Stop Starting and Start Finishing

I have a bad habit of multi-tasking.

While I’m working on 1 project, I come up with 3 ideas for other things. Then I start working on those, leaving the first project forgotten and unfinished.

This happens daily, so I slowly collect a bunch of unfinished work and to-do items throughout the week.

By the time Friday rolls around, my entire day is filled with catch-up work. Finishing the draft emails I never sent, finishing a blog post I started, I find half painted art work laying around my house.

(This is part of why Fridays feel good. Because I actually am finishing things!)

Anyway, someone shared the quote with me:

Stop Starting, and Start Finishing!

It’s got me thinking more about finishing things right away. Staying focussed on the priority at hand, and completing it before moving on to the next thing.

Start 1 thing –> finish it.

Start 1 thing –> finish it.

Like a robot 🙂

All in all, I’m noticing a small positive difference. It’s definitely freeing up my Friday’s and I’m feeling better during the week too.

Have a great day and cheers to ending a fun work week!
– Joel


These birds have a surprise coming when I let Cooper off the leash!

6 thoughts on “Stop Starting and Start Finishing

  • “Man who chases two rabbits, catches neither.” – Confucius

    Not sure of the origin…I’ve also seen this credited as a Native American quote.

    • I use this for email – I follow a pretty strict Inbox Zero routine. But for other tasks during the day I’ve got a pong way to go! 🙂

  • Sage advice Joel! I am friend of your Dad in Adelaide and I can certainly confess that I have been a greater starter than finisher in my years. If I can pass some sage advice to my kids would be to get certain about the outcome/result that you want to achieve and then ask yourself “Why is that important to me”? If you can write a paragraph on that, then it is worth getting started. So, get clear, get committed, get certain, get started and don’t stop until you finish.

    • Hey Rohan, cheers for the response. Love it! Writing down the “why” is a great practice. It also keeps you going mid-way when you’ve forgotten why you started something in the first place and need a quick motivation boost 🙂

Comments are closed.

%d bloggers like this: