The Call of the Sirens
You feel productive, don’t you?
But, dear reader, what sometimes makes you feel productive is really just a siren song: seductive, soothing, but gently leading you astray.
We all have our tricks: reading one more article, fine-tuning a plan, adjusting a detail. All this gives us a feeling of mastery, and yet… it often prevents us from moving forward.
I call it the siren song of procrastination.
We’re not wasting our time. Oh, no.
We refine, we prepare, we optimize. And it feels good – it’s almost noble – because it’s done in the name of excellence.
Let me give you an example.
Right now, I want to launch a new video series on antifragile and transformational leadership – my core business, the essence of everything I’ve been doing for over twenty years.
And because I feel so strongly about it, I fall into the trap.
I read, I research, I listen to podcasts, I check my models, accumulate theories, refine principles…
And when I don’t find exactly what I want, I start again.
It’s absolutely delicious. I’m slowly savoring every find.
This is a work of perfect elegance, a shining example … of procrastination🤣!
In reality, I’m not making I am not getting anywhere
As I (gently) complained to my husband about not finding anything really exciting – it’s my lifeblood when I need a little motivation – he suddenly asked me:
« Have you ever heard of productivity illusions?”
– No, is it an online game?
– No, it’s not. It’s a creativity blocker. I read about it on a blog.”
It clicked right away. And everything made sense.
These illusions of productivity are like sirens’ songs: they seduce us into thinking we’re on the move, when in fact we’re going round in circles.
The four melodies
There are four types of syndromes – soft songs – that block creation.
Like a mental voice whispering like a metronome:
“If you want to create, you must first do this.”
This tune makes you think you don’t have enough yet:
not enough knowledge, not enough tools, not enough clarity, not enough perfection.
In practice, we take refuge in the most comfortable of these patterns — and we loooove getting lost in it.
Here they are:
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knowledge syndrome
-
tool syndrome
-
process syndrome
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maintenance syndrome
– “In my case,” my husband continues, “it’s clear: I suffer from maintenance syndrome!”
– “What about you?” he asked.
– “Knowledge!” I replied, laughing. Bingo!
The sirens whisper
When it’s time to bring an idea to life, I tend to skate — and not just a little.
Now that I’ve unmasked those voices whispering “learn more” in my ear, I can see what I have to do to shut her up.
The wiser part of me — somewhere in my executive brain — gently steps in and says:
Stop it. Just stop. Let go.
Breathe in.
Mantra 1: I already know enough to get started.
Mantra 2: A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush.
Goodbye to those quick dopamine hits.
Slowly, the calm returns — that grounded sense of contentment that comes from serotonin.
Think
Now it’s your turn.
What are you trying to produce but never finishing?
Which of these syndromes imprisons you: too much knowledge, too many tools, too many perfect processes or too much maintenance?
Recognize your favorite pattern.
Smile at it.
Thank it.
Then let that go.
Look again: do you already have everything you need?
Let go of the result and just do what you do best.
That’s your true contribution.
Take five minutes of quiet time today to observe where you get stuck – learning, organizing, perfecting.
Then take one imperfect step. But do it.
Which procrastination syndrome is yours?
Tell me — I love seeing how awareness changes everything.
Tell me about it – I love seeing how awareness changes everything.
The sirens will continue to sing.
Just make sure you’re at the helm.
