#TBT - Procrastination and Lobsters?

by Skip Cohen

It's Throwback Thursday, and today's post shares a few archived components. I shared the lobster analogy 13 years ago, in one of the very early SCU posts. Then, a few years later, I shared the backstory on the picture above. This time of year, both are perfect for what I want to share today.

Happiness is having a buddy call you and say, "I need your help - they screwed up the order for my guy at the market and sent him big lobsters rather than a bunch of small ones. They're big ones - you want to cook tonight?"
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The buddy was Bob Rose, and I'm guessing it's around 2000. My obvious answer was "YES!" and a few hours later Bob and Kayce Baker were in our kitchen. They were 6-7 pounders, and the shells were so thick that we had to wrap them in towels and smash them with a hammer.

When I think about all of my life's adventures, Bob has been a partner in crime since the first dive trip we did in the early 90s. When I take a walk down Memory Lane, especially if there's anything involving food, Bob's always in the backstory, but those adventures are for another post.

I chose that photograph because I wanted a lobster shot. It tied in with Throwback Thursday and a great analogy in a quote by Orison Swett Marden from the 1800s:

"A lobster, when left high and dry among the rocks, does not have sense enough to work his way back to the sea, but waits for the sea to come to him. If it does not come, he remains where he is and dies, although the slightest effort would enable him to reach the waves, which are perhaps within a yard of him. The world is full of human lobsters; people stranded on the rocks of indecision and procrastination, who, instead of putting forth their own energies, are waiting for some grand billow of good fortune to set them afloat."

Here's why it's so appropriate now. It's October 1, officially the start of the fourth quarter. No matter who you are or how good or bad your business has been this year, everyone shares a common theme - the potential for a strong finish. It's literally standing right in front of you!

But to finish strong, you need all your energy focused on the task of holiday seasonality. That means you don't want to waste time chasing loose ends from earlier projects and clients. Loose ends are all those things you know are held up because you've been putting them off. It's time to chase them down!

Remember, half the battle is beating procrastination. We put things off, waiting for the shoemaker's elves to come in the middle of the night and clean up the mess.  Sadly, the only elves who show up are the Keebler Cookie guys, and they only add to your waistline!

So start making a list, then use the next week to tie up as many loose ends as possible.  I did my list this morning, just before publishing this post, and while I've made no progress, it's at least a start!

I am, however, craving Keebler Cookies and a lobster...go figure.

PS And yes, my chef's hat does say, "Don't F--- With the Cook"