I’m laughing at myself right now. I set a goal to get ahead on my blogging and write 4 articles today. I finished the first three and then thought, maybe I should just stop. I looked at my content schedule to see what the next topic is, and it was The Art of Finishing. Hah!
There’s no escaping now, I will definitely be writing the 4th article! Early on in our marriage, I thought I would try my hand at home decor, crafts and sewing. I would head over to the nearest craft store and get drunk on the possibilities that only paint brushes and fabric can provide. In my mind, my home was beautiful, cozy, and quaint. In reality, it was just full of half finished products.
Does this ring true for your business? Let’s be honest with ourselves. It’s not lack of ideas that keep our businesses smaller than we’d like. I lay awake at night thinking of great ideas. I get epiphanies in the shower, or while I’m driving. Great ideas are all around us.
Implementation is the real struggle.
How many unfinished projects do you have in your business? Each one of those projects is taking up mental space because it’s on your mind. And it’s taking up emotional space, because you feel guilty it isn’t done. That’s not good y’all!
If you want to develop strong finishing skills. Here’s 5 tips.
Start small and build up your finishing stamina. Start by putting your laundry in the basket instead of the floor. Start by emptying the silverware even if you don’t have time to unload the entire dishwasher. Your brain doesn’t differentiate between small completion and large completion. So if you want large completion, start small. All your brain will realize is that you are now finishing stuff.- Don’t start anything new until you finish something old. It’s a reward system for those that love to start new things. It motivates us to want to finish!
- Make sure someone else knows your deadline goal and is willing to support you in upholding that deadline.
- Divide your projects into micro steps and set your goals to finish pieces of the overall project.
- Pay attention to what happens right before you stop! There’s always a moment of distraction. “I should check Facebook.” “I’m tired.” “I’m hungry, I’ll just go grab a snack first.” Whatever your little moment of weakness is right before you quit, track it so it is easier to catch.
Most people stop just short of the finish line. If you will learn to finish strong, you’ll be amazed how much more momentum you will gain in your business and life!