There are those traits in us that we yearn to weed out. For me, it's procrastination - and I don't mean the kind of procrastination that ends up being a stinky heap in the sink, because it is usually easily solved as the stench becomes too unbearable and you'd have no choice but to either wash it or throw it away (I have known people who had to throw their pots and pans away).
The lalang or weed in question in my life is the self-destructive kind. The kind where you know you have an important presentation in two weeks time, and you decide to only get your act together the night before - preferring to burn the midnight oil as your mouse burns tracks on your desk and your fingers go into a fit of frenzy commensurate with the amount of adrenaline that's rushing through your veins as a result of 10 cups of Grande Cafe Lattes.
It's the kind where you know that if you don't get that MBA, you'll end up 30 and without an MBA. Not that it should matter, but since that's what you set out to do, you are adding yet another moving milestone to your life. One day, you will hear about that 25 year old with 2 masters and curse yourself for not having been able to even start one.
This kind of procrastination has deep roots in my character. I guess the ability to always pull through has kept me in this state - if I've done it once, I can do it again, so what's the point of doing things properly? We usually wait for something really bad to happen before we decide to change, and the longer we wait, the higher the stakes become.
I can't afford to play the Procrastinator's Anonymous game (Hi, I'm Najah and I'm a procrastinator) anymore. It's no longer cute to be a procrastinator. Sometimes you just know that this is the one. The one where if you screw it up, you'll kick yourself for the rest of your life. The one where if you take the conscious effort to go in with your eyes open, leaving procrastination at the door, you will be rewarded.
This is it, Najah. This is it.
Posted by Najah Nasseri at 2003年07月14日 23:19 | TrackBacki for one have found it odd why people go for an MBA in today's business climate. it's become quite clear to most people that having a certificate is in itself not a guarantee of quality. najah, having met you, you strike me as someone who's fully capable of perfoming the task at hand, so why bother with an MBA when it could better be spent on something else more productive ?
Posted by: alphaque at 2003年07月14日 23:51just wana leave a relevant blogging link http://politics.guardian.co.uk/egovernment/story/0,12767,997995,00.html
im procrastinating my comment on procrastination.. :-P
from tvsmith - why procrastinate today when you can do it tomorrow
will be back
Posted by: faren at 2003年07月15日 00:45An MBA is only a public reaffirmation that you have achieved a milestone in your life. It usually pertains to some skill or publicly displayed capabilities. You obtain confirmation of your capabilities through many other ways then just chasing that one piece of paper. Granted, in todays world, such pieces of paper helps the professional career. Then again, are the material rewards worth the effort and worthy the time that we are so short of already.
Really, if it makes you feel better and more satisfied, go get that MBA. A person like you can easily do what you set your mind to.
Be mindful, take it for what it is, just a piece of paper. There is no other better teacher than pure hard work and experience itself. Some skills you pick up are made easier to understand because you may have that MBA, but an MBA never teaches you that skill in the first place.
Posted by: fische at 2003年07月15日 01:02I think procrastination is a Taurean trait. There are many things I would like to change, but procrastination seems to be the mother-of-all-things-that-it's-hard-to-change.
I have no advice to give dahhling but one thing's is for sure, if you find the solution first, let me in on it.
I'll share some quotes I dug out in zombie-land:
Anne Frank : How wonderful it is that nobody need wait a single moment before starting to improve the world, and
Pearl S. Buck : I don't wait for moods. You accomplish nothing if you do that. Your mind must know it has got to get down to work.
Thanks for the post. I think I know what to do now. Hmm maybe I'll put it off till I get up in 3 hrs time...
Posted by: Sharizal Shaarani at 2003年07月15日 03:04I think it's the same with me. I procrastinate a lot because I've always scraped thru in the past. Probably what I need is a wake up call, some dire result of procrastination which will then force me to change my ways... or maybe not... ;)
Posted by: khalilur at 2003年07月15日 08:29True, Sharizal. Procrastination IS a Taurean trait. I should know, since I am one. We Taureans don't like the label, so we call it economy of motion. We like to achieve anything in the least amount of effort. Too often I plan and plan..and conveniently forget to put it into action. Grr.
Khalil: what usually happens is, we procrastinate, and then end up regretting after the fact, which we then make plans NOT to put it off next time, but we do, anyway. At least, I do. I figure it's akin to masturbation.
Najah: Don't worry about the MBA. Unless you're planning to enter the academic line of work, your professional experience should more than make up for it. Now if I can just concentrate enough on my proposal for the blasted PhD.
Posted by: Ash.ox at 2003年07月15日 09:49I don't agree. Me Gemini, but procrastinate like mad !!!! Exam in less than 3 weeks, and I am stil blogging
Posted by: fooji at 2003年07月15日 10:14Procrastinate is like middle name... The same resolution every new year to not be one, but i guess procrastinate lives in me. Errkk!!!
Posted by: Lolyta at 2003年07月15日 13:06Why can't you all see the joys and beauty of procrastinations. Procrastinate and you end up with a better, procrastinate and you marry Y instead of X, procrastinate and you get to continue with the oh so sweet dream.
It is so very human to procrastinate. Please join PA ---Procrastinator Anonymous!