In the U.S., the taxman cometh tomorrow. Most of us scramble to make the deadline, but we make it. We get the forms signed, the extra work done, we dot our i’s and cross our t’s before time is up. The deadline is firm, so we deliver.
Why not create another deadline for yourself, right now, but instead of filing your taxes you’ll ship something really important that you’re stuck on. If you already know that you push off your own deadlines, make them more like tax day:
- Set up a meeting in which you promise to present your new findings
- Decide you’re going to talk about this thing in a speech you’re giving next month
- Email 10 friends right now and say “I’m writing something really important that will be ready on May 1st, can I send it to you and get your feedback?”
- Tell your boss today that you’d like to meet with her about this in 10 days
- Post on Facebook or Twitter that you’re getting this thing done next Friday, no matter what
- Promise to stop eating – sweets, milk, dessert, breakfast cereal – until you send off your first draft
Deadlines are powerful, so go ahead and make one right now for something important to you. Once it’s out there, I know you’ll deliver.
Oh, and don’t forget to mail in your taxes tomorrow.