Evening star., 1932-04-11
THIS AND THAT
BY CHARLES E. TRACRELL,

Many people lament their procrasti-
nation, but the trouble lies deeper. Most
often 1t is a failure to get an early
start. to give themselves enough time
to do what they want'to do success
fully and with the least strain upon
themselves
Not all human beings require this
!orm of self protection. There ere some
people who can plunge into an under
taking with little or no preparation
without the slightest effect on then
nerves.
They are able to make late be-
ginning without worrying in the least
about it. For them there is no need
of a warning to avoid late start.
A very large proportion of mankind
however is Ill at ease under the pres
sure of something to be done which
must or ought to be done, or probably
both
Many are like a chap we once knew
who. the moment he was given an
additional task, no matter how small
began to fret and worry about it.
Actually he consumed more time
talking about what he had TO do than
in doing it.
If he had plunged in at once, care
fully refraining from all talk, he could
have completed the extra task without
any hurry or bother.
But he never did.
You see, his temperament was the
other way around, as it were. He
needed the advantage of an early be-
ginning to keep his nerves steady, his
head cool, and his tongue quiet.
He worried himself so much. by talk
ing about what he had to do, instead
of doing it, that he unconsciously be-
came a nuisance to others and a real
hindrance to himself.
= = (;
Now this unhappy attitude was not
Just pure "cussedness" on this mans
part.
Such a diagnosis was easy, but it was
as unfair as most such snap judgments
are.
The only consi 1eration worth while
either on his part or on that of his
superior officers, should have been that
he happened to be person constitu-
tionally and temperamentallly unified
for a late beginning.
1t is the problem Of many persons,
in industry and otherwise. Firms COM
monty attempt to help such workers
by setting early beginning hours. but
trouble
This problem is not solely an indus
trial one. Primarily, 1t is one of the
individual, wherever he may be stu
ated. Almost always he is one who is
worried by a late beginning at any
task he has to do, but almost as in
variably he gets late start.
How does this come about?
Is he afraid of himself? BY no means
Often the best doers are those who
make a great to-do in beginning. They
must go through a certain amount OF
winding up, as base ball pitcher does
before he throws the ball.
The sensible course, then, is to allow
for this winding up process, just as the
man on the mound does.
No pitcher of any ability at all
would stay out of his box until the
very last moment. then suddenly step in
to flip the ball down to the catcher.
Such maneuver is reserved for the
exceptional occasion, probably when a
tough batter is at the plate. and the
pitcher has decided to fool him by the
unexpected.
The human being who has something
to get done may profit from the ex-
ample of the sportsman. The differ
ence will be that. under average con-
ditions, and solely dependent upon the
individual, the necessary period fol-
preparation will be much longer.
Every small boy knows the necessity
for the preliminary remarks in run
ming a hundred-yard dash: Get on
your marks! Get set! Col"
The go" comes only after the get
ting ready and the getting set.
X 4
All these harassed faces one sees
daily, making their way downtown, and
around the town-there can be little
doubt that many Of them are caused