Many things in my life have come to me very easily. I was naturally intellectual, so for classes that didn’t require homework or practice, I always aced those. I could naturally sing, so throughout life whenever asked to participate in something that required singing, it always came easily and I rarely practiced (and even when I did… it was usually half-hearted). I work well under pressure, so I almost always wait until the last minute to really pour on the steam to complete any project.

I’ve never really worked very hard at anything and I’ve come pretty far in life just on raw, natural talent and providential good fortune. If I felt I could live with the consequences, I always took the easy way. I resist anything that looks like it will be take a lot of time or create a lot of work. I’ve got hundreds of credit hours in four colleges (Central Texas College, McClennan Community College, Clovis Community College, and Mankato State University… I don’t count Community College of the Air Force as there were few formal classes) and no degree. I’ve dabbled in radio and television production, traditional music, commercial music, computer programming, graphic design, aircraft repair (Air Force), and audio engineering. I’m not good at any of those things, because I’ve spent no real time practicing or committing to any of those skills.

I know a little bit of video and radio, I’m a mediocre musician, I can sorta program when I really need to and it’s easy, I know how to use Photoshop and Illustrator, I’m familiar with electronics repair, and I kinda know my way around a sound board – but I could never lead in any of these areas (but I’ve faked it a few times). I can hold my own at vocals, I can usually figure out how to use anything electronic or computer related very quickly, I am able to logically analyze a problem and brainstorm ways to solve it with little knowledge, and I’m an experienced leader… all of these things make me appear to be a person who knows what I’m doing most of the time. This has all just fueled my procrastination.

I’ve always told myself that being able to work under pressure and take care of things at the last minute and produce solid results is an incredible gift. My ability to simply walk through things and feel unchallenged in most endeavors is proof of how smart and intelligent I am (being transparent here… go easy on me). In truth, my natural abilities have done nothing more than reinforce laziness.

“Did you ever consider how ridiculous it would be to try to cram on a farm — to forget to plant in the spring, play all summer then cram in the fall to bring in the harvest? The farm is a natural system. The price must be paid and the process followed. You always reap what you sow; there is no shortcut.” – Stephen Covey in The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People

I’ve never had to farm anything because I’ve always avoided it. I’ve never had to worry about a harvest because I was always satisfied with the quick fix. I simply don’t know how to change. That’s the cruel, but honest truth.