Two-Cause Procrastination Diagnostic
Separate an unclear next action from a missing skill
- Difficulty
- Starter
- Time to result
- ~days to results
- Steps
- 5
- Confidence
- 99%
Williamson proposes two common operational causes of procrastination. First, the next physical action is poorly defined: “write the book” is too large, while sitting at the desk, opening a document, or writing one sentence can be performed now. Second, the action is clear but the person does not know how to perform it, such as using an unfamiliar spreadsheet function or opening a file type. Diagnose the task by writing and attempting the smallest physical step. If the step is still vague, shrink it. If execution stops because knowledge is missing, switch from action design to skill acquisition by searching, asking a colleague, or learning the required operation. The framework prevents different blockers from being treated as one character flaw.
Origin
Extracted from The Diary of a CEO
Core principles
- 01Large outcomes become actionable through physical next steps
- 02An undefined action and an unknown method require different remedies
- 03The first useful step may feel embarrassingly small
- 04Movement matters more than the apparent grandeur of the first action
How to run it
- 1
Name the avoided outcome
State the project or task you keep postponing without judging yourself for the delay.
Watch out A project name is not yet an action.
- 2
Define the next physical action
Describe the smallest visible movement that advances the task, such as sitting down, opening a file, or writing one sentence.
Pro tip Make the action small enough to begin immediately.
- 3
Attempt it
Perform the action rather than continuing to plan the full project.
Watch out Do not reject a useful step because it feels too small to matter.
- 4
Diagnose the stop
If you still cannot proceed, decide whether the action remains unclear or you lack the skill to execute it.
Pro tip Use the first point of friction as evidence.
- 5
Close the skill gap
When the action is clear but the method is unknown, use a search, tool, colleague, manager, or expert to learn only what the step requires.
Pro tip Return to the task as soon as the immediate gap is closed.
Watch out Open-ended learning can become another form of avoidance.
In the wild
Bartlett describes a manuscript as feeling like Mount Everest. Williamson reframes the work: nobody writes a whole book in one action; they write a sentence, accumulate sentences into pages, and make individual editing and design decisions. The next step might be as small as buying a notepad or opening a document.
→ An intimidating project becomes a sequence that can begin with one physical action.
Common mistakes
Treating the project as the action
Commands such as “write the book” do not specify a physical step the person can perform now.
Calling a skill gap laziness
More pressure cannot supply a method the person does not yet know.
Is it for you?
Best for
Large or unfamiliar tasks that trigger avoidance because the starting point is unclear.
Not ideal for
Avoidance driven primarily by acute distress or circumstances requiring professional support.
From the transcript
“What is the next physical action that I can do that pushes me toward that goal?”
“It's either an action issue or a skill issue.”
From the episode
Chris Williamson: If You Don't Fix This Now, 2026 Is Already Over!