What Motivates Getting Things Done

A marvel of evolution is that humans are not solely motivated by their desire to experience positive emotions. They are also motivated, and even driven to achieve, by their attempt to avoid or seek relief from negative ones. What Motivates Getting Things Done: Procrastination, Emotions, and Success explains how anxiety is like a highly motivating friend, why you should fear failure, and the underpinnings of shame, distress, and fear in the pursuit of excellence.
Many successful people put things off until a deadline beckons them, while countless others can't resist the urge to do things right away. Dr. Lamia explores the emotional lives of people who are successful in their endeavors-both procrastinators and non-procrastinators alike-to illustrate how the human motivational system works, why people respond to it differently, and how everyone can use their natural style of getting things done to their advantage. The book illustrates how the different timing of procrastinators and non-procrastinators to complete tasks has to do with when their emotions are activated and what activates them.
Overall, What Motivates Getting Things Done illustrates how emotions play a significant role in our style of doing, along with our way of being, in the world. Readers will acquire a better understanding of the innate biological system that motivates them and how they can make the most of it in all areas of their lives.

Mary C. Lamia, PhD, is a clinical psychologist and psychoanalyst who practices in Marin County, California. Additionally, she is a professor and the faculty chair at the Wright Institute in Berkeley. Her career-long passion to convey an understanding of emotions to the public is exemplified by her writing and media work. She is the author of Emotions! Making Sense of Your Feelings and Understanding Myself: A Kid's Guide to Intense Emotions and Strong Feelings. She co-authored The White Knight Syndrome: Rescuing Yourself from Your Need to Rescue Others and a forthcoming book, The Upside of Shame. She has provided commentary for numerous television, radio, and print media interviews and discussions, and for nearly a decade hosted a weekly call-in talk show, KidTalk with Dr. Mary, on Radio Disney stations. Her blog posts for Psychology Today, Therapy Today, and How Do I Date websites illustrate the significant role of emotions in our lives.

INTRODUCTION
1 WHAT MOTIVATES GETTING IT DONE-AN OVERVIEW
2 DEADLINES, DELIBERATION, AND DISTRACTION
3 WHAT MOTIVATES EARLY ACTION OR DELAY
4 ANXIETY AS AN ENGINE OF TASK COMPLETION
5 WHY YOU SHOULD FEAR FAILURE
6 PURSUING EXCELLENCE
7 RELATIONSHIPS AND DIVERGENT MOTIVATIONAL STYLES
8 OPTIMIZING YOUR MOTIVATIONAL STYLE
9 TROUBLESHOOTING GUIDE
10 LOOKING BACK AND MOVING FORWARD
BIBLIOGRAPHY