[Music] so I’d like to take a quick poll if
so I’d like to take a quick poll if
so I’d like to take a quick poll if that’s all right so I’m just gonna put
that’s all right so I’m just gonna put
that’s all right so I’m just gonna put out a few scenarios and if one of them
out a few scenarios and if one of them
out a few scenarios and if one of them applies to you just raise your hand have
applies to you just raise your hand have
applies to you just raise your hand have any of you ever taken a quick study
any of you ever taken a quick study
any of you ever taken a quick study break that ended up lasting like two or
break that ended up lasting like two or
break that ended up lasting like two or three hours it’s some of us yeah have
three hours it’s some of us yeah have
three hours it’s some of us yeah have you ever left some clothes or some
you ever left some clothes or some
you ever left some clothes or some dishes dirty because you told yourself
dishes dirty because you told yourself
dishes dirty because you told yourself that you’ll get to it later
that you’ll get to it later
that you’ll get to it later some of us yes all right have you ever
some of us yes all right have you ever
some of us yes all right have you ever been standing in front of the fridge no
been standing in front of the fridge no
been standing in front of the fridge no no no one has a fridge anymore
no no one has a fridge anymore
no no one has a fridge anymore Wow okay no have you ever been standing
Wow okay no have you ever been standing
Wow okay no have you ever been standing in front of the fridge with the door
in front of the fridge with the door
in front of the fridge with the door open and you’re looking for something to
open and you’re looking for something to
open and you’re looking for something to eat
eat
eat but nothing looks good so you close the
but nothing looks good so you close the
but nothing looks good so you close the door come back half an hour later and
door come back half an hour later and
door come back half an hour later and you know that no one’s put anything in
you know that no one’s put anything in
you know that no one’s put anything in there but you open the door again you’re
there but you open the door again you’re
there but you open the door again you’re just hoping something’s magically
just hoping something’s magically
just hoping something’s magically changed you’re just there waiting yeah
changed you’re just there waiting yeah
changed you’re just there waiting yeah some of you right so I do the same thing
some of you right so I do the same thing
some of you right so I do the same thing just with my life but here’s the deal
just with my life but here’s the deal
just with my life but here’s the deal I’m not alone in that a lot of us are
I’m not alone in that a lot of us are
I’m not alone in that a lot of us are just sort of standing with the fridge
just sort of standing with the fridge
just sort of standing with the fridge door open letting out the cold you see
door open letting out the cold you see
door open letting out the cold you see we have this problem as a country and as
we have this problem as a country and as
we have this problem as a country and as a society we love doing anything besides
a society we love doing anything besides
a society we love doing anything besides what we’re supposed to be doing in fact
what we’re supposed to be doing in fact
what we’re supposed to be doing in fact it’s such a popular pastime we even have
it’s such a popular pastime we even have
it’s such a popular pastime we even have a special word for it
a special word for it
a special word for it procrastination essentially that’s doing
procrastination essentially that’s doing
procrastination essentially that’s doing something or nothing to avoid or delay
something or nothing to avoid or delay
something or nothing to avoid or delay doing whatever you’re supposed to be
doing whatever you’re supposed to be
doing whatever you’re supposed to be doing now if that concept doesn’t really
doing now if that concept doesn’t really
doing now if that concept doesn’t really make sense first of all congratulations
make sense first of all congratulations
make sense first of all congratulations you get a lot more done than I do and
you get a lot more done than I do and
you get a lot more done than I do and second of all I’m a bit of a first-hand
second of all I’m a bit of a first-hand
second of all I’m a bit of a first-hand expert on the subject I apik Rast a
expert on the subject I apik Rast a
expert on the subject I apik Rast a master you could say so strap in I’ll
master you could say so strap in I’ll
master you could say so strap in I’ll clear up a few things so the cross the
clear up a few things so the cross the
clear up a few things so the cross the nation exists in what are essentially
nation exists in what are essentially
nation exists in what are essentially just three phases one stalling and we
just three phases one stalling and we
just three phases one stalling and we can talk about the other two later
can talk about the other two later
can talk about the other two later because right now
because right now
because right now we don’t need to talk about what
we don’t need to talk about what
we don’t need to talk about what procrastination is but rather why we do
procrastination is but rather why we do
procrastination is but rather why we do it but before we get there I hear you
it but before we get there I hear you
it but before we get there I hear you you’re saying okay but Carter we’ve all
you’re saying okay but Carter we’ve all
you’re saying okay but Carter we’ve all heard talks like this before
heard talks like this before
heard talks like this before and okay you’d be right you’d be
and okay you’d be right you’d be
and okay you’d be right you’d be justified to say that according to
justified to say that according to
justified to say that according to numerous sources Google and YouTube
numerous sources Google and YouTube
numerous sources Google and YouTube there have been at least seven different
there have been at least seven different
there have been at least seven different TED talks on or about procrastination
TED talks on or about procrastination
TED talks on or about procrastination sorry eight but I’ve been wanting to do
sorry eight but I’ve been wanting to do
sorry eight but I’ve been wanting to do a talk like this for a month so I mean
a talk like this for a month so I mean
a talk like this for a month so I mean I’ve been working on this speech for
I’ve been working on this speech for
I’ve been working on this speech for five days
five days
five days I’m joking that I’m kidding it’s been
I’m joking that I’m kidding it’s been
I’m joking that I’m kidding it’s been three moving on in fact on the official
three moving on in fact on the official
three moving on in fact on the official TED guide to public speaking on page 15
TED guide to public speaking on page 15
TED guide to public speaking on page 15 there’s even a section called
there’s even a section called
there’s even a section called procrastination omor which you can take
procrastination omor which you can take
procrastination omor which you can take to of course mean hey please stop
to of course mean hey please stop
to of course mean hey please stop procrastinating but you can also take to
procrastinating but you can also take to
procrastinating but you can also take to mean hey please stop writing speeches
mean hey please stop writing speeches
mean hey please stop writing speeches about procrastinating we’re we’re good
about procrastinating we’re we’re good
about procrastinating we’re we’re good we have enough but we know that we can’t
we have enough but we know that we can’t
we have enough but we know that we can’t because it’s still a problem a big one
because it’s still a problem a big one
because it’s still a problem a big one we’re living in this world of of
we’re living in this world of of
we’re living in this world of of thirty-second news clips and five-minute
thirty-second news clips and five-minute
thirty-second news clips and five-minute YouTube videos and for a lot of us it’s
YouTube videos and for a lot of us it’s
YouTube videos and for a lot of us it’s really easy to get sucked into that
really easy to get sucked into that
really easy to get sucked into that right and when every part of our culture
right and when every part of our culture
right and when every part of our culture supports us staying there I it’s not
supports us staying there I it’s not
supports us staying there I it’s not like we want to leave and because it’s
like we want to leave and because it’s
like we want to leave and because it’s just a lot easier to click on your 30
just a lot easier to click on your 30
just a lot easier to click on your 30 second video of baby kangaroos then like
second video of baby kangaroos then like
second video of baby kangaroos then like do your calculus homework or write your
do your calculus homework or write your
do your calculus homework or write your thesis or call your brother Carter back
thesis or call your brother Carter back
thesis or call your brother Carter back and wish him a happy birthday I don’t
and wish him a happy birthday I don’t
and wish him a happy birthday I don’t know but that poq Rast inators realm
know but that poq Rast inators realm
know but that poq Rast inators realm let’s call it it it’s sort of like Paris
let’s call it it it’s sort of like Paris
let’s call it it it’s sort of like Paris or the scented candle section on target
or the scented candle section on target
or the scented candle section on target off of 56th Street you know just once
off of 56th Street you know just once
off of 56th Street you know just once you go you poof you want to go back
you go you poof you want to go back
you go you poof you want to go back anyways back onto the main point why do
anyways back onto the main point why do
anyways back onto the main point why do we do this
we do this
we do this and I promise that we’re gonna get there
and I promise that we’re gonna get there
and I promise that we’re gonna get there but first let’s look at this chart
but first let’s look at this chart
but first let’s look at this chart according to a broad survey conducted in
according to a broad survey conducted in
according to a broad survey conducted in 1978 about 5% of Americans admitted to
1978 about 5% of Americans admitted to
1978 about 5% of Americans admitted to procrastinating today that number is up
procrastinating today that number is up
procrastinating today that number is up to 26% which is fascinating for Tories
to 26% which is fascinating for Tories
to 26% which is fascinating for Tories really one procrastinations becoming an
really one procrastinations becoming an
really one procrastinations becoming an exponentially bigger problem for reasons
exponentially bigger problem for reasons
exponentially bigger problem for reasons that I promise we are going to talk
that I promise we are going to talk
that I promise we are going to talk about but to 26% of Americans admit to
about but to 26% of Americans admit to
about but to 26% of Americans admit to procrastinating which means that about
procrastinating which means that about
procrastinating which means that about 70% of Americans are liars
70% of Americans are liars
70% of Americans are liars which I guess is better than it was in
which I guess is better than it was in
which I guess is better than it was in the 70s because come on it’s not like
the 70s because come on it’s not like
the 70s because come on it’s not like procrastinating is a new trend for as
procrastinating is a new trend for as
procrastinating is a new trend for as long as we’ve had things to do we’ve
long as we’ve had things to do we’ve
long as we’ve had things to do we’ve been avoiding doing them even some of
been avoiding doing them even some of
been avoiding doing them even some of the greatest men and women throughout
the greatest men and women throughout
the greatest men and women throughout history have been terrible
history have been terrible
history have been terrible procrastinators Leonardo da Vinci for
procrastinators Leonardo da Vinci for
procrastinators Leonardo da Vinci for example was known to run off and doodle
example was known to run off and doodle
example was known to run off and doodle or try and fly and was once even
or try and fly and was once even
or try and fly and was once even threatened with bankruptcy if he didn’t
threatened with bankruptcy if he didn’t
threatened with bankruptcy if he didn’t finish one of his pieces of art he’d
finish one of his pieces of art he’d
finish one of his pieces of art he’d been commissioned to do 12 years earlier
been commissioned to do 12 years earlier
been commissioned to do 12 years earlier the Dali Lama was reportedly quite the
the Dali Lama was reportedly quite the
the Dali Lama was reportedly quite the slacker in school and with studies and
slacker in school and with studies and
slacker in school and with studies and actually Abraham Lincoln even has a
actually Abraham Lincoln even has a
actually Abraham Lincoln even has a great quote on procrastination which you
great quote on procrastination which you
great quote on procrastination which you might have heard it goes give me six
might have heard it goes give me six
might have heard it goes give me six hours to cut down a tree and I’m gonna
hours to cut down a tree and I’m gonna
hours to cut down a tree and I’m gonna spend the first for playing Tetris so
spend the first for playing Tetris so
spend the first for playing Tetris so it’s not just a you problem you’re not
it’s not just a you problem you’re not
it’s not just a you problem you’re not alone in your inability to get up and
alone in your inability to get up and
alone in your inability to get up and mow the lawn some of the greatest
mow the lawn some of the greatest
mow the lawn some of the greatest individuals throughout time have shared
individuals throughout time have shared
individuals throughout time have shared that trait and don’t get me wrong I’m
that trait and don’t get me wrong I’m
that trait and don’t get me wrong I’m not saying it’s a good thing something
not saying it’s a good thing something
not saying it’s a good thing something you need to be great I’m just
you need to be great I’m just
you need to be great I’m just illustrating that it’s not a new problem
illustrating that it’s not a new problem
illustrating that it’s not a new problem nor is it a small one because to me it
nor is it a small one because to me it
nor is it a small one because to me it still feels like we treat
still feels like we treat
still feels like we treat procrastination just as a nuisance like
procrastination just as a nuisance like
procrastination just as a nuisance like it’s this minor inconvenience you know
it’s this minor inconvenience you know
it’s this minor inconvenience you know we all say oh well sure maybe I
we all say oh well sure maybe I
we all say oh well sure maybe I procrastinate and I shouldn’t do that
procrastinate and I shouldn’t do that
procrastinate and I shouldn’t do that and life would be easier if I didn’t but
and life would be easier if I didn’t but
and life would be easier if I didn’t but hey it’s no big deal and you know what
hey it’s no big deal and you know what
hey it’s no big deal and you know what actually you’re right it’s no big deal
actually you’re right it’s no big deal
actually you’re right it’s no big deal it’s a huge deal it’s an epidemic
it’s a huge deal it’s an epidemic
it’s a huge deal it’s an epidemic procrastination is an addiction and I
procrastination is an addiction and I
procrastination is an addiction and I got hooked I got thrown into that world
got hooked I got thrown into that world
got hooked I got thrown into that world I’m 16 I’m 16 years old and I’ve already
I’m 16 I’m 16 years old and I’ve already
I’m 16 I’m 16 years old and I’ve already spent four thousand hours playing video
spent four thousand hours playing video
spent four thousand hours playing video games that don’t matter
games that don’t matter
games that don’t matter hundreds of hours watching TV shows
hundreds of hours watching TV shows
hundreds of hours watching TV shows movies that don’t matter
movies that don’t matter
movies that don’t matter hours and hours doing nothing that
hours and hours doing nothing that
hours and hours doing nothing that matters hours and hours and they say it
matters hours and hours and they say it
matters hours and hours and they say it takes about ten thousand
takes about ten thousand
takes about ten thousand to be an expert at something so in
to be an expert at something so in
to be an expert at something so in theory I’m like halfway to being an
theory I’m like halfway to being an
theory I’m like halfway to being an expert but instead I’m not I want us to
expert but instead I’m not I want us to
expert but instead I’m not I want us to understand that procrastination is a
understand that procrastination is a
understand that procrastination is a problem and it hurts people it can ruin
problem and it hurts people it can ruin
problem and it hurts people it can ruin GPAs careers it can ruin relationships
GPAs careers it can ruin relationships
GPAs careers it can ruin relationships we’re stuck do you see that we’re stuck
we’re stuck do you see that we’re stuck
we’re stuck do you see that we’re stuck between feeling the press of deadlines
between feeling the press of deadlines
between feeling the press of deadlines and feeling like dead weight because the
and feeling like dead weight because the
and feeling like dead weight because the cumulative stress of the things we told
cumulative stress of the things we told
cumulative stress of the things we told ourselves would have been done half an
ourselves would have been done half an
ourselves would have been done half an hour ago becomes too much to bear we’re
hour ago becomes too much to bear we’re
hour ago becomes too much to bear we’re freezing up in the wake of the
freezing up in the wake of the
freezing up in the wake of the realization that we’ve been telling
realization that we’ve been telling
realization that we’ve been telling ourselves just give me five minutes for
ourselves just give me five minutes for
ourselves just give me five minutes for the last five years we’re freezing up
the last five years we’re freezing up
the last five years we’re freezing up we’ve been standing with the fridge door
we’ve been standing with the fridge door
we’ve been standing with the fridge door open for far too long and that cold is
open for far too long and that cold is
open for far too long and that cold is seeping into every single corner of our
seeping into every single corner of our
seeping into every single corner of our lives it’s a problem a big one so why do
lives it’s a problem a big one so why do
lives it’s a problem a big one so why do we do it it’s becoming increasingly
we do it it’s becoming increasingly
we do it it’s becoming increasingly important to talk about why we would do
important to talk about why we would do
important to talk about why we would do this to ourselves a lot of times it’s
this to ourselves a lot of times it’s
this to ourselves a lot of times it’s just because we’re scared we’re scared
just because we’re scared we’re scared
just because we’re scared we’re scared that what if I start and what I end with
that what if I start and what I end with
that what if I start and what I end with isn’t as good as I wanted it to be what
isn’t as good as I wanted it to be what
isn’t as good as I wanted it to be what if I have to make a decision I don’t
if I have to make a decision I don’t
if I have to make a decision I don’t want to what if I fall short nobody
want to what if I fall short nobody
want to what if I fall short nobody wants to fail so how can you fail if you
wants to fail so how can you fail if you
wants to fail so how can you fail if you don’t do it at all right and that line
don’t do it at all right and that line
don’t do it at all right and that line of thinking it might not make sense
of thinking it might not make sense
of thinking it might not make sense right now but in the heat of the moment
right now but in the heat of the moment
right now but in the heat of the moment when it’s 11 p.m. and you’re desperately
when it’s 11 p.m. and you’re desperately
when it’s 11 p.m. and you’re desperately trying to write your speech for TEDx
trying to write your speech for TEDx
trying to write your speech for TEDx youth Lincoln it makes a lot of sense to
youth Lincoln it makes a lot of sense to
youth Lincoln it makes a lot of sense to click yes I’m still watching this
click yes I’m still watching this
click yes I’m still watching this documentary about the Great Barrier Reef
documentary about the Great Barrier Reef
documentary about the Great Barrier Reef stop pressuring me that’s just an
stop pressuring me that’s just an
stop pressuring me that’s just an example other times it’s just because
example other times it’s just because
example other times it’s just because we’re a bit overconfident with ourselves
we’re a bit overconfident with ourselves
we’re a bit overconfident with ourselves tell me tell me if this situation sounds
tell me tell me if this situation sounds
tell me tell me if this situation sounds at all familiar no yes mom I know I just
at all familiar no yes mom I know I just
at all familiar no yes mom I know I just got an extension on that I’m gonna get
got an extension on that I’m gonna get
got an extension on that I’m gonna get that done no no no I know I’m just gonna
that done no no no I know I’m just gonna
that done no no no I know I’m just gonna do it tomorrow it’s no big deal hey no I
do it tomorrow it’s no big deal hey no I
do it tomorrow it’s no big deal hey no I know I know I know
know I know I know
know I know I know look knowing isn’t doing that’s what my
look knowing isn’t doing that’s what my
look knowing isn’t doing that’s what my mom’s always said and I think that
mom’s always said and I think that
mom’s always said and I think that there’s a lot that we can learn from
there’s a lot that we can learn from
there’s a lot that we can learn from that
that
that knowing isn’t doing and sometimes we
knowing isn’t doing and sometimes we
knowing isn’t doing and sometimes we procrastinate just because it’s more
procrastinate just because it’s more
procrastinate just because it’s more interesting I think a lot of us would
interesting I think a lot of us would
interesting I think a lot of us would offer to play Tetris then cut down a
offer to play Tetris then cut down a
offer to play Tetris then cut down a tree now here’s where things start to
tree now here’s where things start to
tree now here’s where things start to change
change
change right because at this point I’ve
right because at this point I’ve
right because at this point I’ve diagnosed the problem and the symptoms
diagnosed the problem and the symptoms
diagnosed the problem and the symptoms are apparent so now I just prescribe the
are apparent so now I just prescribe the
are apparent so now I just prescribe the cure and we’re done yeah about that
cure and we’re done yeah about that
cure and we’re done yeah about that yeah there isn’t one at least there’s
yeah there isn’t one at least there’s
yeah there isn’t one at least there’s not just one because I can’t claim that
not just one because I can’t claim that
not just one because I can’t claim that there’s a miracle pill you can take
there’s a miracle pill you can take
there’s a miracle pill you can take every morning to just magically stop
every morning to just magically stop
every morning to just magically stop wasting time times the natural resource
wasting time times the natural resource
wasting time times the natural resource and it’s going to keep moving whether or
and it’s going to keep moving whether or
and it’s going to keep moving whether or not you want it to so maybe in reality
not you want it to so maybe in reality
not you want it to so maybe in reality we can’t eliminate procrastination but
we can’t eliminate procrastination but
we can’t eliminate procrastination but we can prevent it as best we can we have
we can prevent it as best we can we have
we can prevent it as best we can we have to start as individuals and as a culture
to start as individuals and as a culture
to start as individuals and as a culture taking strides to live more actively and
taking strides to live more actively and
taking strides to live more actively and to recognize that knowing is not doing
to recognize that knowing is not doing
to recognize that knowing is not doing take that first step
take that first step
take that first step procrastination is a problem and it’s
procrastination is a problem and it’s
procrastination is a problem and it’s going to continue to exist until we stop
going to continue to exist until we stop
going to continue to exist until we stop letting it let’s start understanding
letting it let’s start understanding
letting it let’s start understanding that if we live in this world of
that if we live in this world of
that if we live in this world of thirty-second news clips and a 5 minute
thirty-second news clips and a 5 minute
thirty-second news clips and a 5 minute YouTube videos we’re not living in much
YouTube videos we’re not living in much
YouTube videos we’re not living in much of a world at all let’s stop asking what
of a world at all let’s stop asking what
of a world at all let’s stop asking what now and start asking what’s next thank
now and start asking what’s next thank
now and start asking what’s next thank you
you
you [Applause]
[Applause]
[Applause] [Music]
”
Be First to Comment