--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I find a lot of things to do before I do…" description: "\"I find a lot of things to do before I do eventually get to work. I have a built-in horror of missing a deadline and letting everybody down, but I can p..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2ab/stephen-schwartz-3036_delay_i-find-a-lot-of-things-to-do-before-i-do_1637155.jpg" --- # I find a lot of things to do before I do eventually get to… ![“I find a lot of things to do before I do eventually get to work. I have a built-in horror of missing a deadline and letting everybody down, but I can procrastinate by doing puzzles and reading articles on the Internet and finding ways to delay actually going to work.” quote by Stephen Schwartz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2ab/stephen-schwartz-3036_delay_i-find-a-lot-of-things-to-do-before-i-do_1637155.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2ab/stephen-schwartz-3036_delay_i-find-a-lot-of-things-to-do-before-i-do_1637155.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2ab/stephen-schwartz-3036_delay_i-find-a-lot-of-things-to-do-before-i-do_1637155.jpg) > “I find a lot of things to do before I do eventually get to work. I have a built-in horror of missing a deadline and letting everybody down, but I can procrastinate by doing puzzles and reading articles on the Internet and finding ways to delay actually going to work.” [Stephen Schwartz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-schwartz/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. He admits procrastination stems from fear of failure, leading him to distract with puzzles and reading. **In simple terms:** Fear of missing deadlines drives procrastination. Key Takeaway Address underlying anxiety to improve focus. Themes productivity anxiety procrastination Mood concerned motivated Type self‑help behavioral When to use this quote - work tasks - deadline planning - mindfulness exercises - structured breaks Key Concepts psychology time management self‑discipline Questions to Reflect On - What triggers your procrastination? - How can you replace distractions with productive habits? A Different Perspective May not apply to all procrastination causes. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Internet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/internet/) [Reading](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reading/) [Work](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/work/) ## Related quotes > [As for inspiration, I find stark fear of missing the deadline very inspiring.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-hoyt/as-for-inspiration-i-find-stark-fear-of-missing-the-deadline-very/) [Elizabeth Hoyt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-hoyt/) > [I'm a big believer in, and creator for myself, of deadlines. Deadlines are your friend.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-schwartz/i-m-a-big-believer-in-and-creator-for-myself-of-deadlines-deadlines/) [Stephen Schwartz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-schwartz/) > [The more you think about it, the more time you have to make up fears and procrastinate. Just do it!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-more-you-think-about-it-the-more-time-you-have-to-make-up-fears/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“Those who begin things, but never complete them, accomplish nothing.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-sonnenberg/those-who-begin-things-but-never-complete-them-accomplish-nothing/) [Frank Sonnenberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-sonnenberg/) > [“When we procrastinate, we also put a hold on happiness.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-f-glassman/when-we-procrastinate-we-also-put-a-hold-on-happiness/) [Charles F. Glassman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-f-glassman/) > [“Procrasdemon is fighting hard to feed off of distractions and pleasures.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neeraj-agnihotri/procrasdemon-is-fighting-hard-to-feed-off-of-distractions-and/) [Neeraj Agnihotri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neeraj-agnihotri/) > [Potential is an excuse to procrastinate; Ambition is a means to thrive.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donovan-king/potential-is-an-excuse-to-procrastinate-ambition-is-a-means-to-thrive/) Donovan King > [“If you want to begin living a Zen lifestyle, start living it right now and don’t procrastinate.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexis-g-roldan/if-you-want-to-begin-living-a-zen-lifestyle-start-living-it-right-now/) [Alexis G. Roldan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexis-g-roldan/) > [When writers say that they need to 'set the mood' or 'get into the zone', those are all ways to procrastinate. Not prerequisites.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gulzar/when-writers-say-that-they-need-to-set-the-mood-or-get-into-the-zone/) [Gulzar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gulzar/) > [I am a person who works well under pressure. In fact, I work so well under pressure that at times, I will procrastinate in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephanie-pearl-mcphee/i-am-a-person-who-works-well-under-pressure-in-fact-i-work-so-well/) [Stephanie Pearl-McPhee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephanie-pearl-mcphee/) > [“Urgency makes the difference between practitioners, proclaimers and procrastinators.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richie-norton/urgency-makes-the-difference-between-practitioners-proclaimers-and/) [Richie Norton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richie-norton/) > [“The real enemy of genius is the router in the hallway.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/a-o-monk/the-real-enemy-of-genius-is-the-router-in-the-hallway/) A.O. Monk > [Procrastination comes in two types. Some of us procrastinate in order to pursue restful activities - spending time in bed, watching TV - while…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-levitin/procrastination-comes-in-two-types-some-of-us-procrastinate-in-order/) [Daniel Levitin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-levitin/) > [Some people procrastinate so much that all they can do is run around like firefighters all day - putting out fires that should not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nido-r-qubein/some-people-procrastinate-so-much-that-all-they-can-do-is-run-around/) [Nido R Qubein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nido-r-qubein/) > [“I wished, as it were, to procrastinate all that related to my feelings of affection until the great object, which swallowed up every habit…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-shelley/i-wished-as-it-were-to-procrastinate-all-that-related-to-my-feelings/) [Mary Shelley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-shelley/) ## More by Stephen Schwartz > [Bringing your show to Broadway is an economic decision on the part of producers and investors that may or may not happen, but sharing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-schwartz/bringing-your-show-to-broadway-is-an-economic-decision-on-the-part-of/) [Stephen Schwartz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-schwartz/) > [You wouldn't walk into a music store and walk out with a piece of music under your arm. So why would it be acceptable…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-schwartz/you-wouldn-t-walk-into-a-music-store-and-walk-out-with-a-piece-of/) [Stephen Schwartz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-schwartz/) > [There have always been discussions about a 'Pippin' movie. I think it would lend itself very well to film if one could solve how…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-schwartz/there-have-always-been-discussions-about-a-pippin-movie-i-think-it/) [Stephen Schwartz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-schwartz/) > [When I was in high school, I worked at a theatre on Long Island, where I grew up, in the box office and parking…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-schwartz/when-i-was-in-high-school-i-worked-at-a-theatre-on-long-island-where/) [Stephen Schwartz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-schwartz/) > [When I perform I try and focus on the lyrics and my interpretation of the lyrics.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-schwartz/when-i-perform-i-try-and-focus-on-the-lyrics-and-my-interpretation-of/) [Stephen Schwartz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-schwartz/) > [I think it would be really cool to see 'Enchanted' on Broadway - there's been discussion of it from time to time. You'd have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-schwartz/i-think-it-would-be-really-cool-to-see-enchanted-on-broadway-there-s/) [Stephen Schwartz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-schwartz/) > [I was very happy in Hollywood. I was doing extremely well there and things were good.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-schwartz/i-was-very-happy-in-hollywood-i-was-doing-extremely-well-there-and/) [Stephen Schwartz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-schwartz/) > [That was what I always wanted to do for my whole life, to write music in the service of telling stories and communicating ideas…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-schwartz/that-was-what-i-always-wanted-to-do-for-my-whole-life-to-write-music/) [Stephen Schwartz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-schwartz/) > [I had always been interested in opera, going back to my college days at Carnegie Mellon. In my last year there, I even wrote…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-schwartz/i-had-always-been-interested-in-opera-going-back-to-my-college-days/) [Stephen Schwartz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-schwartz/) > [With Bernstein, because we wound up always working music first, it was where I really feel I learned how to write lyrics as a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-schwartz/with-bernstein-because-we-wound-up-always-working-music-first-it-was/) [Stephen Schwartz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-schwartz/) > [In 'Wicked,' we developed the concept that Glinda has a public persona who sings in soprano and a private persona who is, you know,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-schwartz/in-wicked-we-developed-the-concept-that-glinda-has-a-public-persona/) [Stephen Schwartz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-schwartz/) > [Alan Menken is so gifted in terms of coming up with these great melodies. What I learned from working with him was how to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-schwartz/alan-menken-is-so-gifted-in-terms-of-coming-up-with-these-great/) [Stephen Schwartz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-schwartz/) > [I like works about familiar stories, where one spins the point of view and looks at it from another angle.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-schwartz/i-like-works-about-familiar-stories-where-one-spins-the-point-of-view/) [Stephen Schwartz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-schwartz/) > [Excuse me, there's no pretense here. I happen to be genuinely self-absorbed and deeply shallow.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-schwartz/excuse-me-there-s-no-pretense-here-i-happen-to-be-genuinely-self/) [Stephen Schwartz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-schwartz/) > [Dancers are the unsung heroes Broadway musicals.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-schwartz/dancers-are-the-unsung-heroes-broadway-musicals/) [Stephen Schwartz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-schwartz/) [Explore all 141 Stephen Schwartz quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-schwartz/) ## More Deadline quotes > [Having small children and being an investigative reporter would seem like a difficult mix, but it worked well for me. I was often working…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jill-abramson/having-small-children-and-being-an-investigative-reporter-would-seem/) [Jill Abramson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jill-abramson/) > [Two things you need to know about taxes. They've extended the deadline to April 18, and when you write your check, just make it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-letterman/two-things-you-need-to-know-about-taxes-they-ve-extended-the-deadline/) [David Letterman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-letterman/) > [All writers are forced to live within deadlines, and deadlines determine how good they can be.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lawrence-o-donnell/all-writers-are-forced-to-live-within-deadlines-and-deadlines/) [Lawrence O'Donnell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lawrence-o-donnell/) > [I always think the most important thing for a writer is a deadline, and it's the same with a house. They say you shouldn't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adriana-trigiani/i-always-think-the-most-important-thing-for-a-writer-is-a-deadline/) [Adriana Trigiani](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adriana-trigiani/) > [“Pakiramdam ko e andami kong naiisip na dehins magawa dahil alang deadline. Nasanay ata ko sa school tsaka sa trabaho na lahat may deadline.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/manix-abrera/pakiramdam-ko-e-andami-kong-naiisip-na-dehins-magawa-dahil-alang/) Manix Abrera > [Everybody in the real world will agree - the moment a project is behind deadline, quality assurance tends to go out the window.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-cox/everybody-in-the-real-world-will-agree-the-moment-a-project-is-behind/) Alan Cox > [Nero wasn't worried at all when he heard the utterance of the Delphic Oracle: "Beware the age of seventy-three." Plenty of time to enjoy…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-p-cavafy/nero-wasn-t-worried-at-all-when-he-heard-the-utterance-of-the-delphic/) [C.P. Cavafy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-p-cavafy/) > [Nothing focuses attention like a real deadline. If you are in a field where life and death, or having a job or not having…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-perry/nothing-focuses-attention-like-a-real-deadline-if-you-are-in-a-field/) [John Perry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-perry/) > [“There is one surefire way to produce bad writing: submit to the slavery of a deadline.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/flavia-id/there-is-one-surefire-way-to-produce-bad-writing-submit-to-the/) Flavia Idà > [I think setting goals is critical; having deadlines for ourselves- how much by when? Too many people have these big dreams where they want…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-canfield/i-think-setting-goals-is-critical-having-deadlines-for-ourselves-how/) [Jack Canfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-canfield/) > [Publishing is, by its nature, about deadlines, and deadlines are toxic.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jan-karon/publishing-is-by-its-nature-about-deadlines-and-deadlines-are-toxic/) [Jan Karon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jan-karon/) > [There are no unrealistic goals, only unrealistic deadlines.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-tracy/there-are-no-unrealistic-goals-only-unrealistic-deadlines/) [Brian Tracy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-tracy/) > [Without deadlines and restrictions I just tend to become preoccupied with other things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/val-kilmer/without-deadlines-and-restrictions-i-just-tend-to-become-preoccupied/) [Val Kilmer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/val-kilmer/) > [Most lawsuits against the EPA historically have come either because of the agency's lack of regard for a statute or because the EPA failed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-pruitt/most-lawsuits-against-the-epa-historically-have-come-either-because/) [Scott Pruitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-pruitt/) > [“The deadline is at midnight in America; dawn, 5 A.M., in England, and 8:00 A.M., early morning, in Iraq. The Americans tie yellow ribbons…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/betool-khedairi/the-deadline-is-at-midnight-in-america-dawn-5-a-m-in-england-and-8-00/) Betool Khedairi Browse all 405 Deadline quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I find a lot of things to do before I do eventually get to work. 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