Turn Your Soon Into Finally: How to Move From Procrastination to Action

“Scott, I’ve been thinking about it for months. Talking about it with colleagues. Journaling on it. Even dreaming about it. But I still haven’t done it.”

My client sat across from me, shoulders slouched. The frustration in their voice was real. The thing they wanted—a career move, a personal change, leading a new initiative—wasn’t small. But the bigger obstacle wasn’t the size of the goal. It was that they were still stuck in the limbo of soon.

If you’ve ever told yourself, Soon I’ll update my résumé. Soon I’ll start that business. Soon I’ll make time for self-care. Soon I’ll have the conversation I’ve been avoiding… you know how heavy soon can get. It sounds like action. It feels like a plan. But really, soon is just procrastination in a nicer outfit.

This article is part of “pulling back the coaching curtain.” I share different perspectives and lessons learned from coaching work with clients. So let’s talk about how to turn your soon into finally. Because the only way things really change—in your workplace, your leadership, or your life—is when someday finally becomes today.

If you’re ready for support moving from talk into action, this is exactly what I help leaders and teams do.

**Why Do We Stay Stuck in Soon?**

Before we talk about the “how,” let’s get honest about the “why.” Here are some of the usual suspects that keep people circling in the land of soon:

Fear of failure – If I don’t start, I can’t fail. Spoiler: you’re already failing by not trying. See Psychology Today on fear of failure.
Fear of success – What if I do succeed? Then I’ll have to sustain it, handle the visibility, or deal with new responsibilities. A bit more here on the fear of success.
Perfectionism – I’ll move forward once I’ve done more research (I’m guilty of this one, often called analysis paralysis), or when conditions are just right. Translation: never. See American Psychological Association on perfectionism.
Comfort zone loyalty – Even if you’re not happy, at least the current situation is familiar. You can do “it” with your eyes closed, coast.
Overthinking – You’ve made pros-and-cons lists, mapped out scenarios, and mentally rehearsed every possible outcome. You’re not alone in this one. Yep. I’m also guilty of overthinking. Managing the “spin” is important. Congrats, you’ve exhausted yourself without moving an inch. Here’s research on overthinking.
Lack of clarity – Sometimes you truly don’t know what the first step is, so you stall. But like one of my favorite quotes goes…you don’t have to see the whole staircase to take the first step.
External pressure – You’ve been living under others’ expectations so long that your own priorities get drowned out. This one is also all about boundaries; identifying yours and holding firm to them.
- The “I’ll get to it when I have time” myth – Time doesn’t just appear; you have to make it. If it’s important enough, find the time, create the space, take the action. See, Time Management research from MindTools.

Any of these sound familiar? Most of us (myself included) carry a blend of two or three at any given time. The problem isn’t experiencing these things—it’s letting them stay in the driver’s seat.

The Workplace Angle

This isn’t just about personal goals. Soon runs rampant at work, too.

“Soon we’ll roll out that new initiative.”
“Soon we’ll start doing better at employee engagement.”
“Soon I’ll finally give my team that feedback they need to build trust and increase performance.”
“Soon I’ll stop being buried in tasks and prioritize and start leading strategically.”

Here’s a hard truth: every “soon” at work costs you something. Lost opportunities. Decreased innovation. Lower morale. A competitor who moves faster. A colleague who steps up while you’re still waiting. See, Forbes on leadership hesitation.

If you or your team has been stuck in soon for too long, let’s work together to create clarity and momentum.

The Life Angle

And of course, soon shows up in life:

“Soon I’ll start eating healthier.”
“Soon I’ll spend more time with my family.”
“Soon I’ll take that trip I’ve always wanted.”
“Soon I’ll prioritize my mental health.”

Newsflash: your personal life doesn’t get put on hold until you’re ready. As I’ve discovered in my own life experience, life keeps happening, whether you’re in the game or not. Self-care is not just a nice to have, it’s a survival skill. A skill I often work with my clients to define and act on. After all, we can’t pour from an empty cup. See, Mayo Clinic on self-care.

**Coaching Question: What’s Your Soon?**

I often ask my clients to take a pause. Then I ask them:

What’s the thing you keep saying you’ll get to soon?

Don’t overthink it. The first thing that comes to mind is probably it. Write it down. Name it. Own it.

That’s the thing we’re going to explore further together to move from soon to finally.

Tips to Turn Soon Into Finally

Here’s the good news: Just like in life, you don’t need a 10-step master plan or a perfect roadmap. What you need is momentum. And momentum comes from action. Small, imperfect, real action.

Here are some strategies to get you moving:

Set a deadline—and make it real.
“Soon” becomes “never” until you attach a date. Put it on your calendar. Tell someone. Commit out loud (Harvard Business Review on deadlines).
Shrink the first step.
The leap isn’t what stops you. It’s the belief you have to leap all at once. Break it down to the smallest doable action. Want to write a book? Don’t “write a book.” Write one paragraph a day (Atomic Habits – James Clear).
Call out the fear.
Fear doesn’t go away because you ignore it. Name it. Say, “I’m afraid of failing.” Then ask yourself: “What’s the worst that can really happen?” (TEDx Talk on facing fear).
Reframe perfectionism.
Done is better than perfect. Progress beats polish (Harvard Business Review on perfectionism and productivity).
Create accountability.
Find someone who will check in on you. Or better yet, cheer you on. A coach (like Moi), a friend, a colleague. Momentum loves company (APA on accountability and behavior change).

If you know accountability is what’s missing, that’s where coaching can be the catalyst.

Leverage small wins.
Each action you take builds evidence that you’re capable. Let those little victories fuel your next move (Harvard Business Review on the power of small wins).
Anchor to your “why.”
If your soon isn’t tied to a compelling why, no wonder you’re stuck. Reconnect with why this matters to you, your team, or your life. Purpose fuels persistence (Simon Sinek on Start With Why).
Shift the story.
Stop saying, “I’ll get to it soon.” Start saying, “I’m working on it now.” And track your progress. Your words shape your reality (more on positive self-talk).

A Client Example

Back to my client. Their “soon” was workplace related. They wanted to ask for a leadership role they’d been eyeing. They’d been circling it for months. Not only did their work show they were ready for the next level in their career, they also were reading leadership books, polishing their résumé, even rehearsing conversations in their head. But yet, no action.

I asked: “What’s one thing you could do this week to move this from soon to finally?”

They paused. Then: “I could set up a meeting with my leadership.”

And they did. It wasn’t perfect. They stumbled over their words. But they asked. And you know what? Their leadership was thrilled. They’d been waiting for my client to step up. The promotion process started within the month. My client is happier, more productive, is building a great team, and continues to excel in their new role.

Finally.

Your Turn

What’s your “meeting with leadership” moment? The small, real action that moves you forward, not to the finish line, but out of the waiting room?

Because here’s the thing: life doesn’t reward intentions. It rewards action! Talking, thinking, planning, those are warm-ups. They’re not the game.

And in case you need the reminder: no one is going to hand you your finally. You must claim it.

Final Coaching Challenge

Here’s your challenge (personal or professional):

Write down your soon.
Choose one small step you can take this week.
Commit to a deadline.
Do it.
Continue.

Then celebrate. Because that’s how you turn soon into finally, one small, brave action at a time.

And if you’re tired of circling the same “soons” and ready for a real breakthrough, let’s talk about how my coaching can support you to get moving and stay moving to turn your soon into finally.

Remember: Don’t wait for someday. Turn your soon into finally. Soon is just a polite way of saying “not yet.” But finally? That’s where growth, leadership, and life actually happen.

So, what are you waiting for?

About Scott Span, MSOD, CSM, ACC: is CEO at Tolero Solutions. As a people strategist, leadership coach, and change and transformation specialist, his work is focused on people. Through his consulting and training work, he supports clients to survive and thrive through change and transition and create people-focused cultures and a great employee experience. Through his coaching work, he supports people willing to dig deeper to identify and overcome what’s holding them back, change behaviors, accelerate performance and achieve their goals.

_______________________________________________________________________