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Anyone Can Start, But Few Can Finish
dymond phillips • Apr 22, 2021
Do The Things You Said You Were Going To Do
Have you ever started a new diet, went to the store and bought all the right stuff, just to fall off two days after? Maybe you got a business idea, bought a planner, started researching and never picked up the business? All of us have started things that we have not finished. In the beginning, we are excited and motivated about this new thing. Once you realize all the work that it will take, or you get busy with day to day life, it’s easy to fall off. Starting things, although it takes some courage, is the first step. The real beauty is when you can consistently do things and finish. Just think about, how many New Year’s resolutions are started at the top of the year, and by February, people forget all about them. Once a good feeling about it is gone, and the motivation fades, that is when it really matters. Discipline is doing the things that you don’t want to do, in order to get the results that you ultimately want. We live in a culture where it’s glamorized to start things, but nobody talks about finishing them. Research shows that people who struggle with starting things, struggle even more to finish them. 32% of people who start reading a book, never make it past the first chapter.
I’ve even struggled with this. Just recently in December, I purchased a course that was $2,200. This course was from my favorite blogger, Mattie James. At first I was super excited for the course, and couldn’t wait to start. After being, two chapters in, I started procrastinating. Months went by, and in April, I realized I had never finished. I started to look at other areas of my life, and saw the same pattern. I had to take some time to research and learn how to break the cycle. I came up with a strategy to help me stay consistent on doing the things necessary. Relying on motivation to keep you going, will hinder you from pushing towards your goals. When the motivation fades, you need to have habits and daily practices to help you continue working towards a goal. Simply put, do the things you say you're going to do.
Why is it so hard for us to do the things we say we are going to do? I know for me, I'd say, “Tomorrow I’m going to do XYZ.” By the end of the next day, I’d look up and did nothing. I researched why that was and learned something that was groundbreaking. Often times, we don’t do the things we say we are going to do because we are afraid to fail. In this instance, you start the business, but you make a mistake. Rather than see that mistake as room for growth, we take it as maybe it’s not meant for me. The rule of success is not talent, it’s consistent effort over time. You’re going to make mistakes. If this is the thing holding you back from finishing, you just need to switch your thinking. Rather than thinking that every hiccup you come across is failure, see each challenge as one step closer towards success.
With all that being said, how do we break the cycle of starting but never finishing? How can we start to follow thru on the things we say we are going to do? Here's my four steps towards breaking procrastination:
1. Strategize The Completion.
Sit down and really map out how it's going to get done. I love breaking down large goals to small baby steps. What are the things you can do daily to push you towards the goal? Write a plan of action.
2. Watch How You Speak
I don’t know how many times I’ve talked myself out of doing the work I had to do. I’ve talked myself out of working out, because I say I’m too tired and will do it tomorrow. Be mindful of the things that you say to you, it’s pulling you away from completion. What you say will become your reality. Saying things like, I'm too lazy or I can't, will ultimately trigger your mind to believe it.
3. Stop Using Time As An Excuse.
Why put off things you can do today to tomorrow. Prioritize the things that need to get done each day. I bought this new day planner, and it helps me prioritize three things each day. Truth is, everything is not a priority. Look at your long term goals and prioritize the things that get you closer to them. You have time, whether you have to get up early or stay up later, you can make time.
4. Set A Time Limit.
The reason why I struggled to finish the course, was because I didn’t have an actual deadline. I could finish the course whenever I wanted to. What I learned is, when I have a goal with a specific deadline, I’m more likely to get it done. If you don’t have the accountability to hold yourself, reach out to a friend or family member and let them know that you plan on finishing some thing on a specific day and ask if they can follow up with you to make sure it’s done. I call these people accountability partners. I have a few.
These steps helped me break the spirit of procrastination. Once I started applying these steps, I saw a change in my follow through and completing of tasks. It's time to finish what you started. Make a promise and plan to finish one thing you started this week! The time is now!
