Finish What You Start

A success principle that is important to keep in mind is, “Finish what you start.” Many of us are guilty of starting projects that we do not finish. Some would say that if it is not important enough to finish, then it is not important enough to start. It is a somewhat negative way of saying the same thing, but it underscores the frustration others might have when projects go unfinished.

So since successful people live by principle and by character, let’s discuss the issue of self-discipline versus procrastination.

Once one decides that a task is important to do, then it should probably also be done in a timely manner. If one then tends to put important things off until later, then we call that procrastination. And if procrastination means, “Not now, later.” then the opposite of that is, “Now, not later.” It is self-discipline that makes us decide to get the job done now.

A relevant character issue in this discussion would be that of integrity. Integrity is doing what you say you are going to do. People are watching and otherwise expecting results or leadership, and therefore a person who does not finish what he starts, and in a timely manner, is perceived as being unreliable and of weak character. Instead, you would like others to respect you, and you want to respect yourself as one who does what he tells himself he is going to do. It is a matter of character and also of being well organized.

There are reasons why one might not be good at follow-through, or of finishing what has been started. One reason might be that for many people, the initial creative phase of a project is more fun than the follow-through phase, unless at the end there is an anticipated gratification for a job well done, or of gratitude from someone important to you, such as your boss, your spouse, or your customer or client.

Another reason one might not finish what was started is that some people are too easily distracted by other issues deemed to be more urgent/important when they might be neither.

Lastly, it might be important to acknowledge that sometimes it is permissible or advisable not to finish a project. You might make a conscious decision that the project is no longer important enough to finish it, that it is not a priority, or because the person you are serving directs you to stop.

Be organized enough and disciplined enough to finish an important project.

It is what successful people do.