Light the Blue Touch paper
On this Guy Fawkes’ day (I love that apostrophe – this day belongs to a man who nearly blew up the British parliament!) – let’s talk about fireworks, which are very important to you achieving what you want to achieve in life.
Let’s talk procrastination, which I have always thought is a very complex word to describe the doing of nothing. You (and everyone on earth) will only ever do something for one of two reasons – to move towards “pleasure” (something that you want) or move away from “pain” (something that you don’t).
I write about pleasure week after week, and so…
There is nothing quite like placing a metaphorical rocket somewhere strategically about your person, to cause that bit of pain. If there is something you know you really must do, that you have been delaying, set yourself a consequence that is as painful as that rocket, and (this is key) if you still do nothing, follow through on the consequences.
Our Naked Leader Executive Coaching Specialist, Gavin Preston also reminded me that if you light the blue touch paper of the natural consequences of not following through, the imagination can conjure up a major explosion of consequence.
Take for example you need information from someone at work who you hate dealing with and always put off speaking to until there’s no other work to be done.
What happens if you don’t go and speak to them? – there’s a chance I won’t get that big order in What happens if I don’t get that big order in? – I will miss my target What happens if miss my target? – I won’t get my bonus and I’ll be under scrutiny for poor performance. Supposing this saga continued? – I’ll get the sack How will that affect my family? – we not be able to pay the mortgage, then we’ll have to move to a smaller house then my family and wife will hate me and my world will have exploded!
Yes go and do that small thing – It can have major consequences if you leave it and the blue touch paper is lit.
With my explosive love and best wishes to Guy Fawkes, and to you
David X