Do you start projects that you never really finish? Or only finish about 50%? Do you struggle to even start…

Me too!

I was an 80% finisher.

If I was at an all day conference, I'd always leave before Q&A. I'd commit to daily exercise but would end up missing a day or two but think wow I still did 5 or 6 days!  Rarely read a book to the end. Promise to drink less coffee, but forget by mid-week. Start blog articles and not finish them…

What I realised is that not being a finisher was showing up in everything I did. 80% was my new set-point for tasks “completed”. Even things I loved!

Are you a finisher?

Think of the last project you started – did you finish it fully?

When you start projects but don't finish them, it becomes a slippery slope downhill for other things. You create a new habit of not seeing things through to the end – it starts to seep into other areas of your life.

There's a saying on how you do anything is how you do everything. I don't totally agree with this.

Some things you only just start, and it goes no further. Even if you were super excited about the idea. I've found this happens when it wasn't a burning passion in the first place.

Years ago I thought I wanted to be a professional photographer. I wanted to travel the world taking pictures of people, cities and landscape. I was so sure this was my next thing. I bought a fancy DSLR, took classes…..and it stopped there.

How to become a finisher…and why it matters

It's not hard to become a finisher. Pick a task but commit to just ONE thing at first. Make this the thing that creates your new set point as a finisher. Decide what finished looks like and do it until it's done – that's it.

Benefits of being a finisher...

You'll move through all your distractions, resistance, changes in mood, lack of focus, inner critic and conflicting priorities in order to get it done.

It strengthens your mindset!

It's the same stuff that comes up all the time. i.e no time, I'm tired, not enough money, can't focus, not motivated, have to do this other thing first, I can't do it, don't know how to do it, don't feel well, I'm too busy…etc etc

Being a finisher means you'll push past all of these daily obstacles. You'll up-level yourself. You'll get more done, and you'll be able to do more.

When I made it my goal to be a 100% finisher, it changed my health, business and lifestyle. My first thing was to exercise everyday!

Every. Single. Day!

I could see how many excuses came up on why I couldn't  – it's too hot, I've got no time today, I'm tired, I'll do it later, everyday is too much, I don't want to wash & dry my hair afterwards..blah blah blah!

But I pushed on! I stopped trying to do everything, which gave me more time for other things.

Last week I climbed a mountain in New Zealand, Mount Taranaki, (see photo), and it was challenging. Steep incline for 5 hours, half the time I was using both my hands and feet to climb and we started at 3am so it was dark most of the way up.

It wasn't so much physically hard, but mentally, my mind just wanted it over already. It was uncomfortable. I was scared I was going to slip down the mountain in the dark (on scoria – never heard of this rock before NZ). It was cold. My nose was running the whole time. I was over it.

Being uncomfortable, pushing past that point and making it to the summit was so satisfying, it reminded me of the impact of being a finisher.

So I'd love to know, what kind of finisher are you? 80%? 50..? And what have you been putting off? Leave your comments below…