The moral, explained
Oog had seven days to practise for the spear test. He napped, he painted, he coached Grub's napping, and he started the night before. On test day he missed everything, and then one wild throw bounced off three rocks into the dead centre. The Chief was amazed. Oog learned exactly the wrong lesson: next test, day one, nap.
Anyone who has spent a semester studying the night before an exam knows the trap. A last-minute win feels like proof that the system works. It isn't proof of anything. Cramming can get you through one test, but what you cram is mostly gone a week later, and the next test, the next level, the next job, is built on top of it. The lucky bounce is the most dangerous thing that can happen to a procrastinator, because it teaches you to do it again.
Practice is boring because it works quietly. A little every day doesn't make a story. Then one day you hit the target without needing three rocks.
Try this today
Pick the thing with the nearest deadline and give it 20 minutes now, before you've earned the excuse to wait. Set a timer. Stop when it rings. Do the same tomorrow. Seven short days beat one long night.
Talk about it
What's the luckiest last-minute save you ever had, and did it make you plan better next time, or worse?
