It’s so easy to start something new. We do it all the time. We commit to a new gym membership, we start a new exercise regime or we sign up to learn a new language. There is no doubt that you are passionate about starting something new. But what you and I eventually end up with is a collection of half baked or half completed projects.
So what’s the point of starting if you are not going to finish? Of course we feel good about ourselves, we get some feeling of accomplishment and we are busy all the time.
So does it matter if you are a starter or a finisher?
I asked 10 people the question above and all of them agreed that finishing was better than starting.
Endings are better than beginnings. Sticking to it is better than standing out.
eccl 7:8
Let me give you five reasons why finishing an existing project is better than starting a new one.
#1. You planned to finish when you started.
This is probably obvious. You planned to finish writing that book when you started working on the book. Your plan was to complete and publish. Yet you are stuck with the incomplete work.
How is the world going to learn from the vast store of knowledge you and the millions of other starters have.
#2. Without completion there can be no proper evaluation and feedback.
If you have a plan to be good at something, then you have to stick to it until you are good at it. You cannot quit along the way. Many of us complain about how bad we are at some things. We look at and are envious of those who have taken the time to master their craft. We glance to the side and see our own abandoned project.
Well I have some great news for you. Picking up the pen and finishing that book, blog or song is the only way to get good at writing or singing.
An incomplete work cannot be made better just because it is incomplete. Work in progress will always be in progress. Finish it and we your readers or listeners can tell you how good your are.
#3. Finishing brings proper completion.
Leaving things unfinished can and does bring clutter into your world and mind. Imagine you set out to tidy your room or desk at work and just never got to complete it simply because you are busy with other things. You will always have an untidy desk and room until you complete the work.
#4. You only make real progress when you complete your work.
Of course there are lots of phantom and virtual progress to be made with incomplete work. You can set up milestones and celebrate as you achieve these milestones. But ultimately, until you get to the end, until you finish you do not make real progress.
#5. Finish what you started.
You have something you can sell for it’s true value simply because you have taken the time to complete it.
Trust me, there is very little you can do with an incomplete book manuscript. All the prior work put in is wasted. Just think ofd the effort and the hours. All gone to waste because you refuse to put in the extra effort needed to complete.
5 Simple Tips to increase Your chances of Completion
#1. Reduce the number of projects you are working on at the same time.
Focus. Less is more. You will have more energy and more bandwidth to make it to the end. So evaluate all that you are doing and decide on what is priority. Put some things on the back burner and finish your projects one at a time.
#2. Find Rythme
Create a regular time and place to work and then simply show up to work. A regular time and place will help you build the habit required for success. Creating habits are a lot better than using will power or discipline. Use the discipline to create the habit. Once habits become engrained, they become automatic and depend less on the power of your will.
#3. Reduce distractions
Yes here we go again talking about distractions. If you can sit at your desk till your work is complete, you stand a better chance of finishing. Distractions can bring things which you may consider more interesting to your view. And that’s all it takes to shift your attention to something else. By the time you return to your work, you have lost time and probably momentum.
#4. Suspend judgement and evaluation
Mid-term evaluation can delay or derail.Suddenly what you are doing doesn’t seem as attractive any more. Hey, it’s not complete so get on with it. There will be time for polishing and finishing after you have completed the draft. It’s like completing the foundation of a building and then saying it’s unlivable. Of course it’s unlivable because it’s not finished.
#5. Go Pro
Professionals turn up irrespective of how they feel about their work
So as you embark on this years journey, refrain from starting new projects. Go through last years projects, decide on priority and relevance and then settle down and finish the work you started.