Power of a Deadline

Yesterday I got up, walked the dog, did a workout in the park, biked downtown to the swanky Yorkville area of Toronto to have lunch with Joe Polish (the world’s most connected internet marketer), and then I went back to the park and laid in the grass with my dog.

So basically, it was a free day. A totally unproductive Wednesday.

Why?

Because I gave myself a hard deadline to finish a project by Tuesday night.

And I met that deadline by working until 11:17pm on Tuesday, which is late for me to be working.

Deadlines make you take action…and bring big rewards when you meet them.

That’s why I can get away with a day off after I’ve met an important deadline.

But it’s one of the ONLY days of the year where I didn’t do anything…the rest of the year, I’m HUSTLING to take action, get things done, and to meet deadlines.

The reason I bring this up is because I’ve heard from a lot of folks this week about “why they didn’t enter the Internet Independence Transformation Contest” I ran over the last 6 weeks.

The excuses, obviously, were not very good. After all, they were just that – excuses.

I may as well have been told that, “their dog ate their computer.”

Listen, the reason why you didn’t enter the contest was because you really, truly don’t have sufficient reason to change.

Deep down, you’re happy with the way things are now.

Sure, sure, you tell everyone – or at least you tell me – that you want to build an online business.

But actions speak louder than words.

It’s time to step up and hold yourself accountable.

You can’t depend on others to do that for you.

You have to be honest with yourself.

Am I going to do this or not?

Do I want the freedom and independence I can get by building a website business, or am I happy just to daydream about it?

There’s nothing wrong with daydreaming.

But you have recognize the difference between daydreaming and serious goal setting. Two very, very different things.

So it’s time to take things very seriously.

“You have less time than you think. We all do. Why then are you waiting to fulfil your desire? If you do not start today, then when will you start? You will never start unless you start NOW. Commit yourself heart and soul.” – Felix Dennis

My goal is to help 1000 men and women gain their independence this year through an Internet business.

We don’t have much time left in 2011, and everyday that you procrastinate, I get closer to failure.

So here’s what I need you to do:

1) Set hard deadlines for finishing a major project in your business.

2) Now cut that deadline by 10%, 25%, or even 50%.

3) Trust me, you’ll find a way to get it done in less time.

One of the most important lessons Tim Ferriss taught us in the 4-Hour Work Week was about “Parkinson’s Law” which states:

“Work expands so as to fill the time available for its completion.”

If we set a deadline for 6-months from now, we’ll meet it.

But if take that same project and cut the deadline to just 3-months from now, we would still meet it.

We’d find a way.

So get serious. Set a tough deadline. And get it done.

I’m off to take my own advice, and let you know how it goes.

We’re in this together,

Craig Ballantyne

Life is not a dress rehearsal.

Time is running out.

So get the coaching you need to grow your business here.