How to Finish What You Start: 10 Tips for Getting Stuff Done
We start with the best of intentions, but sticking it out and finishing the race is what matters.
How many projects have you started?
How many have you finished?
Despite our best intentions, sometimes the projects we start just don’t get finished. They forever linger in the “To Do” column of life. Relinquished to the edge of the desk, perhaps a nearby box, or just shoved into the corner of a closet “until later.”
Sound familiar?
Don’t worry. You’re in good company.
As entrepreneurs, we are always thinking of new projects, processes, ideas, workflows, products, or challenges. This is actually an asset for us — we see opportunities that go unnoticed by the majority. It is a competitive advantage.
How do you know what to focus on? How do you get something done once you’ve started?
Here are some suggestions on how to know where to focus your efforts, and, once started, how to see those projects to the end.
1. Be Selective In What You Start
Don’t just start with anything — start with intention. Do what you’re passionate about rather than saying “yes” to everything.
Isn’t it easy to say ‘Yes’?
We want to take on the world, we want to get stuff done, and we want to be the one to do it.
But saying yes to everything inevitably results in having so much to do that we cannot focus on a single task in front of us.
When we are overwhelmed, or have too many choices (this applies to everything — from deciding which television to purchase or which task to focus on next), I call this “analysis paralysis”. When faced with a huge selection, we cannot make any decision for fear of making the wrong choice.
Don’t let fear and indecision keep you from moving forward. Ruthlessly cut away the unimportant so that you can focus on what matters.
2. Estimate The Necessary Resources
Once you’ve decided to accept this new task, consider what resources will be required. By doing this assessment early, you can better prepare and know what to expect throughout the project.
Nothing derails the productivity of a venture like unexpected shortages or a lack of something.
If you have ever tried your hand at DIY projects around the house, you’ve probably made far too many unplanned trips to the hardware store to acquire the necessary tools or parts. Each of these interruptions is actually an exit point of sorts; an easy way for us to stop (i.e. procrastinate) on a project.
What happens when we lose that momentum?
Off to the corner to be worked on “later.”
3. Budget Your Time and Energy Accordingly
Similarly to assessing the resources necessary, make sure you account for your time and energy.
If a new project requires a great deal of your time or mental capacity, understand that need. Is this something you have the bandwidth for? What needs to give in order to allow for this new commitment to have the best chance of success?
If you don’t have the ability to make huge adjustments to your schedule, there are usually ways to work more efficiently so you can finish your project in a timely manner.
For example:
- Rest When You’re Tired
As counterintuitive as it may sound, listen to your body. Resting when you are tired helps us work better while we are awake. Rather than cramming or working all night to finish a task, get rest so that you can work better when you wake up. - Understand Time Pockets
Time pockets are generally 80–90 minute sessions of deep focus and attention. Many of us are not able to focus on a single task for much longer. Set yourself up for success by allocating these blocks of time to single-task (a subject I will be writing about more soon) without distraction - Remove Productivity Pitfalls
For me, meetings are the antithesis of productivity. Nothing sucks away my motivation for work like an off-site, 1-hour meeting in the middle of the day. Knowing this, I try to plan all of my meetings on one or two days of the week, or, if that is not available, I schedule them later in the day so I can spend my mornings tackling my other tasks. Identify what kills your productivity and try moving it to another time. - Do Like Tasks Together
While we don’t like to admit this, we are notoriously horrible at multi-tasking. Instead of doing several things at once, we are actually jumping from one task to another and interrupting our own thought processes. To combat this, lump similar tasks together so you cut down on the “jumping” from one process to another.
Have you considered the high cost of task switching? It probably takes you a little while to stop doing one thing and start doing another with efficiency. What happens when you switch less often?
-Seth Godin
4. Quit Being a Perfectionist
I have to raise my hand on this one. I am a perfectionist at heart.
However, I’m learning that if I were to wait until something was absolutely perfect, I would never ship it. Meaning I would never hit the “Publish” button on this post, or I would never approve our latest podcast or video, or even sign off on the website changes.
“What if we increased the spacing on this paragraph …?”
“Is this the best word we can use?”
“Did we think about how the customer would interact with this little detail of the product … ?”
At some point, we have to move. We have to ship. We have to hit “Go” and do it.
Ask yourself: Does whatever you’re obsessing about now make a noticeable difference in the long run?
Embrace mistakes and imperfections as learning opportunities; accept that you’ll learn along the way. Get it right on the next iteration.
I propose fear has stalled far more projects than an imperfect product.
Start now. Start where you are. Start with fear. Start with pain. Start with doubt. Start with hands shaking. Start with voice trembling, but start. Start and don’t stop. Start where you are, with what you have. Just… start.
5. Commit To It
We are 17 days into the new year. Have you seen the local athletic club?
Each year, millions resolve to get fit / workout / go to the gym / etc — and each year, millions fall short of their goal within days and weeks.
Here’s the thing: Habits are hard.
They’re hard to form and hard to break.
Give yourself some leniency and do your best.
When tackling this new project, goal, or product — commit to working on it. Whether it is a daily checkbox, a set amount of time each day, or an actionable task, make the commitment and stick with it. If you miss a day, checkbox, or session, dust yourself off and get back to it.
Want to improve your chances of success exponentially? Team up with someone and ask them to hold you accountable.
Now you’re serious.
6. Work With the End In Mind
In times when you feel uninspired, remember why you started.
If your goal is to lose 50 pounds this year, it is daunting. Instead, think of the health benefits, longevity, or the extra time you’ll get to see your kids or grandkids.
When we focus on the Why, our entire motivation and inspiration shifts. Focus less on the digits on the scale and more on the time you’ll spend with loved ones.
Fear feeds on both negativity and lies. Knowing this, you can keep your sights on those positive outcomes and truths — your better health, career advancement, or finished project are far more exciting than dwelling on the false narratives in our minds.
7. Follow the Path of Highest Enjoyment
When embarking on such a huge project or task, it is easy to be overwhelmed. Instead of looking at the entire project, look at the individual parts that make up your goal.
Build momentum and confidence by tackling these smaller tasks.
I love to use mindmapping to organize large and complex projects. It helps keep the task at hand in the forefront of my mind, but allows me to get all the details about the project out on paper.
To do this, draw the main idea or point of your project. From there, draw spokes for each secondary category or thought. Then, make a list of each step or task that is required to complete the secondary category. If you need more detail, just fork off the most relevant spoke.
For example, here is a part of an online marketing mindmap that use with my clients. It literally has hundreds of tasks that, together, form a cohesive marketing plan. But all those steps in a heap would be a mess. Instead, they are each broken down into manageable tasks and steps.
Take one step today instead of waiting to run a marathon tomorrow.
8. Track Your Progress
When we are in the thick of things, it is easy to lose track of how far we have come. We must be proactive in tracking our progress and recording what we have done.
Logging journal entries, daily check-offs, or using a spreadsheet are simple, yet effective, ways of tracking progress over time.
Decide what is important to measure, then track it consistently.
Whatever gets measured, gets improved.
9. Celebrate What You’ve Done So Far
Take time to celebrate your victories.
No matter how small, reward yourself (or your team) when you’ve reached milestones.
This is easy to overlook, but critically important to maintaining momentum and building upon you successes.
One of my clients literally has, “Eat Cake” as a line item for their sales team’s process. After they make a sale, the entire team takes a moment to gather and enjoy a treat.
10. Don’t Force It
While the title of this piece focuses on finishing what you start, we have to accept that sometimes, a project should just be put down.
If it is not working out, evaluate and decide if you should continue.
This isn’t quitting — really. It is objectively looking at whatever you are working on and making the decision to stop working on it.
Don’t be hard on yourself. If it isn’t a right fit, or there is a better opportunity, it may be best to move on.
Conclusion
Again, as entrepreneurs, we often have more ideas than time. We are constantly starting new projects and ventures — it is in our nature. I hope that I’ve inspired you with some ideas on how to finish what you start.
With these tips, I trust you productivity and use of time grows exponentially. I hope that you can look back each day, week, and month knowing you focused your time on exactly what needed to be attended to, at exactly the right time.
Originally published at Kickstart Kings.
