Hey Reader,
A founder told me this week he was delaying our strategy session.
"I'll schedule it when I have all the info together," he said. "I don't want to have to reschedule."
I told him I'd rather he book it immediately and be forced to reschedule later.
Why? Because he was falling into the "Preparation Trap." It's a high-brow form of procrastination where you convince yourself that endless research and planning is productive work.
Clarity Filter Insight
It's a high-brow form of procrastination where you convince yourself that endless research and planning is productive work.
It's not. It's a cycle of inaction.
Without a hard deadline, 99% of founders will get bogged down. Guaranteed.
The simple act of setting a date on the calendar is a powerful forcing function. It creates urgency. It instantly clarifies what's truly important versus what's just noise. The pressure forces you to focus and execute.
Stop waiting until you're "ready." Use this two-step playbook instead:
Identify the single most important, action-forcing event you're avoiding right now. (A critical sales call, a pitch to an advisor, a strategy session).
Schedule it for next week. Don't ask if you're prepared. Just put it on the calendar.
What if you're not ready when the day comes? Good.
It is far more efficient to reschedule a meeting that forced real progress than to perfectly prepare for one that never happens.
— Dmitry
P.S. If this email made you think of a fellow founder who is stuck "getting ready," do them a favor and forward it to them. Accountability is the ultimate accelerator.