You know, “Excessive planning is a form of procrastination” hits you differently when you’ve been in the trenches. It’s not about ditching plans, but about recognizing when your planning becomes the very thing holding you back from starting.
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Meaning
At its core, this quote means that over-planning is just a sophisticated, socially acceptable way of avoiding real, tangible work. It’s procrastination in a business suit.
Explanation
Let me break this down. We’ve all been there, right? You have a big project. So you start planning. You make lists, you research tools, you create elaborate Gantt charts, you color-code everything… and you feel so productive. But here’s the kicker: you haven’t actually started the work. You’re stuck in what I call the “Preparation Trap.” The planning itself becomes the goal, a safe zone where there’s no risk of failure, no messy first drafts, no customer feedback. It’s an illusion of progress. And the longer you stay there, the harder it is to leave. Action, even imperfect action, will always beat perfect planning.
Quote Summary
| Context | Attributes |
|---|---|
| Original Language | English (4111) |
| Category | Personal Development (758) |
| Topics | action (130), perfectionism (26) |
| Literary Style | concise (482), provocative (38) |
| Overall Quote Score | 77 (181) |
Origin & Factcheck
This gem comes straight from Timothy Ferriss’s 2007 bestseller, The 4-Hour Workweek. It originated from the US as part of his philosophy on ditching the “deferred life plan” and designing your ideal lifestyle now, not after decades of over-preparation.
Attribution Summary
| Context | Attributes |
|---|---|
| Author | Timothy Ferriss (145) |
| Source Type | Book (4692) |
| Source/Book Name | The 4-Hour Workweek: Escape 9-5, Live Anywhere, and Join the New Rich (49) |
| Origin Timeperiod | 21st Century (1995) |
| Original Language | English (4111) |
| Authenticity | Verified (4692) |
Author Bio
Timothy Ferriss writes and builds systems that help people work less and achieve more. He broke out with The 4-Hour Workweek and followed with books on body optimization, accelerated learning, and distilled tactics from top performers. He hosts The Tim Ferriss Show, one of the most-downloaded podcasts globally, and has invested in notable technology startups. The Timothy Ferriss book list continues to influence entrepreneurs, creators, and professionals seeking leverage. He studied East Asian Studies at Princeton, founded and sold a supplement company, and actively supports psychedelic science research.
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Where is this quotation located?
| Quotation | Excessive planning is a form of procrastination |
| Book Details | Publication Year/Date: 2007; ISBN: 9780307353139; Last Edition: Expanded and Updated Edition (2009); Number of Pages: 416. |
| Where is it? | Chapter: Definition; Approximate page from 2009 edition: 65/416 |