Finish What You Start
Restored from the Empower Network archive (2011–2017), lightly edited to meet our current advertising standards. Views are the original author’s.
The number one tip to success is to finish what you start. My dad was a great starter. He’d get an idea and start a project. In the middle of the project, he’d get another good idea. But he rarely finished any of his project.
One unfinished project was the kitchen light. We had one of those circular florescent lights in the kitchen. It kept burning out bulbs, which were expensive. Instead of replacing, my dad wanted to fix it. He took it down, made some adjustments, and reconnected the wires to the electrical circuit. He left it hanging from the connections in case it malfunctioned again. It hung there in the kitchen for about seven years. My mother often complained leaving the light hanging by the electrical connections. She thought that the best motivator was nag, nag, nag. Listen ladies, if you don’ want your husband to do something, nag him about. It is the sure fire way of keeping your husband from doing something.
After seven years when my mother was away on a trip, my dad decided to rehang the kitchen light. He got out the ladder and screwed the light onto the electrical box. When he got down from the ladder, he thought to himself, “She’ll be so glad I finally got around to finishing that.”
The next day when mom returned home from her trip, dad was standing in the kitchen, grinning from ear to ear. She wondered what he was up to. Finally, when she did not say anything about the kitchen light, dad said, “Well, do you notice anything different about the kitchen?” She looked around. Finally, she sadly said, “What did you do with my chandelier?” Dad was mad for several days because she did not appreciate him “fixing” the kitchen light.
Many people start a project. They are excited about the prospects of their project. Maybe it would bring in extra income, or a lot of personal enjoyment and satisfaction. But after a while, they get bored or realize that their goal was larger than they anticipated. Sometimes people don’t even start because the goal is too large.
Here are some tips to help you finish what you start. These tips are gleaned from Ali Hale’s article, How to Finish What You Start.
Finish What You Start #1: “Is this really what I want or need to do?”
A lot of projects are just whims. You get inspired from a movie, song, or something you read. You think it would be something great to do, but it’s not what you’re willing to sacrifice time and effort for. So before you sign-up for piano lessons or buy a lot of exercise equipment, decide if this is just a passing whim.
Finish What You Start #2: Track Your Progress
Many times we get discouraged if our project does not come out right the first time you try. Any project worthy of your time and sacrifice is worth practicing for perfection. Track your progress in concrete ways. When you are tempted to quit, refer back to your progress report. When you are able to “see” progress, you are encouraged to persevere.
Finish What You Start #3: Have a Definite Goal in Mind
Most people’s goals are indefinite. It is some wonderful thing way out there. The problem with this is you never know if you ever achieved your goal.
Goals must be definite and achievable. Goals also must be written. Once you have a definite, achievable goal written down, work backwards. Map out how you will achieve your goal. A roadmap is a reference for when you get stuck or don’t know which way to turn.
Here is a video of two marathon runners to illustrate my point.
Do you have a friend who’s always starting new projects, but never ending any of them? Perhaps they need the above help. Send them a link to this article. Your friend will thank you for it.