“Nothing makes a person more productive than the last minute”

“Nothing makes a person more productive than the last minute” (or “Nothing makes me more productive than the last minute”) is a one-line saying that has been printed on many images. “Nothing makes a person more productive than the last minute. —The Cockle Bur” was printed in The Reader’s Digest in 1987. “Gem of the day: Have you noticed that nothing makes a person more productive than the last minute?” was published in an Ann Landers syndicated newspaper advice column in September 1989.
   
“If it weren’t for the last minute, nothing would get done” is a related saying.
       
       
Google Books
The Reader’s Digest
Volume 130
1987
Pg. 178:
Nothing makes a person more productive than the last minute.
—The Cockle Bur
 
19 September 1987, Iowa City (IA) Press-Citizen, pg. ?:
Nothing makes a person more productive than the last minute
(Menards advertising supplement.—ed.)
 
13 January 1988, Lancaster (OH) Eagle-Gazette, pg. 7, col. 2 ad:
“Nothing makes a person more productive than the last minute”
(Palmer Realty Inc.—ed.)
 
29 May 1988, Boston (MA) Herald, “Outdoors” by Michael Globetti, pg. 72, col. 3:
Atlantic salmon are again slow on Maine rivers, prompting the Maine Atlantic Sea-Run Salmon Commission to include, in its weekly newsletter, the bon mot “Nothing makes a person more productive than the last minute.” Which is to say, they ain’t biting, but they might be, soon.
 
7 September 1989, Chicago (IL) Tribune, Ann Landers advice column, sec. 5, pg. 3, col. 1:
Gem of the day: Have you noticed that nothing makes a person more productive than the last minute?
         
Google Books
Quick and Easy Newsletters
By Elaine Floyd
St. Louis, MO: Newsletter Resources
1998
Pg. 125:
“Nothing makes a person more productive than the last minute.”—Unknown
 
Google Groups: alt.quotations
Quotes with the word ‘nothing’ followed by a verb
Kevin G. Barkes
11/5/01
(...)
Nothing makes a person more productive than the last minute.~Unknown
 
Twitter
mjcustard‏
@mjcustard
OK, now it is morning and I am still not ready.  As a friend of mine likes to say “Nothing makes one more productive than the last minute”.
6:37 AM - 31 Jul 2008
 
Twitter
Reggie Auzenne‏
@Net_Traffic_Pro
Nothing makes a person more productive than the last minute!
www.BigHitterNow.com
10:24 AM - 4 Nov 2008
 
Google Books
Say It Again 1,500 Times:
Favorite Thoughts and Words of Wisdom
By Margaret R. Swensen
Publication Consultants
2010
Pg. ?:
Nothing makes a person more productive than the last minute.
     
Facebook
Grammarly
August 5, 2014 ·
Nothing makes me more productive than the last minute.
 
Google Books
Jokes Insults Quips & More
By Kooper Salmo
Lulu Press (Lulu.com)
2016
Pg. ?:
Nothing makes me more productive than the last minute.