What if I told you that there are 5 reasons you’re procrastinating when it comes to your online business?
It sounds…a little specific, right?
I recently learned about this while listening to a podcast featuring musician Jack Conte, co-founder of Patreon.
Jack Conte’s presentation was a bit of an eye-opener for me. Not because I wasn’t familiar with the idea of procrastination—I mean, who doesn’t procrastinate in their life from time to time?
What captured my attention was that as Conte explained WHY we procrastinate, I could see clearly how it applied to entrepreneurs (specifically, those who have online businesses.)
Like when Conte stated that the number one reason we put things off is…da da da… because we’re afraid of making mistakes.
Procrastinating Because We're Afraid
I realize that concept might seem a little obvious but let’s drill it down a bit. For ecommerce business owners, it’s not just about making a typo in a description or having a slightly less-than-perfect photo.
Every product we post in our online store carries with it the worry that we’ve chosen the wrong thing to sell. Or that we have the right product but in the wrong color or style or size. What if nobody wants it? Will they hate the design? Am I just going to screw it up completely?
I’ve been selling products online for more than 12 years. In that time, I’ve had my share of products that tanked. So you might think I’ve learned how to pick myself up, dust myself off, and get the next item posted.
And yes, I have learned to do those things. But I STILL procrastinate. For example, there have been countless times I needed to write my product listings, and then suddenly the “squirrel” phenomenon kicks in.
You know what I mean, right? It’s like in the movie “Up” where the dogs keep getting distracted by squirrels. No matter what they were doing, the minute they saw a squirrel, they were gone!
I’m completely the same way.
Suddenly, I‘m compelled to go for a walk or feel the urgent need to drive to the grocery store to pick up eggs despite the fact we already have some in the fridge..
Or I decide that I need to sweep and mop and vacuum my floors right that moment, or reorganize my pens.
Sometimes I even write a product description, walk away, write it again, stare out the window, rewrite it again…and repeat…until I finally force myself to press the publish button.
If you’re experiencing procrastination in your own journey as an online business owner, I have some insight to share.
Other Reasons You're Procrastinating in Your Online Business
In this episode of the podcast, I review the 5 reasons Jack Conte says we all procrastinate. I also share why changing how we look at the word “finished” can help us move past distractions and make our businesses even stronger.
Listen to the podcast right here or download it on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Stitcher, or Spotify.
Additional Resources
Want to learn more about this topic? Jump over to “Ever Overthink the Decision You Just Made?” podcast episode with Megan Whitesides.
