Pointers on publishing - Stop procrastinating and take the next step!

Wait! Wait a darn minute! How did we get here? Wasn't it just the other day we were celebrating Christmas? Yes, those words are on everyone's lips these days as it is just a shocker how the saying 'time flies' is more a reality than just a phrase we casually use in our daily conversations.

The fact that yet another year is almost upon us is quite evident and can ultimately create mixed feelings, depending on who you are and where you are in life.

For some, you feel great. You look back and say 'I have achieved', I have progressed'.

To others, they ask, 'What have I accomplished?' 'I haven't been able to do X or Y yet and here comes another year!' There are many versions to these and I am sure you can come up with some you have said to yourself or to a friend or colleague. The point is that we procrastinate. I am not leaving myself out of the equation for I, too, am subject to the same challenges you face: demands of the family, business, and just life. But we can't keep using those things as excuses. Yes, I call it an excuse and I get annoyed with myself as I am sure you do when time just tick-tocks away and you see yourself falling closer and closer to the wayside and your goals and dreams dissipating right there with you. How sad.

If we could only reverse the clock, we say, we would do things differently. Yeah, right! No, we won't! We would do the same things all over again because we are creatures of habit. Again, another excuse we use to justify where we are today. So what to do?

We need to be conscious beings. We need to stop floating around and allowing the wind to just take us where it wants us to go. We need to recognise in our daily interactions, when it is time to stop talking as the conversation is not ending up in a direction that can lead us to closing a deal. We need to stop watching too much TV and realise that we are filling our minds with gunk that we internalise and translate into negative behaviours. If you must watch TV, it must be programmes that can lead you closer to your goals, not move you further away. If you have conversations, it must be those that lead you closer to building that relationship with others that can lead you to your ideal client or a joint venture.

Almost one year ago, December 30, 2012, I wrote an article titled 'Your Next Chapter' similar to this one with the hope that you have made some progress in your life, work and personal lives. Have you? Or are you in the same place?

What have you been procrastinating on that you have been bringing forward every year? Your life should not look like an accounting template except when the dollars are rolling in. The 'brought forward' terminology when it comes to goals is a no-no. How many of you are tired of the same ol' same ol' each and every day and want more? Come on, that's all of us. What are you doing about it? Oh yeah, procrastinating! Well, it's time to put a stop to it and now is a great time to make the change as the year isn't over yet and it ain't over til it's over!

Get pen and paper right now and start writing down those things you said you wanted to do and haven't done. Share it with someone so you become conscious and remain accountable.

Be realistic with what you want to achieve, so if it's writing a book, starting a business to add that extra $10,000 in your pocket each month, get healthy or run a marathon by the end of the 2014, go for it! Just be realistic; for unrealistic goals set you up for even more procrastination and, worse yet, failure!

Feed and surround yourself: mind, body and soul, daily with a selection of positive menu items that include your diet, exercise, motivational and inspirational books and audio. And I would hasten to add people you interact with; for the latter are some of the greatest influencers when it comes to the decisions we make in our personal and business lives.

Say to yourself with unequivocal conviction and faith 'I am done believing I am less than the person I was created to be. I have a purpose and I am meant to live it out. If I don't know what my purpose is yet, I am starting my journey right now to find out and I can't wait to see what my next steps will be!'

Corine La Font is a self publishing, online marketing and virtual events specialist and consultant. She is also an award-winning publishing resource in the 2013 Small Business Book Awards. Get a copy of her book at http://amzn.to/TFHQka and Tune in to her radio programme at http://www.blogtalkradio.com/helpdeskja.