Q:  What is Self-Sabotage?

Alyce:  Self-sabotage is when you say you want something and then go about making sure it doesn't happen.

We are mysteries to ourselves.  We have no idea why we say we want to lose weight while we are eating a hot fudge sundae or why we say we want to clean out the garage and 52 weeks later it still isn't done. 

"I can't keep my hands off the donuts."
"I can't keep my hands off the interns."
"I can't keep my hands on money."

Self-Sabotage comes in a colorful variety.  We sabotage time, weight, finances, exercise programs, writing (known as Writer's Block), education, careers, relationships, health and even pets and cars.  THIS DOES NOT NEED TO CONTINUE.

Self-Sabotage is the fascinating art of being human.  People are never more creative than when they're sabotaging themselves...and frequently never more productive than when they're procrastinating.

Q:  So what's Procrastination?

Alyce:  If you intentionally decided to hold off on doing a project until next year, that's planning.  If you decide you want to do it now....and you don't get started, that's procrastination.  Putting it off with intent is a conscious act.  Putting it off after you've promised yourself and others to do it, that's procrastination.

PROCRASTINATION IS, HANDS DOWN, OUR FAVORITE FORM OF SELF-SABOTAGE.

Procrastination has been called:  Suicide on the installment plan.
Procrastination is more important to us than sex--it must be...we do it more often.

Q:  Who procrastinates?

Alyce:  Virtually everybody.  It affects men and woman equally and every race and religion.  It is cross cultural.  It affects jobs, marriage, health and business.

Q:  How important is procrastination?

Alyce:  Success in business is determined by what you chose to put off.  A business owner will sabotage his/her business by putting off the wrong things.

As reported in the Seattle Daily Journal of Commerce, "Procrastination is the major cause of business failure, not undercapitalization or marketing."

After teaching my Self-Sabotage course in Houston, a woman told me that her sister died of procrastination.  I was shocked.  She said, "My sister had cancer surgery and was told that if she had certain symptons to get back right away.  She had the symptoms and put it off and put it off...and she died."  Then I learned that Cary Grant put off going to the hospital while he was having a heart attack!  The most unusual one though was Jim Henson of Muppet fame who put off getting medical help and died as a result of a very treatable malady--they estimate only 5 hours would have made the difference. 

When I wrote (in the Procrastinator's Success Kit) that "procrastination is hazardous to your health" I had no idea how profound and right on that sentence was! 

Jobs have been lost, businesses destroyed and marriages ended because of this behavior.  So I'd have to say that it isn't just important, it's CRITICAL to quality of Life.

Q:  What's the secret?  Why do we procrastinate?

Alyce:  It's fascinating behavior to study.  You don't always procrastinate for the same reasons every time you do it...so there are no pat answers.  You don't put off seeing the dentist for the same reason that you put off cleaning the garage.

8 different styles:  everything from the Action Junkie who puts things off to add drama to life...to the Perfectionist who doesn't want to start or finish unless it's perfect.  You're guaranteed to recognize yourself in at least 3, many people, it's 7.  All 8 styles are what the Procrastinator's Success Kit is all about...and how to deal with every one of them...and including how to deal with someone else's procrastination.

Q:  What's really going on when we procrastinate?

Alyce:  Look at behavior as if it were a message to you.  That message is written in code.  Your job is to crack the code. 

Basically, you're getting something FOR this behavior.  Somebody on the inside of you wants something.  And they are using procrastination to get it.  Frequently this is some sort of perceived protection.

Each one of the 8 styles has a clear benefit.  Give yourself that benefit and then the procrastinating behavior falls away.  I never suggest that people STOP procrastinating--they'll lose the benefit of it.  Instead, I have a system that shows you how to identify the benefit and examples of HOW TO GET THAT BENEFIT--I am all for people getting what they want.  This is "cracking the code." 

Q:  Is this a "learned behavior"?

Alyce:  When you were 2 years old and you saw a cookie, you didn't say to yourself, "Do I deserve to have it?  Would I be bothering anybody if I asked for it?"  NO!  You said, "COOKIE, NOW!"  You used to be that way. 

People who want to lose weight and people who want to write books have to become SELFISH in order to get what they want:  pounds off and pages written.  They have to risk irritating friends and family by going after what they want.  They return to their 2 year olds to help them stay focused and get what they want.
Olympic winners also understand this.  (See book:  Why Winners Win)

The good news is--this is the best news you'll hear all week--procrastination is a learned behavior and it can be unlearned or relearned.  It means:  you're not stuck with it!

Q:  How do you stop procrastinating?

Alyce:  I teach a system that I call the Inner Theatre Method.  I use it to maintain a 100-pound weight loss, get my taxes done on time, write books and articles and run my successful business.  It takes a minimum of 1.5 hours to teach and no refresher courses are needed.  At the end of 90 minutes you can do it as well as I can.  Like most things, it's simple but profound.  It changed my life so that I am able to influence myself.  I could say I wanted something and then I could make it  happen.  This study also allows me to recognize self-sabotage in others and avoid those people.  If you are working with or living with someone who is sabotaging then, unfortunately, you get to share in the phenomenon.  (See "How To Avoid Hiring a Sabotaging Employee")

If procrastination is your issue, I recommend investing the price of about 3 lattes ($12.95) by getting the Procrastinator's Success Kit.     The Inner Theatre Method is in this book.  Order from distributor:  1-800-937-7771. Or from this website.

If Self-Sabotage is your issue, 10 lattes ($29) gives you the Self-Sabotage videotape.  1-800-937-7771. 

Out now! What's Your Sabotage?:The Last Word in Overcoming Self-Sabotage   This book deals with various sabotages, not just the time sabotage (procrastination), and also includes the Inner Theatre Method.  .

And you can hire the author to speak at your managment retreat, conference or convention.  It's incredible to see the Inner Theatre Method performed live on stage--includes costume changes, demonstrations, highly interactive.  To schedule:  see here.
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