Great email from a reader here, republished with permission -
Sebastian,
This is just a quick "off the head" reply.
I haven't spoken, emailed to you in awhile, but I had to tell you that this is the most important thing:
In my most humble opinion, the SINGLE most important difference between those who are SUCCESSFUL and those who are not (and you can define success in ANY way you want, doesn't matter) is this:
1) Those who get "stuff" done ASAP
2) Those who put stuff off.
That's it.
It's that simple.
Yes, of course, there are other issues, we all know that. Your whole blog and email is about the little, subtle things that one can do to absolutely and completely tune and perfect these things.
But, honestly, that's the main thing I find in myself (and others) either overall, or at different times in my life. If I am feeling like I'm doing a lot, it's all about doing things NOW rather than LATER.
This really got brought home to me yesterday when talking to my Aunt on the phone. Her grandson, my cousin, is somewhat the "black sheep" of the family. I actually like the guy and he and I get along real well. He got involved in drugs when he was young and has made some bad decisions, but deep down, he's a "good guy", just not "together". Well, to make a long story short, she was telling me about his latest trouble. Guess he got a DUI some months back and then didn't go the court-appointed classes, etc., etc. Well, bottom line, she had to "loan" (give) him $500 to get back into the classes again because he missed the 90 day deadline. He told her: "I thought I had more time" and she replied "Tony, you had 3 months!".
And it hit me.
THAT is his main problem. He puts stuff off. Oh, not stuff he wants to do, but the OTHER stuff. The stuff no one wants to do. Well, I upon hearing this story IMMEDIATELY wrapped up and shipped out all the eBay sales I had made in the last week and was procrastinating about shipping out! (Fun listing and getting the money in, not so fun doing the actual packaging, shipping, mailing.) But THAT is the point!
Doing the little things every day that aren't fun, but so important.
My new goal is to tie up loose ends each and every day, if not each and every hour.
I hope all is well with you. Last I heard you were in Outer Mongolia I believe? Awesome!
My best,
J