Stop Starting & Start Finishing

It’s way easier to start things than it is to finish things. It’s a lot of fun to start stuff, but you only get credit for what you finish.

Do you have a wake of unfinished projects and initiatives behind you?

If so, it’s hurting you more than you realize.

People will remember you not by what you start, but by what you finish. Every time you finish something you prove that you have the discipline and vision to see a dream through. You prove that you aren’t just a dreamer, but that you are trustworthy.

When you choose to quit prematurely you lose credibility. You give up trust unnecessarily. That’s why you should consider the cost before you start (Luke 14:28-30).

Every time you move on, you reinforce the idea that you aren’t a finisher and people should view your new goal, ambition, project, or dream with an asterisk (*only if something easier or better doesn’t come along).

I’m not saying that you shouldn’t stop doing things that aren’t working or never change directions. What I’m saying is it shouldn’t be a pattern.

Would others say you have a pattern of quitting or finishing?

If you have a pattern of quitting school…changing jobs every couple of years…going from relationship to relationship…chasing after the next big thing…you’re developing a character that’s going to let you down in your most crucial time of need.

When you are in the messy middle you’ll need that character and discipline to keep rowing toward the finish. The pay-off is going to come much later than the investment. Investments are always long-term propositions.

What are you thinking about quitting right now?

Are you cashing in your investment prematurely?