st or west” rather than “north or south,” the coaches get upset, call the runners over to the sidelines and tell them, “You’ve got to make a decision! You can’t run around in the backfield all night!” Or, they may say, “Quit running fProcrastination comes in many forms. One of those forms involves simply doing too much preparation before putting something into action. In working with businesses, sports teams, and other groups, I have often used the quote, “Proper Preparation Prevents Poor Performance” – or – “Proper Preparation Promotes Positive Performance.” However, there is always a potential problem of having too much of anything. Too much food can be bad for the figure. Too much walking or running can be bad for the knees. Too much preparation… well, you get the picture. Country music artist Rita Coolidge said, “Often, the opportunity knocks, but by the time you push back the chain, push back the bolt, unhook the two locks, and shut off the burglar alarm, it’s too late.”

As I have stood on the sidelines at football games, I have heard coaches admonish their running backs, “Turn it up field!” And then when runners are tackled while running “east or west” rather than “north or south,” the coaches get upset, call the runners over to the sidelines and tell them, “You’ve got to make a decision! You can’t run around in the backfield all night!” Or, they may say, “Quit running fr

Preparation Prevents Poor Performance” – or – “Proper Preparation Promotes Positive Performance.” However, there is always a potential problem of having too much of anything. Too much food can be bad for the figure. Too much walking or running can be bad for the knees. Too much preparation… well, you get the picture. Country music artist Rita Coolidge said, “Often, the opportunity knocks, but by the time you push back the chain, push back the bolt, unhook the two locks, and shut off the burglar alarm, it’s too late.”

As I have stood on the sidelines at football games, I have heard coaches admonish their running backs, “Turn it up field!” And then when runners are tackled while running “east or west” rather than “north or south,” the coaches get upset, call the runners over to the sidelines and tell them, “You’ve got to make a decision! You can’t run around in the backfield all night!” Or, they may say, “Quit running f

or running can be bad for the knees. Too much preparation… well, you get the picture. Country music artist Rita Coolidge said, “Often, the opportunity knocks, but by the time you push back the chain, push back the bolt, unhook the two locks, and shut off the burglar alarm, it’s too late.”

As I have stood on the sidelines at football games, I have heard coaches admonish their running backs, “Turn it up field!” And then when runners are tackled while running “east or west” rather than “north or south,” the coaches get upset, call the runners over to the sidelines and tell them, “You’ve got to make a decision! You can’t run around in the backfield all night!” Or, they may say, “Quit running f

locks, and shut off the burglar alarm, it’s too late.”

As I have stood on the sidelines at football games, I have heard coaches admonish their running backs, “Turn it up field!” And then when runners are tackled while running “east or west” rather than “north or south,” the coaches get upset, call the runners over to the sidelines and tell them, “You’ve got to make a decision! You can’t run around in the backfield all night!” Or, they may say, “Quit running f

st or west” rather than “north or south,” the coaches get upset, call the runners over to the sidelines and tell them, “You’ve got to make a decision! You can’t run around in the backfield all night!” Or, they may say, “Quit running from sideline to sideline and turn it up!”

As mentioned in a previous column, I presented my A Strategy For Winning keynote address at the Department of Homeland Security’s National Conference for Border Patrol Chiefs in July 2006. Prior to my speaking, Border Patrol Chief David Aguilar urged the 60 sector chiefs and others at the El Paso conference to keep the path to progress as unencumbered as possible and he would work to do the same. Involved in a continuing great task and challenge, he encouraged conference participants: “Don’t let the process get in the way of the progress.” As I reflect on Chief Aguilar’s words now, I am reminded that this is good advice for all of us, regardless of our fields of endeavor.

Research by Dr. Michael Tushman from the Harvard Business School and Dr. Mary Benner from the University of Pennsylvania’s Wharton School of Business shows that companies often sacrifice progress for process