Goals, Priorities, Procrastination, and Deadlines

According to Dictionary.com, the word goal was coined in 1275. (I actually thought it would have been penned earlier than that. You, too?) In contrast, the word procrastination didn't get formalized until the mid-to-late 1500's.

So it sure must've been a particularly productive 300 intervening years, don't you think?!

Or maybe, just maybe, they had the word procrastination all ready to go, but just kept putting it off, day after day, until someone finally put their foot down and made it a priority. (The word priority was formally recognized sometime between 1350-1400, placing it after the goal was established - and after it was probably due - but before anyone really got around to working it!)

So let's review:

• Goals were established in the late 1200's.
• Some 75 years later they were made into priorities.
• About 150 years later people started to admit that, yes, maybe there was a bit of procrastination going on.
• And 450 years after that, the boss got totally fed up and invented the word, deadline!!!

Perfect, no?!