Anti-Procrastination-Think: You'll Be Dead Soon
One of the best things to gin up my work ethic on a daily basis? Remembering that we have a remarkably short time on the planet and death will be closing in in the rear-view mirror in probably a handful of decades.
I interviewed Austin Kleon at LA Times Festival of Books and saw this Steve Jobs quote in his book, Show Your Work!: 10 Ways to Share Your Creativity and Get Discovered:
Remembering that I'll be dead soon is the most important tool I've ever encountered to help me make the big choices in life. Because almost everything--all external expectations, all pride, all fear of embarrassment or failure--these things just fall away in the face of death, leaving only what is truly important. Remembering that you are going to die is the best way I know to avoid the trap of thinking you have something to lose. You are already naked. --Steve Jobs








" One of the best things to gin up my work ethic on a daily basis?"
Was totally expecting "a Gin and Tonic" that I had to read the second sentence twice.
Bob in Texas at May 5, 2014 5:35 AM
It's too much work to motivate myself like that.
I use the countdown-to-my-death wristwatch instead!
Gog_Magog_Carpet_Reclaimers at May 5, 2014 7:06 PM
Gog, that reminds me of a short story I read back in the '70s called "Time is Money", where time was literally money. You got paid in time, and you paid for things in time, and a central bank kept track of everyone's accounts. Everyone had a little bomb implanted in their heads at birth that went off when their balance went to zero. Talk about living from paycheck to paycheck!
Cousin Dave at May 6, 2014 6:52 AM
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