Procrastination as a Compass: Turning Hesitation Into Honest Direction

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What if procrastination isn’t the villain—what if it’s the message you’ve been ignoring? We take a candid look at delay as data, using real numbers, personal routines, and iconic stories to ask a sharper question than “how do I stop?”—namely, “what is this delay trying to tell me?” From a weekly publishing commitment that survives low-motivation days to the feeling of time bending in flow, we unpack why joy, meaning, and memory shape whether you act or stall. You’ll hear how to distinguish empty entertainment from real enjoyment, and why that difference determines whether your evenings restore you or quietly rob your future.

We also explore context: sometimes “procrastination” isn’t avoidance at all—it’s alignment after you’ve already reached a milestone. Other times, it’s a flare pointing to fear of failure, judgment, or even success. Arnold Schwarzenegger’s early Mr. Universe loss shows what happens when you delay unglamorous details like posing, symmetry, and nutrition—and how a focused return can flip resistance into resilience. Robin Williams reminds us that even the brightest talents face inner battles with avoidance. These stories strip shame from the process and turn hesitation into a teacher.

If your dream still fits, you don’t need a pep talk—you need a system that makes starting small inevitable. Write your why and put it on your wall. Lower the bar to five minutes and protect consistency over intensity. If the dream no longer fits, free that energy and redirect it to what truly lights you up. Either way, the signal of procrastination helps you choose with honesty and move with purpose. Subscribe, share this conversation with a friend who needs momentum today, and tell us: what’s the smallest step you’ll take before the day ends?

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Fabio Posca | Journey to Success
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Episode Transcript

SPEAKER_00 (00:00):
I found this beautiful image on
goalscaling.com that referencesa study, guys, indicating that
21% of people procrastinatedaily.
That we have also 40% of peoplerarely procrastinate, and 22% of
people often procrastinate, 27%of people sometimes

(00:24):
procrastinate.
So at the end of the story, wehave approximately 84% of people
were generally procrastinate,okay?
Including me, probablysometimes.
While only 16% of people neverdo.
I really believe in this study.
Personally, since March 2023, Ihave committed to releasing a

(00:50):
weekly episode every Wednesdayat 11 o'clock Amsterdam time.
Okay, despite the problems,despite delays on my schedule.
The truth is that I have notgiven up on that.
The truth is that I was alwaysin time, you know, at the end of
the story.

(01:10):
However, I must admit that evenafter all this time, there are
days when I think, oh my god, Idon't want to do this today.
You know.
Actually, before I was writingthis episode, I found myself
thinking, I don't want to dothis.
I just want to rest, maybe playvideo games, or watch, you know,

(01:34):
something instead.
You have no idea, guys, how manytimes I say, okay, I can just do
this tomorrow.
I can just do this another time,I can record another week.
But at the end, I always followthrough, I always go forward.
What is the reason?
Why?
Because I enjoy what I do,simply.

(01:58):
In fact, did you know that thefeeling of procrastination can
actually help you discover whatyou like and especially what you
don't like it?
You probably didn't know that,but that's what we are going to
talk about today.
Hi guys, my name is Fabio fromJourney to Success and welcome.

(02:19):
Today we will introduce thetopic of procrastination and uh
its impact on uh you know,achieving dreams, your dreams,
and we're going to dive deepinto also the psychology behind
procrastination, discussingcommon triggers and emotional
responses that lead toavoidance.
But before going forward, asalways, please subscribe, guys.

(02:42):
Alright, so I know this is theright direction to lead you, to
drive you, to guide you towardsyour journey to success.
Let's get started, right?
As always.
So today I want to share myexperience with you.
I am a person who engages inactivities mostly when they are

(03:06):
stimulating and generally makeme happy.
Okay.
It's not always like that,unfortunately, because I have a
little bit of FOMO, maybe morethan a little bit, so sometimes
I just go forward even if Idon't like something.
But the truth is that Irecognize when I like something,

(03:27):
and I also especially recognizethat where when I procrastinate
is a sign for me that evidentlyI don't like that particular
thing.
Okay.
You know, if you ever watch amovie or play video games or had
a conversation with a friend andnotice how time can either fly

(03:50):
or put you out your focus, youknow.
In my case, I can uh see this,let's say this metaphorical meta
metaphorical clock in front ofme, as if I were in Alice in
Wonderland, you know what Imean?
Where the ends of the clock arerising forward, you know,

(04:13):
breaking the barriers of timeand space.
Like I'm so in the flow, I trulyenjoy these moments.
I I'm I'm in my flow.
I enjoy.
Time passes by easily andquickly, okay.
On the other hand, when I'm notenjoying something, time seems
to be very slow, you know.

(04:34):
So making again the the exampleof the clock looks like these
hands never moves as theyshould.
Something more like clock.
Something very, very slow, youknow.

(04:55):
I don't know what is your yourperception with my episode with
my podcast, but yeah, everyonehas his perception about it, I
guess.
So I believe this is a powerfulrealization that many of you
might relate to, you know.
So when you do something youlove, procrastination, guys,
feels like mirage, you know.

(05:15):
It might show up occasionally,but the memory of past enjoyment
is so strong that encourages youto dive back in, okay?
So you think to yourself,something like, let's do this
again, because it it brings mejoy.
You know that it brings you joy.
So there is no waste of timewhen you engage in something you

(05:40):
enjoy and can cherish in yourmemory, okay?
Some might say, Okay, Fabiozo, Ienjoy scrolling on TikTok.
So, what does it mean?
Uh it means that if I enjoy fourhours, it's it's still good?
No, it's not good.

(06:00):
Unfortunately, it's not thatsimple.
Enjoyment should lead topositive and impactful memories
that list, otherwise it's nottruly beneficial, okay, in my
opinion.
But on the other hand, if youneed to do something meaningful
that will bring you value in thefuture, but instead you scroll

(06:23):
four hours on social media, thenspend more hours on YouTube and
let it go out with friends everyday partying, then uh then it's
a problem.
Okay, there is nothing wrongwith spending time with friends,
of course, watching YouTube orbrowsing social media.
But if these activities replaceworking towards future
achievements, then we're talkingabout procrastination.

(06:47):
And it's not good, of course.
Procrastination can besubjective as well.
For example, if I'm gonna makethis extreme example, right?
If Arnold Schwarzenegger were tospend hours out with friends,
uh, let's say SilverstorStallone, who was more of a

(07:07):
rival at that time, but it'sokay.
And also at the same time, youknow, scroll through social
media, maybe watching uhAnatoly, I don't know if you
know Anatoly.
How can you say he'sprocrastinating?
You cannot say.
He has been a president, anactor, a bodybuilder, you know,
has a net worth of 1.2 billionof dollars.

(07:28):
He deserves to enjoy however hewants, you know.
However, if you have asignificant purpose in your life
and you know you are not underSchwarzenegger today, then you
are likely to beprocrastinating, as I do as well
sometimes.
It's actually fascinatingbecause procrastination can

(07:50):
manifest differently dependingon where you are in your life.
Okay?
Sometimes what appears to beprocrastination is not, because
you may have already achievedwhat you wanted.
It's perfectly valid to dowhatever you want to do and as
much as you like to do,especially if you know if you

(08:14):
achieved whatever you want toachieve in your life.
Procrastination in the contextof achieving a dream can be seen
as a signal to understand whatyou truly enjoy doing in life,
okay?
Because we're talking aboutachieving our dreams.
And these dreams can be verysignificant.

(08:35):
Maybe you dream of having achild, and despite the struggle
and the challenges presented byDr.
Advice, we will do everythingyou can do, you know, to make it
happen, even if it's exhausting.
You might also dream of becomingan architect, knowing that you
have to dive into subjects likemath and you don't like it.

(08:58):
No matter how difficult it maybe, you will work through it
because that's part of reachingyour goals, you know.
Or you might want to become asinger because it has been your
vocation since childhood.
However, the point is that whenwe discuss our dreams, we must
also consider the feelingssurrounding procrastination.

(09:22):
And here it presents animportant question.
Do I truly want this?
Okay, it was my dream, okay?
But what about now?
If I really if I really want topursue my dream, right, why am I
procrastinating?
So allow yourself to be honest.
And don't feel guilty about youranswer, okay?

(09:45):
If you decide to achievesomething in your life, you
won't let procrastination holdyou back.
However, first you have tounderstand if your purpose is
still the same as it was yearsago.
Because otherwise, guys, whatwas a miracle such as
procrastination can becomesomething real.

(10:07):
And if it does, then you knowyou will feel overwhelmed,
frustrated, burnout, etc.
etc.
Because you don't get energyfrom something that you no
longer want.
Okay, we always talk aboutenergy in this podcast.
However, I also find that 92% ofpeople, like I said a few

(10:29):
episodes ago, never achievetheir dreams.
Okay, and this often happensbecause they pursue paths they
do not enjoy and procrastinateon their true inspiration.
But there are also people who dowant to achieve their dreams
yet.
But unfortunately, they are heldback by friendship, friendships,

(10:53):
families, mindset issues, theirown actions, leading them to
procrastinate, you know.
An example is uh Robin Williams.
Before reaching the pitch, thepeak of success, of his success,
he struggled with parting andsubstance abuse often as a form
of procrastination, guys.
And this was particularlyrelevant in the 1960s during the

(11:17):
EP movement, you know, a timewhen such strangles were less
openly discussed.
And this is a reminder, areminder that even those who
seem successful can face theirown battles with
procrastination.
Okay.
Also, the same Arnold, theArnold Schwarzenegger we talked
before, he competed in the Mr.
Universe competition in Londonin 1966, marking his first

(11:40):
international contest.
But he lost.
He lost to Chester Yorton, amore experienced bodybuilder.
And Arnold later admitted thathe had underestimated the
competition and did not train aseffectively or with the focus
required.
You know, he relied on bloodstrength, long hours in the gym,

(12:01):
and still he procrastinated onmastering essential details such
as posing techniques, musclesymmetry, nutrition, crucial
factors at the elite level.
And he admitted, guys, headmitted he was crying in the
room, and then he didn't want tosee anyone for days, you know.

(12:23):
But what happened the followingyear for Arnold Schwarzenegger?
In 1967, at the age of 20,Arnold won the Mr.
Universe amateur title, becomingguys the youngest winner at the
time.
Okay.
But why did this happen?
How was it possible?

(12:44):
It's possible because if yourecognize the sense of
procrastination, you canunderstand not only whether you
truly enjoy something, but alsowhen you are procrastinating
because you fear losingsomething.
So at the end of the story,guys, you essentially have two
choices.
Okay, give up completely becausethe grief is too much that you

(13:07):
cannot afford anymore, or comeback stronger.
In this case, procrastination isvaluable as gold.
The moment that you come backstronger, right?
And in helping you betterunderstand your dream and
achieve it.
So, what can you do with thisvaluable goldish procrastination

(13:30):
dust that you have in your hand?
What you can you do?
Will you spend it on a life thatdoesn't belong to you, or will
you invest it in your dreamfuture?
The choice is up to you, ofcourse.
I could spend hours discussingyour triggers, scrolling through
social media instead ofstudying, spending too much time

(13:53):
on your phone instead ofworking, chatting over coffee in
the office instead of finishingyour project, or the classic
one, talking with a gym friendfor 20 minutes instead of doing
your weights training, you know.
But the real issue, so thereality is not about how to
avoid these distractions.

(14:13):
I mean, for that you can read alot of articles.
It's more about whether youtruly enjoy what you do, okay?
That's the core of it.
If I really want to become a Mr.
Universe, I won't waste time.
If I truly want to lose weight,I won't eat the carrot cake my
sister brought me before.

(14:33):
Okay.
You need to be honest withyourself.
Do you generally want to stopprocrastinating?
Okay.
That's a yes, fine.
If so, why not choose somethingthat you really like?
Okay.
Start with the the end in mind.
What brings you joy?

(14:54):
Why do you want to achieve yourgoals?
Please write down, write downyour answer and uh print it out
and stick stick it on your wall.
Trust me, procrastination willstill be there, waiting for you
for your first weak sign, but itit won't overcome your purpose,

(15:14):
okay?
If your purpose is strongenough, nothing can defeat it.
So for everyone who wants toachieve their dreams, as well as
for those who simply need towork to survive each day for
reasons we cannot judge.
I also encourage you, just thisis just a small tip, I encourage

(15:35):
you to start with small,achievable steps as well.
So take one small step at atime, that's very important, and
go forward.
And trust me, you can accomplishgreat things in this way.
Sometimes doing less can lead toachieving more.
You'll be surprised by the thegreat results that come from

(15:59):
this approach, truly.
So this is my final piece ofadvice for you.
Now let's wrap up before closingthis episode.
So, what do we talk about today?
First of all, we started byacknowledging a simple but

(16:20):
powerful true.
Almost everyone procrastinates,basically.
So, according to that study wementioned, so the study I
mentioned before, 84% of peopledelay tasks in some way, whether
daily, often, or sometimes, andthe only 60% of people almost
never do.

(16:41):
That means procrastination isnot flow or a personal failure,
guys.
It's more a universal humanexperience.
Okay, so the real question isnot how do I stop
procrastinating?
The real question is more like,what is my procrastination
trying to tell me?
It's more that.
Because behind every delay,guys, there is often something

(17:04):
deeper.
Sometimes it's fear, fear offailure, you know, fear of
judgment, or even fear ofsuccess.
Or at times it's a lack ofconnection or joy in what we are
doing.
We are far more likely to takeaction when something feels
meaningful, you know, excitingor aligned with who we are.

(17:26):
So that's also an importantpoint to highlight.
And we also talk about howprocrastination can actually
become a powerful teacher, okay?
It can reveal whether your goalstill makes sense for the person
you are today.
Maybe you are resisting somesomething because your dream has

(17:47):
evolved, you know?
Or maybe that resistance is justdiscomfort on the road to grow.
We don't know that.
Either way, it's worth payattention to, okay?
So remember thatprocrastination, it's it's a
good signal to understand whatyou really want to do in your
life.

(18:08):
And uh we looked at realexamples as well.
So people like ArnoldSchwarzenegger, who once
procrastinated on perfecting hiscraft and lost the Mr.
Universe competition, only toreturn stronger and win it the
following year.
And he sort of reminds us thatprocrastination is not the end

(18:29):
of the road.
It's often the break, the pausebefore a breakthrough, you know.
Then there is Robbie Williams aswell, whose strangles showed how
even the most talented andsuccessful people can face
internal battles with avoidance,with distraction and self-doubt.

(18:49):
So these stories, guys, remindus that everyone, no matter how
accomplished, has to learn howto turn resistance into
resilience, okay.
And one of the most importantmessages today is this one.
If you truly enjoy what you do,procrastination loses its grip.

(19:14):
Well, you when you love what youdo, guys, even the hard days
become part of the journey,okay?
The memory of past enjoyment,that feeling of being in your
flow, you know, becomesstronger, stronger than the
temptation to quit.
Okay, that's what I learned.
That's what I learned during uhthese years.
But it's also okay if yourealize that something no longer

(19:35):
brings you joy, okay?
Dreams change, purposes evolve.
The key is to be honest withyourself.
Ask something like, Do I stillwant this?
So if the answer is yes, committo it, okay?
If the answer is no, have thecourage to redirect your energy
towards something that genuinelylights you up, okay?

(19:58):
Because at the end of the day,at the end of the story, guys,
procrastination is not yourenemy.
It's a signal.
A signal that invites you tolook deeper.
A signal that invites you toreconnect with what truly
matters, you know, and to takeaction from a place of purpose

(20:20):
rather than pressure.
So as we close this episode, Iwant to leave you with this
though.
Start small, but start today,okay?
Write down what brings you joy.
Remind yourself why your dreammatters and put that somewhere
you can see every day,basically.
Because procrastination willalways be there, waiting for

(20:41):
that first moment of weakness,you know.
But if your purpose is strongenough, nothing can defeat it.
Whether your dream is to build abusiness, write a book, start a
podcast, simpler life with moreintention.
Doesn't matter, just take onestep, step by step, okay?
Just one.
You don't have to climb the wallmountain today.

(21:02):
Consistency is what buildsgreatness.
So take a breath, trustyourself, and keep moving, okay?
That's what you need.
Because your journey, guys, thejourney to success doesn't begin
tomorrow, it begins right now,step at a time.
And um, yeah.

(21:25):
Now I want to hear from you.
How do you stay committed toyour dreams when um
procrastination tried to holdyou back, guys?
What helps you take action evenon the days when uh you would
rather give up or put thingsoff?
Send me a message, share yourstory as always, or connect with

(21:46):
me on Soupstack.
I would love to hear how youturn hesitation into momentum
and purpose.
And if you enjoyed today'sepisode, don't forget to
subscribe, of course, so younever miss an update.
But more importantly, share thisepisode with a friend who might
need that little reminder thedreams to move forward on their

(22:07):
own.
Okay, we move them forward onestep at a time, so it's about
us.
Thank you so much for being hereon journey to success.
And remember, every time youchoose to take action, you're
proving to yourself that yourdream is worth it.
Together, we're not just talkingabout success, guys, we're
building it moment by momentwith courage and joy.

(22:28):
I'll see you in the nextepisode, guys.
Cheers.