For me personally, it is so easy to start things than to finish them. I need to stay focused and have a plan to finish every project I start myself.
With the years, I figured out my own strategies what I need to do on the daily basis to keep myself motivated, inspired, and right on target.
You could be surprised what we really need to do to see any project to its successful finish. Lucinda Cross takes us through a familiar Half-Time situation in football for us to realize and figure out what ingredients we truly need to be winners at the end.
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Half Time: Are You Going To Finish What You Started?
By Lucinda Cross
During the half time in a game, the entertainment comes out, the players get a rest, the coach reviews the game plan and motivates the team, a discussion happens as to who is not performing at the highest and best, and whether or not they need more defense. There is a lot of activity going on during half time that motivates the players to finish the game with intentions to win.
How can you win if you stop at half time?
How can you finish what you started?
If your intentions are to win, win, win, no matter what, then moving past the half time to the finish line is important. Beginning a new thing, a new project, a new pursuit is exciting. You have the end result in mind, you see the long lines and the balloons and the media at your launch, you count how much money you will have from the hundreds of people who sign up, you see yourself sitting on the stage with Donny Deutsch from the Big Idea. Here is the kicker, what many people are doing today is beginning with a powerful start with all intentions to finish.
What happens when starters get to the half way mark is distractions, interruptions and the-shiny-object syndrome that gets in the way of starters making it to the finish line. They no longer see themselves at the finish line, they get tired and over loaded, they are now feeling forced to stick to the plan, they are not completing deadlines, and are in a state of procrastination. The plan that involved those getting to the finish line has been intercepted.
If you are at half time in your projects, focus on finishing what you started. Take this time to look at the game plan and see what needs to be changed, added or omitted. How you started may not be the way you finish, those who started with you may not be there when you finish. That’s why half time is so important.
Make a plan, work your plan, and you will attain your goal. Rely on your half time strategy, planning and process, not your own willpower. You want to create a mindset and working environment (associates, partners, volunteers, advisors) that will pull you and push you forward towards the finish line.
Answer the following questions:
- What do you need to do to stick to the plan?
- What is the outcome you desire?
- What will it look like when you have attained the desired result?
- What will it feel like when you have reached your goal?
- Who will you be celebrating or sharing this moment with?
- Where will you be sharing the moment?
- How will your life be different from that way it is now when you have crossed the finish line?
- What aspects of your life so you have to overcome or change in order to cross the finish line?
Half Time Tip: if you want to stay motivated to complete what you have started, to move past half time, then you must do one thing. Celebrate. Celebrate during half time; congratulate yourself at that midway mark. This will heighten your motivation and determination to compete your project.
