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Guest post by: Stephanie Calahan Become an Author

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I'd like to take a moment to tell you about my experience with blogging. You see, I'm a newbie (only blogging for about a year.) I have been reading the newsletters and posts from experts for at least the last 3 years on how businesses should have a blog. I KNEW it was something I should be doing, but gosh, wasn't there something else ...

Then, I finally got an inch of courage and contacted the Blog Squad. I purchased their blog building and coaching program. I was excited. Then it hit me. Procrastination again! (I imagine it as this ugly little gremlin that influences me sometimes...) As of this fall it had been a YEAR since I had paid them and still no blog. Due to MY procrastination not theirs! How embarrassing! A productivity consultant is not supposed to procrastinate. Not to mention, I had invested money and then not used the investment -- also something I should not be doing. All I can say is that I'm human and sometimes we make mistakes. So, I decided that I would fess up and tell you about my experience because it might help you understand why you procrastinate on things and maybe give you a kick to get your big projects done. So, here is what happened:

Fear of the Unknown

It took me way too long to decide to ask experts for help. I knew that I would never have time to figure out how to work a blogging tool... typepad, wordpress, blogger, etc. I kept telling myself that I would figure it out, but that did not happen. I just kept finding other things to do. Would it be hard? Would it take forever? That was when I decided that I should hire the Blog Squad. They are experts in their field and they have excellent packages. I hired them so that I would no longer have fear!

Self-Induced Pressure-Perfectionism Caused Pause

So, they send me this great questionnaire to ask me about my business and other things that they needed to know to get the blog up and rolling. They said that it could be up and going in a week, once I turned in that form. I started to fill it out right away. I wrote and rewrote sections because I wanted it to be perfect. I wanted people to like what I wrote. What would happen if they didn't? What would happen if I spent time on this project and it did not work out? What if I failed? The answer? Perfection!

Fortunately, I pulled myself out of that one after about a day. I'm not perfect! No one is! Now, I was back on my way to getting this new tool up and going and I was excited!

Decided to Not Decide

I got a good majority of the form filled out that next day, but then I got stuck again. Believe it or not, it was on the name of the blog! I could not decide if I wanted a more corporate blog or one that had my personality, or one that all of our consultants contributed to. Doesn't that sound silly? Rather than picking a path and working it, I wanted to have the absolute right answer. I put the form down and did not look at it again for months. Thus, setting me back. Ultimately, I decided to not decide.

Breakthrough!

It is unfortunate that it was a year later, but I did end up filling out the form (or you would not be reading this post!) I am so glad that I did! Like many of my client's clutter and paper situations, the fact that I had a decision looming put a lot of pressure on me in the background of my mind. There was an amazing weight that lifted just sending in the form!

It got even better after my meetings with the wonderful Blog Squad. They did exactly what they said they would and my blog - or a draft design of it - was up and running in a week. I then did 3 different coaching sessions with them to learn about Typepad (which I love now) and about how to write and post effectively. They were fabulous.

Success!

I now have a blog that is read by a number of people and more and more are signing up every day. (I'd love it if you would tell your friends about it, or if you have a blog share your thoughts too!) I enjoy writing and sharing tips and resources and using my blog has become one of my favorite things to do. Boy, what a change!

The wonderful women of the Blog Squad said that I picked up things quickly and they even featured our blog on one of theirs! Check out their comments at Buildabetterblog.com: http://www.buildabetterblog.com/2008/01/productive-and.html

Lesson learned - again

Overwhelm and procrastination can take over the best of us. Now, I could have beat myself up. Told myself some horrible things about myself and continued the procrastination pattern. Instead, I recognized it for what it was and made a conscious choice to change. You can do the same thing with the projects that are being held up by your gremlins.

What "gremlins" are you fighting? What things do you put off? Let us know! I bet my readers can help you overcome them and get moving in a good direction! What have you done to break yourself of a procrastination pattern? Let me know by commenting at the bottom of this posting. Your ideas will be sure to help someone else.

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