Step Number Seven: Decision

And here, Think and Grow Rich specifically means decision as opposed to PROCRASTINATION. Almost everyone knows the feeling of waiting until the “last minute” before finishing or even beginning a task. Oh, well.

The problem is when you look at the sequence of steps you have to take to reach a given goal by a given time. If you procrastinate so much you cannot finish those steps regularly enough to reach escape velocity, you want to look more closely at chapter Eight.

What is Procrastination? It is inertia. The fact that you are at rest, or upon a specific path, and do not yet have sufficient motivation to act or act differently. Not enough PAIN associated with your current path, or enough PLEASURE associated with the new one.

The best way I can describe this is to look at the Lifewriting process:

1. Write a Sentence a day
2. Write 1–4 short stories a month
3. Finish, polish, and submit
4. Once finished, do not re-write except to editorial request
5. Read 10X what you write
6. Repeat this process 100 X.

If you can look at every one of these steps, and ask: “What is the consequence of NOT following this step? In other words, what is the specific sort of procrastination it is designed to combat?”

I don’t believe in “laziness” per se. I believe in people who don’t believe their actions will bring them more pleasure than pain…