July 2007 Anticrastination Tip Sheet

What's the opposite of Procrastination?
THE ANTICRASTINATION TIP SHEET
An Idea and Tip Sheet to Blast Away the
Procrastination Habit
From Rita Emmett
Author of THE PROCRASTINATOR'S HANDBOOK, and
THE CLUTTER-BUSTING HANDBOOK

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Quote for July

Courage is not the absence of fear, but rather the judgment that something else is more important than fear -- Ambrose Redmoon

I learned that courage was not the absence of fear, but the triumph over it. The brave man is not he who does not feel afraid, but he who conquers that fear -- Nelson Mandela

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Question for July

When you are totally swamped, overwhelmed and on the brink of burnout, what big or little things do you do to recharge your battery? I'd love to hear from you.

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SALE: Summer Clutter Busting Bundle

Attack your clutter a little at a time throughout this summer. And by autumn, you'll see some major changes in your life.

Read Rita Emmett's quick, easy, short THE CLUTTER-BUSTING HANDBOOK, then reinforce it by listening to her interview on the "CONQUER CLUTTER" CD, then invite your family to join you in watching Rita's educational and entertaining presentation on the "CLUTTER BUSTING" DVD. You'll be bombarding yourself with clutter busting attitude and behavior strategies that will help vaporize your clutter forever

The Clutter-Busting Handbook $10.95 value
Conquer Clutter CD $15.97 value
Clutter Busting DVD $19.97 value
A $46.89 value ONLY $35.94 (a $10.95 savings - that's like
getting the book for free!!) Now till Sept. 21
Order now while supplies last
http://www.ritaemmett.com

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ANNOUNCING ANOTHER OF OUR FAMOUS FREE TELESEMINARS

Not sure what a teleseminar is? Click here for enlightenment.
http://www.ritaemmett.com/teleseminar-faq.htm

Wed, July 18 at 7:00 pm Chicago time
Rita will interview Madeleine Van Hecke, author of recently published
Blind Spots: Why Smart People Do Dumb Things.

Haven't you ever observed something and wondered, "How could somebody that smart do such a dumb thing." And isn't it extra embarrassing when that smart person is you?

Madeleine Van Hecke, Ph.D. is a psychologist who's an expert on "why smart people do dumb things." She will give you insights and answers to why some of us do the goofy things we do.

Everyone who registers will receive a free download of Madeleine's article "What Can You Do When Other People's Blind Spots Are Driving You Crazy?" Then, computer goddess Mickey will send you the magic phone number to call.

To register, click here:
http://www.ritaemmett.com/teleseminar-reg.htm

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Message from Rita

We just returned from "working" 2 glorious back-to-back (7-day) cruises to Alaska. We saw whales (close up), many eagles, some sheep, sea lions and a big brown bear who - I swear - turned & smiled for the camera.

That bear kept our group trapped in a bus for almost an hour. He appeared just as we were supposed to exit the bus to walk the short distance to our Zip Line deck but he simply would not leave. The driver called some co-workers who appeared with guns (to shoot in the air, not at the bear) and finally got that huge (& beautiful) creature to lumber away.

Do you know what Zip Lining is? It's the thrill ride of a lifetime where they hook you up to a long, strong cable high up on a mountain, and you soar like an eagle from one point down to another.

This one in Icy Strait Point, Alaska, claims to be the longest non-stop Zip Line in the world. We "flew" over tree tops for 5,330 feet (more than a mile!) and dropped down a distance of 1300 feet. At times we were zipping through the air at 60 mph.

It was one of the most exciting, exhilarating -- and terrifying -- things Bruce & I have ever done. And it was a terrific exercise in facing fear.

As we were strapped into the harness, looking down that 1300 foot drop, the cable I was connected to looked so thin and fragile ... and breakable. My heart was pounding in my throat and it felt as if every cell in my body was tensed and ready to spring.

Then we heard the count "3 - 2 - 1 - Have a great ride!" and POW. We were gliding high above the tall pine trees, with the most gorgeous view of Alaska's mountains, waters, forests - and I knew what an eagle feels like sailing high up through the sky.

It was a perfect metaphor for those times that "Fear Of Something" threatens to cause us to procrastinate. Those times that we want with all our heart to start a business, change jobs, write a book, plan a trip to Africa, start an exercise plan, or whatever that dream is you might be putting off because you're afraid of failure or rejection or looking stupid or what others might say or 101 other fears.

Fear is such a big contributor to procrastination that I devoted a whole chapter to it in The Procrastinator's Handbook.

I don't know how to teach people to stop being afraid, so I believe the solution is to just go ahead & "do it scared".

In fact, I used to think that courage meant you don't feel fear. (This was before I found the two "fear" quotes above.) But a fellow who served in Iraq told me "No, courage is feeling the terror and still doing what you need to do."

He's right. If you've been putting off a dream - trying for a promotion, offering to become a scout leader or coach a team, moving to a new place, going back to school, committing to a relationship, whatever - because "Fear of Something" is holding you back, consider this: "What might be the consequence of doing it scared?"

Sure, you might fail; but what if you succeed? How would you feel? You just might find yourself at a more exciting, exhilarating place in life.

By the way, Bruce swears he was beyond scared; he has never been so totally terrified in his life. Yet by the time he reached to bottom of that 1300 foot drop, he said he would do it again in a heartbeat.

Isn't that true in life? The first time is always the most terrifying.

Let me hear what you think,

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