Much of my work over the past couple of months has been authoring content for grants and websites. This has involved spending copious amounts of time staring out my office window watching snow melt in between authoring paragraphs of copy. Now that spring has sprung, sneaking away for walks has also proved an effective means of delayed writing. Eventually I make my way back to the task at hand, usually with inspiration for writing or revisions.
This literary delay begs the question: Can procrastination
actually help us succeed?
Frank Partnoy’s book: Wait. The Art of Science and Delay, contends
that we live in a world revolving around instantaneous reactions. “Whatever we
want, we want instantly; whatever is expected of us, it is expected just as
quickly.” Partnoy believes we tend to lose with this philosophy. He recommends slowing
down, on the grounds that waiting gives us the benefit of time. This allows
ideas to form and thoughts to coalesce.
Stepping back a bit further, venture capitalist Paul Graham’s
essay, The Top Idea in Your Mind, discusses
the hang-ups that can surface from concentrating too much on one idea,
especially if the idea isn’t going to lead to a productive outcome. “I realized
recently that what one thinks about in the shower in the morning is more
important than I'd thought,” says Graham. “I knew it was a good time to have
ideas. Now I'd go further: now I'd say it's hard to do a really good job on
anything you don't think about in the shower.”
Whether it’s a shower, a walk or staring out the window, while
procrastination may drive me nuts, cycles of literary delay can be useful in
helping me achieve my best work for clients.
At least that’s what I’m counting on.
Follow on Twitter: @canterconsults
Follow on Twitter: @canterconsults
