Thinking It Done
The 15-Minute Bribe
One of the Brain Operating Principles I teach is called the Drive for Closure. The principle of Drive for Closure says that people's brains strive for completion or a definitive answer even when neither exists. The magic of knowing this principle is that you can use it to overcome procrastination or to jumpstart your thinking about a project by employing the 15-Minute Bribe.
The 15-Minute Bribe works like this: Let's say you have a project you just can't get started on. Begin by promising yourself that if you work for just 15 minutes, you can turn your attention to something more pleasurable or less stressful. Why 15 minutes? Because it’s such a short period of time. After all, you can tolerate almost anything if you know it's just for 15 minutes.
Because of the Drive for Closure, once a project is started, the brain strives for completion and you'll likely find yourself working far longer than the 15 minutes you pledged. Using The 15-Minute Bribe, you can make significant inroads on your project. You may even surprise yourself and complete it.
Shannon Bradford is a writer and coach, helping people learn how to
master their brains to succeed in their careers and businesses. She
is the author of Brain Power (Wiley, 2002).
© 2000 Shannon Bradford
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