Starting can be very difficult, but keeping it going once you start is actually the more difficult part. You might have been going to the gym and eating well, but at some point, you got “busy” and just slipped. Another situation could be if you have been at the top of your job, always getting a raise or promotion, but then one day, you just lose your drive and work-life balance begins to suffer. Perhaps you’re in a relationship, and the other person is not the same as when you first started going out, and the love is no longer there. Have you ever felt like this in any sort of way? I think we all have felt the weight of a job, relationship, or life on our shoulders.

In this blog, I want to talk about the magic of starting, but also the brilliance of finishing what you started and following through from start to finish. The power of starting comes from the purpose you have. The reason to start will aim you toward your goals and ambitions. For example, if you are pursuing a career for riches and wealth, then your motivation is to attain more of that. You made the choice to start this career to get to the finish line one day. The problem is, once you start, you can lose focus after some time. Autopilot starts to kick in, and you begin to go through the motions instead of focusing on your motivation and goals.

You wake up and go to your 9-5 and get a nice paycheck at the end of the week, but there is something missing. You start to make sacrifices in other areas of your life. Often, people forget that when you start something new, time didn’t grow; you still have the same 24 hours in a day. So, where does that time come from? The key to reaching goals is understanding that the work doesn’t stop after you start; overcoming failure and distractions will require you to stay focused and finish what you started, no matter what.

I find that the misuse of time is the number one culprit for why people do not finish what they started. It is about losing and staying away from habits that no longer serve you. If you want to work more but instead go home to play video games and watch TV, then these habits will slow down any progress toward reaching your goals. You might be able to find more time in other areas of your life, but if you are a parent or a significant other to someone, then time becomes very valuable. You have to juggle all of your responsibilities for what you care for. The truth is, we oftentimes take the easy way out instead of putting more energy and effort into the things we really desire out of life.

To be an amazing individual with positive habits and traits, you will have to make a choice about what you allow in your schedule. There is not enough time to do everything. There is just enough time to handle your business and do what you value most. This is where the power of starting is lost. We start things because we are excited about the end result but do not follow through to the end. For example, we are excited to be in shape and motivated by the possibility of something that could bring us to a better life, but we let getting in shape slip and go back to our old static habits. The days turn to weeks, and weeks turn to a month, and before you know it, it is New Year’s again and you are making the same promises and goals as you did last year. That goes for anything, not just exercise. Starting something new is like the honeymoon phase in a relationship. It is nice in the beginning, but then the shine wears off, and the real challenge is staying committed from start to finish.

The concept of a better life comes from how to start to finish. Many people think that when they start to eat healthily and get in shape, things will be nice and grand. However, the hard work and discipline needed cannot be formed in one day. It requires constant effort to finish what you started. At some point, people become tired and revert to their old habits that are not aligned with their new goals. People can make excuses left and right about why they are unable to do something instead of owning it. Starting is easy, but finishing is the hard part.

“Begin with the end in mind” is a concept that can help you reach your goals. This saying, from Steven Covey, means to start from the finish line and work backward. Seeing the finish line gives you great satisfaction because you’re at the point you want to be. When you work backward, you’re able to see the work required to get to that point. This is not the same as dreaming of winning the lottery and working back from the time you purchased the ticket. To overcome failure and truly succeed, you need to align your efforts from start to finish.

This is more than just having a plan in place. For example, think about completing a 5K race. At the finish line, you can start to look back at the months or weeks before the race. You might think of all the training you had to do to get ready for the race. Perhaps you created a diet plan to have more healthy and conscious meals, a habit you created to get in better shape for the race. You would have daily running sessions with a friend or partner. You will also see loads of sweaty laundry from all the training you did. This will all lead to the first day, today, when you say you are going to run a 5K. Your friends and family might have looked at you sideways and thought you lost your mind if you were planning to run a 5K out of the blue. Regardless, they will still give you encouragement at the start. Those same cheers from your friends and family that motivated you at the start will be the same cheers when you have finished.

To finish what you started is because of the effort you put forth. I know firsthand that the world is a chaotic mess, and it is easy for anyone to get lost in the hustle and bustle of the day. The goal for our days should be—to not let the world run you, but for you to run your world. The joy of wanting to start something only to be trumped by defeat or lack of continued motivation for your goals will break you down. It is easy to see that failure after failure can crush your motivation and stop your drive. Oftentimes when people fail enough, they say, “That’s it! I’m done!”. They decide to stay down for the count and not get back up again. They might know they can, but still, give up or give in to the struggle and hardships of the day. This is the most critical point of finishing. This is the last push you have to do to get to the place you desire most—the finish.

When you finish what you started, it shows your character. It demonstrates that you are resilient and able to accomplish tasks when you put your mind to them. You can see your victory as a stepping stone for future victories and accomplishments. Starting is a great first step, but it is not the end. In order to finish strong, you must be confident in your abilities and appreciate the struggle along the way. Your struggles and failures have the ability to either make you quit or make you stronger. What will you let your struggles define you as? Today, get rid of any false promises and resolutions you set for yourself.

In conclusion, when you start something, always have the finish line in mind. Whether you’re reaching goals, tackling overcoming failure, or staying motivated through challenges, your goals, dreams, and best life are waiting for you. What are you waiting for?

Until then,

Michael Rearden

Founder of Reven Concepts