Estimated reading time: 7 minute(s)
by Willie Muhammad
If we asked a group of, let’s say ten people to name some people they would observe to learn about effective work habits, out of that ten how many of them do you think would mention any of the Prophets of God? Based upon the numerous articles, books and seminars on work habits, I have seen and conversations I have had about this subject, I think it would be fair to say that none of that ten would probably mention any of them, in my opinion.
An analysis of the lives of the Prophets would show there is a lot we can learn from the Prophets work habits that could help us with our own. Prophets have jobs and a boss as well. They have the Boss of all bosses, God Himself. So in this first entry we want to look at what I call the “Two Ps”, poor planning and procrastination. How many of us battle with poor planning and procrastination?
These are two of the greatest threats to success and effective work habits. These two forces feed and breed one another. As I reflected on what Prophet we could study, Noah came to mind. After being given a task by God, he began to organize and plan on how he would accomplish what God asked him to do. He did not procrastinate, despite the fact that he was working in an environment that encouraged procrastination. It had not rained in – not days, weeks, months or a year or two. But decades! Plus while he was working the people were partying and enjoying their lives and also working to cast doubt in the mind of Noah. He remained on task and focused. As a result of not falling victim to the “Two Ps”, he saved his life and the life of his family.
When we plan and defeat procrastination, we save our career, our business and increase our rate of success. Poor planning and failing to plan is against the very nature of the human being. Allah (God) in the Bible and Holy Qur’an says that He made us in His Image and Likeness. All throughout the Holy Qur’an, Allah is referred to as, “The Best of Planners.” If He is and why aren’t we, when we are from Him?
Lastly, as it relates to procrastination, the parable Jesus taught about the Ten Virgins (Matt. 25:1-13) also comes to mind. This parable is a great example to show how dangerous procrastination is and the benefits of proper planning. Don’t procrastinate, go and read it yourself (smile) and learn the many lessons that parable offers.
God willing, in the next blog, we will look at the bad habit of passing the buck when it comes to us not doing something we were given the responsibility to do.
(Student Minister Willie Muhammad is the New Orleans representative of the Honorable Minister Louis Farrakhan and Nation of Islam. Follow him on Twitter http://twitter.com/#!/BroWM46)
