On Finishing Well

I’m learning to let my moments of excitement linger far longer than the event that got me excited in the first place. I’m doing this to hack myself to always do what it takes to finish well.

Start.

Everything that exists and has ever existed started with an idea. In the beginning, ideas are exciting and formless. With time, ideas evolve and get molded into shape until they become actionable and achievable. But the onus is on the owner of the idea to see it through until it comes to fruition.

See it through.

It takes a lot to see an idea through. To do this, you need to sustain the level of excitement you had at the beginning of the process while you’re in the middle or closer to the end of it all. That’s not easy (especially when the end is unknown), but it’s required to create and be creative.

Stay excited.

If you want to write a book, record an EP, graduate from the university, write an exam or do anything at all, you need to be excited enough about the process and the end as you are about the idea.

But it can be tiring to stay excited that long, and if you find that to be the case, you can try revisiting your list of reasons for getting started in the first place.

And that might keep you going.

Hack Yourself.

So, I’m trying to hack myself to finish well. I know this can work because it has worked before.

In my final year of university, I already knew I wouldn’t need or use my pre-med Biology degree. Going to classes and studying for exams became a chore and a burden.

But I had started the program and understood that I had to finish it. So, I hacked myself into believing, wholeheartedly, that “Knowledge is power,” and that got me excited enough to get over the finish line.

So, if you’re struggling to get to the finish line right now, hack yourself by finding a reason to stay excited just a bit longer.

p.s. It’s okay not to finish sometimes. 

Sometimes, finishing isn’t the right thing to do. 

Sometimes, quitting is better than finishing. 

Sometimes, the idea simply isn’t good enough.

And that’s okay. Just be sure you understand the path you’re on. 

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