Are you a procrastinator or an incubator?

I read a great article awhile back about procrastination, and how we need to think differently about procrastination.

Some people who think they’re procrastinators are actually “incubators.” They still get the work done, and with a high level of quality – it’s just that they need some time along the way to let the ideas percolate.

So are you a procrastinator, or an incubator? Maybe you should stop worrying about being a procrastinator. Embrace it. Maybe you’re not really “procrastinating” after all…

“Procrastinators may have a habit of putting off important work. They may not ever get to projects or leave projects half finished. Importantly, when they do complete projects, the quality might be mediocre as a result of their lack of engagement or inability to work well under pressure.

What [an incubator presents is] something qualitatively different: a clear sense of deadlines, confidence that the work would be complete on time, certainty that the work would be of superior quality and the ability to subconsciously process important ideas while doing other — often recreational — activities.”

I’ve decided that I’m not a procrastinator, I’m an incubator. Sometimes the ideas need to sit and stew for a few days before they’re ready to launch.

How about you?

One comment

  1. What a relief to find a kinder, gentler description for so many of our talented, gifted coworkers and friends! Euphemisms rock!
    I would like to know where the quoted material originated? More, please—-in your own “incubated” time… thanks for your good work out there!