrasinator.Writingregularlywithanimmediateaudienceisanexampleofaterrific

matchforaprocrastinatorspersonality,becauseitputshisPanicMonsterintheoptimallocationit
alignsthePanicMonsterwithhismostimportantendeavor.
Ofcourse,mymonkeyisstillwreakinghavocovermywholelifeinanywayhecanIpulledalifespanreducingall-nightertofinishthispost.Buttheresakeydistinctionbetweenwhathesdoingnowand
whathewasdoingduringmypreviousprojects.Withthoseotherprojects,hespenthisQ4time
pursuingreal,ambitiousprojectsandhewasallowedtodothatbecausetheRDMwasntentirelysure
whathewanted,andhewouldquestionwhetherthemonkeywasactuallyontosomethingwithhis
distractions.Butatleastsofar,workingonWaitButWhyishittingthenailontheheadfortheRDM,
becausehesactuallyspendingalotoftimeabovetheimportantline,sohehasaconvictionaboutthe
undertakinghedidntpreviously.Becauseofthis,hellletthemonkeytapdancearoundQ4andQ3,
mainlybecausehehasnopowernotto,buthewontallowthemonkeytotakeon
anythingseriouswithhistime.
Ihavenotconqueredprocrastination,butforthetimebeing,atleast,Imintheleastbadtypeof
procrastinatorsituationImaSuccesstinator.

Asuccesstinatorhasfoundasolution-ishtohisproblems,butitsnotpretty,oftennothealthy,and
usuallynotsustainable.Itsacleverduct-tapingofatroubledmachinetoholditovertemporarily.
IreceivedalotofemailsfromSuccesstinators,andthepatternswereconsistentandresonatewithmy
owncurrentsituation.ASuccesstinatorcanbehappywithhislife,butisntusuallythathappyinhislife.
AndthatsbecausebeingaSuccesstinatordoesnotmakeyouasuccess.Someonewhodoessomething
wellprofessionallyattheexpenseofbalance,relationships,andhealthisnotasuccess.Realsuccess
meanshavingbothprofessionallifeandlifestyleworkingwellandinharmonyandSuccesstinators
aretoostressed,toounavailable,andareoftencompletelydeprivedofHappyPlaygroundtime,which
isacriticalcomponentofahappylife.ASuccesstinatorisalsousuallylimitedinhisprofessional
possibilitiesgreatworkcanbedoneinQ1,butitsoftenmoreonthemaintainingsideofthings.Q2is
stillwheremostoftheprofessionalgrowthandout-of-the-boxthinkingtakesplace,andlikeall
procrastinators,SuccesstinatorsrarelysetfootinQ2.
___________
Therearebiggerproblemsintheworldthanprocrastination.Thingslikepoverty,disease,mental
illness,anddrugaddictionallmakeprocrastinationseemglaringlylikeaproblemoftheprivileged
somethingtosufferoverforthosewhoseliveshavenorealsuffering.
Butifaskepticspentafewhoursreadingthroughthemoundofprocrastination-relatedemailsIve
received,Ithinktheydagreethatthisisadireprobleminmany,manylives.Anditdoesntjustharm
theprocrastinatorithurtsthepeopleclosetotheprocrastinator,spreadingtheeffect.
Itsalsotheworldsloss.ForeverySteveJobsorJohnLennonorHillaryClintonorJ.K.Rowlingor
anyoneelsewhosetalentshaveenhancedourlives,therearethousandsofpeoplewithjustasmuch

potentialwhoneverachievemuchfortheworldbecausetheywasteawaytheirtimeinthewrong
quadrants.
Onewaytolookatthisisthateachhumanlifehasacertainnumberoftimepoints,anditsupto
youhowyouspendthem.Considerthedifferencebetweensomeonewhospends30hoursaweekin
Q2andsomeoneelsewhoonlymanagestwohoursofQ2timeaweek.SinceQ2is,formany,where
realadvancementhappens,overthecourseoftheirlives,the30hourpersonwill
accomplish15timesasmuchinherlifeasthetwohourperson.Andinreality,themultiplierisprobably
evenlargerthan15,sinceprogressbuildsuponprogressandtheratecanaccelerate(i.e.SteveJobs
wouldnthaveaccomplished1/15thofwhatheaccomplishedifhehadputin1/15ththeproductive
hoursheprobablywouldhaveaccomplishednoneofit.)Thedistinctionbetweenanordinaryperson
andanextraordinarypersonmightsimplycomedowntothedifferencesinhowtheyallottheirtime
points.

Clearingawaydelusion
Ifwewanttoimproveourtimepointspending,thefirststepislearningtoseetheworldthrougha
crystalclearEisenhowerMatrixwhichmeansshakingoffalldelusion.Weneedtodevelopwellthought-outdefinitionsofurgentandimportant,whichwillbedifferentforeveryoneandrequiresa
deepdigintothehighlypersonalquestion,Whatmattersmosttome?
BrettMcKaydefinesimportanttasksasthingsthatcontributetoourlong-termmission,values,and

goals.Thisisbroadandstraightforwardandagoodcoresentencetocomebacktowhenassessing
importancedowntheroad.
Thethoughtprocessaboutwhatisandisnturgentshouldrevolvearoundtheself-discussionofwhats
mostimportant.Ideally,urgentwouldnotmean,Thethinggrabbingmehardestbythecollarit
wouldbedefinedbywhat,oftheimportanttasksonyourlist,wouldbenefitmostfromhappening

soonerratherthanlater.Usingthisdefinition,spendingtimewithyourkidswouldcertainlyqualifyas
urgent,whileunderthetypicaldeadline-relateddefinitionofurgent,itwouldqualifyasnoturgent.In
otherwords,theorderofyourprioritiesismuchbetteroffbeingsetbyyourRDMthanyourPanic
Monster.WisdomresidesintheRDM,andwhenthemindlessPanicMonstercallstheshotsonwhats
urgentandwhatsnot,youtaketheRDMswisdomoutofthegame.
Youmayalsowanttogathersomeharddataonhowyourecurrentlyspendingyourtimepoints,by
loggingyourhoursforthenextweekandseeingjusthowmanyofthemfallintoeachofthefour
quadrants(youllprobablybeunpleasantlysurprisedbytheresults).

Becomingthebossofyourbrain
OnceyoufeelclearonyourEisenhowerMatrixandwhereitsvariousboundarieslie,youllneedtodo
thehardpartandgaincontroloverhowyouspendyourtimepointswithinit.Which,fora
procrastinator,islifesgreatestchallenge.
Therewardsofgainingcontrolareobvious.Itsincrediblehowmuchapersoncangetdonewhilealso
maintainingabalancedlifestyleiftheyreincontroloftheirtimepointspending.Andthosenotin
controlwilllosemostoftheirtimepointstoQ3andQ4andfeelliketheydonthavetimeforeithertheir
workortheirlifestyle,allwhileaccomplishingverylittle.Timepointallotmentiseverything.
Aprocrastinatorindesperatestraitscantakeahalfstepintherightdirectionthroughthebruteforce
methodofrearranginghislifeinawaythatmakeshimasuccesstinator.ThatswhereIamnow,and
itsahellofalotbetterthanwhereIwasbefore.
Butthatslikehiringabodyguardinsteadoflearninghowtofight.Therealgoalofaprocrastinator
mustbetofigureouthowtobecomethebossofhisbrain.Aprocrastinatorsrealityisthathisinner
selfhisRationalDecision-Makeristhegrandmasterofhislifeintheory,butinpractice,onlya
spectator.TheprocrastinatorsRDMgoes,helplessly,wherethewavestakehim,shuffledfromactivity
toactivitybytheprimalforcesofthemonkeyandthePanicMonster.UntilaprocrastinatorsRDMcan
walk,onhisown,fromQ4toQ2,wheneverhewantsto,hesnotfixed.
___________
IfyouGooglehowtostopprocrastinating,youllfindabout1,000articles,allofferingterrificadvice
onhowtodoit.Theproblemisthatthearticlesarealwayswrittenforsanepeople,andprocrastinators

arentsanepeople.Beinginsane,procrastinatorsarealwaysunderthedelusionthattheyresane,so
6.2k

Shares
theyreadanadvicearticleand
thinktheyllbeabletoapplyittotheirlife.Butthenitdoesntworkout

thatway.
4.9k

Beforeaprocrastinatorcanactongoodadvice,heneedstohavecontrol.Aracecardrivercangetall
thecoachingintheworld,butif,whentheracestarts,someoneelseiscontrollingthesteeringwheel
567

andthepedals,allthecoachingisuseless.
Thatswhytheonlywayaprocrastinatorcantakethewheelinhishandsisifhisself-fulfillingprophecy
hisstorylinesaysthathecan.Andstorylinesonlychangewithreal-worldaction.Quitethechicken
andeggissue.
Atitsdeepestlevel,itcomesdowntoabattleofconfidence.TheRDMandmonkeyeachhavetheirown
ideaofhowtospendyourtimepoints,andwhicheverofthemismoreconfidentwhoeverhasa
strongerbeliefthattheyrethealphadogintherelationshipendsupprevailing.Thedifference
betweenaprocrastinatorandanon-procrastinatorissimplythattheprocrastinatorsmonkeyandRDM
bothbelievethatthemonkeyisthealphadog,andthenon-procrastinatorspairbothbelievethatthe
RDMistheboss.
Butasfirmlyentrenchedastheseconfidencelevelsmayfeel,themonkeyandtheRDMshareasingle
poolofconfidencewithafixedsumwhenonesconfidencegoesup,theothersgoesdownandthe
balancecanbegintobetippedbythesmallestchanges,takingyourstorylinewithit.
Figuringoutthestartingpointofthischickenandeggparadoxiseachprocrastinatorspersonalquest.
Butauniversalstartingpointistotrytoremainawareasmuchaspossible.Awareofwhatsimportant,
awareofwhatsurgent,andmostimportantlyawareofthemonkey.Themonkeyisnotyourfriend,
andheneverwillbe.Buthesalsopartofyourheadandimpossibletogetridof,sogetinthehabitof
noticinghim.Whenyouwakeupinthemorning,hellbethere.Whenyousitdowntowork,hellbe
there.Wheneveryoumostbadlyneedallthegutsandgrityoucanmuster,hellbetheretotakeyour
gutsandgritaway.
Buthethrivesoffofunconsciousness.Simplybynoticinghimandsayingtoyourself,Yup,theresthe
monkey,rightoncue,youcanstarttotipthebalanceoutofitsdefaultstate.Thenmaybeoneday,
youllfindyourselfnonchalantlyshovingthemonkeyoffofthewheelwiththesimplest,Nomonkey,
notnow.Andyourlifewillbeforeverchanged.
___________
IlovetheemailsIvereceivedaboutprocrastination,andIhopetheycontinue.ButIalwayswishthe
peoplewhohaveemailedmecouldheareachothersstories.Iencourageanyonewhofeelslike
sharingtheirstorytodosointhecomments.

Ifthispostwasupyouralley,alsocheckout:
WaitButWhystwoearlierpostsonprocrastinationPart1,Part2.
LifeisjusttodayoverandoverandoveragainLifeisaPicture,ButYouLiveinaPixel
Aone-imageremindertospendyourtimepointswiselyYourLifeinWeeks
AdeeperlookatwhatgoesoninourbrainsandwhyawarenessissocriticalAReligionfortheNonReligious
AlookatadifferentanimalstrugglegoingoninadifferentpartofthebrainTamingtheMammoth:
WhyYouShouldStopCaringWhatOtherPeopleThink

Andwhiletheyreruiningyourlife,youmightaswellcuddlewiththem: