procrastination tree house

By Jack Price

The redwood tree-house swing set still sits in my backyard. I built it from a mail-order blueprint when my daughter, Stacy, was eight years old. Now she is... umm… past the age of swing sets. (Although she is young, I will not reveal her age; let’s just say she is a licensed attorney and my business partner.) She will never use it again. But there it sits.

Intentional Procrastination

I have consciously resisted tearing it down for good reasons. The little chalet-style roof over the suspended deck looks pretty covered with snow in deep winter. The support legs cast an interesting shadow on the greening grass in early spring, before the Black Walnut tree leafs out. I left it standing for decorative purposes. Let’s say.

Decision Time

A few years ago, when Stacy was in college, I decided to tear it down. I let her know, and she was not upset. But I wanted to wait for her to be home and take one more picture of her standing beside it as a keepsake. We never got around to taking the picture.

Demolition Overdue

Now the deck is seriously sagging on one side. The roof planks are covered with moss. The ladder rungs (made from maple closet pole instead of redwood) have rotted. I had to remove the rusty swings to prevent visiting children from getting hurt. It is a hazard and is becoming an eyesore.

Good Procrastination

It’s not the same as procrastinating on cleaning out the garage. Memories live in the swing set. I hung the deck joists singlehanded, mis-cut one of the six support legs and improvised a fix, maneuvered around shelf rock while digging the post holes for the ladder, and sawed through the cord of my circular saw, sending a nasty jolt of electricity through me. And when it was finished, it was a big hit with the neighborhood kids. I pushed many small backs to make the swings go higher.

Know Thyself

But who am I kidding? My rationalizations don’t fool even me any more. I procrastinate because I don’t want to move on. Don’t want to close the door on being the father of a small child. Tearing down the tree house will be one final acknowledgement that those days are long gone. It is the last symbol of her childhood—a big one—and it will hurt when I let it go. I am like a child that dreads ripping the Band-aid off.

It’s Time

Having brought it out into the light of day by writing about it, I think I will—tear it down, that is. Now is the time. I believe I’ll grab my crowbar and get started today. Now where is that crowbar? I may have to go to Home Depot and pick up a new one. But it is late in the day. Maybe tomorrow…

Jack Price (edited, as always, by Stacy Price)

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Jack Price is a friend of Larry. He is also the founder of PriceWrite Communications and writer of “Getting Started”, a free online newsletter dedicated to helping small business owners Stop Procrastinating and Get Started doing business on the web. Visit http://pricewrite.com/

working on procrastination?

it's true.
this idea started about, put hand over mouth, blah blah years ago. it has started - stopped - and restarted many many times. the original idea has been in all sorts of iterations and variations. (as time goes on i'm sure tell you about them.)
anyway, this time around i am doing it a little differently. i thought it might be cool to keep you posted. let you know what the trials and tribulations, real and unreal that pop up for a guy building a site about procrastination. (also i figure this will keep me at it. if i say in public that this is what i'm doing. i gotta do it right? right?)
now, this blog will be about the cool stuff that i encounter on the way. because the handful of you guys that have my card know it says the creative guy, because i am right brain driven. (if right brain is indeed the creative side?) that is all me. it's the business of procrastination that i'm learning. i'm learning how to do business, be creative, have some fun and maybe help a person or two along the way. i plan on doing some research and talking about and bringing you procrastination related stuff. i'll need your help, finding the things you do, the places you go, the ways you found to explore and celebrate your procrastination or how your friends manage to do it...later.

the one simple truth, for me, that has always been apart of this idea, no matter what form it took; is that procrastination is not bad, we just need to use it right.

take care,
latelarry@procrastination.com

we need procrastination

it's true.

the old definition was ok for a simpler time. but in today’s text-messaging, e-mailing, message-leaving, cell-phone-grabbing, googling, tweeting, info-crazed, not-a-moment-to-yourself world, we need to look again at procrastination it could be a small answer to a world that has become over-active, over-rushed, over-committed, and over-stimulated.

here is a cool story to show my point...

the mexican fisherman story
a mexican guy owns a little fishing boat. every day he goes out and catches just enough fish for dinner for his family. it doesn’t take long, then he heads home for a siesta. when he wakes up, he plays with his kids while his wife cooks dinner. after dinner, he strolls to town where he plays cards with a few friends, smokes a cigar, and drinks a beer. when gets tired, he heads home for bedtime. one day an american tourist sees him come ashore with a string of fish and strikes up a conversation. “you know, you should buy some more boats.” then what, asks the fisherman? “then you could hire some more fishermen to work for you.” then what, the fisherman repeats? “your men would catch a lot of fish and you could sell them for a profit.” then what? “you could buy more boats and hire more men. before long you’d be a rich man.” then what? “then you could take it easy, fish all day, be with your family, relax with your friends, play cards, smoke a cigar, and have a beer.” the fishermen thought for a moment then replied with a grin, “no speak english” :

“you are never too busy for procrastination.” it's true.

put your feet up,
latelarry@procrastination.com

there it is...

the exact moment i realized that webster, roget and now even that wikipedia guy got it wrong. procrastination is a good thing. we just need to learn to enjoy it. embrace it. maybe even celebrate it. because today in this need-it-yesterday world, putting something off for a bit to gather your thoughts, catch your breath or simply slow down every now and again is something we all should do. maybe more now than ever.

so as i was sitting there on the balcony, staring off into the clouds, not doing anything i needed to be doing, i saw it as clear as day; these are the moments we want in life....to enjoy a great view. whether it's a view of trees, oceans, skys, kids playing, girls skating, people shopping, sunsets, full moons, rainbows, football, baseball, tennis or tidily winks, or whatever it is at the moment...we just want to be able to slow down for some quality procrastination.

With all the texting, faxing, emailing, phone calling, pod casting, memos, meetings and as we all are just trying to keep pace with the ever-spinning world. we could miss all the good views and that would be a shame.
so this is my movement. this is my goal. to build a nation of people...a ProcrastiNation of folks that will make slowing down an art form. that will bring new meaning to the word late. that will put things off like they never have before. that is what i want to celebrate.

i know it will take some time to find the true procrastinators but i'm willing keep looking; because i know you are out there, waiting for me to show up. i've heard from some of you already, when you were cramming for finals, dealing with deadlines, rushing to get ready for parties/dinners/weddings/holidays/dates and all sorts of life moments you knew were coming but you waited 'til they were here to start.

so here's what i'm going to do...it won't be easy but i am going to make procrastination my life. i'll do my best to put things off, to tell you later and to get back to you about what is going on with the site and the building of a new ProcrastiNation. i will do all the heavy lifting but i don't want to do this alone. i want you and all your procrastinating friends, family and co-workers to think about helping. so go ahead make a list, talk it over and write back to me here at latelarry@procrastination.com ...eventually.

share with me what it is you or your friends are doing in the name of procrastination.
and lastly, when you go out and start telling others how proud you are about your procrastinating ways and they are hesitant in their response and they don't immediately jump up on the bandwagon...good job.

those are exactly the folks that will be a part of this movement.

to be continued,
latelarry@procrastination.com