Why Most People Never Finish Like the Tortoise
Settling for average or good prevents your Magnum Opus, your great work.
What have you started in the past year, and what have you finished? I buy so many books. I scan the table of contents, read the first few pages, then the last few pages, and then decide if I want to read the middle. Most of the time, my books sit in my library unread.
I'm a great starter, but I am primarily motivated to finish what I start when I begin with the end in mind--one of Covey's 7 Habits of Highly Effective People.
Do you have a GPS destination when you start something, or is it an adventure with an unknown destination?
Your New Year’s Resolution
Only 8% complete their New Year’s resolutions.
23% quit in the first week.
43% quit by the first month.
80% quit by the end of February.
But why such a low completion rate?
Top 7 Reasons People Fail to Complete their Goals
Vague Goals. "I want to lose weight." But it's not specific enough, and no plan has been developed or contemplated. No timeline, success metrics, fail safes, or accountability if not adhered to. Eg. I want to lose 15 pounds by the end of the year. 1 pound per month by changing my eating habits (specific plan) and exercising (specific plan with goals). I will recruit a buddy or join a club to help me achieve my goals. If I don't, I will …
No Identity Shift. Instead of "I will run a marathon," shift your identity to "I'm a runner who never misses my runs." I used to be scared to ride my bike up mountains, but I shifted my thoughts to being a person who will attack the mountains and be a hill climber in ten years.
Too Much Too Quickly. The weekend warrior mentality results in burnout. Slow and steady wins the race. Start small and increase slowly over time. I tried to do 80 pullups a day. My shoulder got injured, and I had to take a break for three months. Now, I just increase one pullup every month, up to 15/day. My end goal is 10/day at 100 years old so I can hold my grandchildren.
Lack of a system. Willpower and motivation will wane over time. To measure my fitness, I set up a key event, like a Gran Fondo every September. I also set monthly and weekly goals.
An all-or-nothing Mentality. Rather than calling it quits if I miss a workout or a week, I give myself some guidelines, like not missing two in a row. Progress is more important than perfection.
No Accountability. Who do you have a social contract with to complete your goal?
No Purpose. No Why. Instead of losing 15 pounds, I want to live long enough to lift each of my grandchildren.
Lack of Drive to the Finish
If you don't know the finish line or your purpose for your project, your business, or your life, how will you know where you are in that journey?
Aesop tells the fable of the tortoise who wins the race by plodding along slowly but consistently to the finish while the hare sprints ahead but then takes a nap before the finish. I've adopted the tortoise as my model. Tortoises live long, up to almost 200 years, but walk ever so slowly. They are able to traverse both land and water. They have a protective shield. The hare breeds rapidly but lives a short life of under a decade. The hare is naturally fast, but in this fable, it is not disciplined. The adage, slow and steady wins the race.
Most people settle for average or good enough to fit in, to conform and belong. The outliers seek to change their world for the better, to make a dent in their world. We all grew up with this dream of happily ever after, to be someone worthy of ourselves, our parents, and our peers, but years of being told to fit in have educated us to conform and be just like everyone else.
Do you have a dream?
Having a dream is big. Starting that dream is even bigger. Completing that dream is a dream.
Dr. Kevin Ham
The ant is another creature from which I learn lessons. The wise King Solomon asked us to look at the ant, consider its ways, and be wise. The ant has no commander, overseer, or ruler, yet it stores its provisions in summer and gathers its food at harvest. Otherwise, poverty will come upon you like a thief.
Ants also work individually but in unison. It's a marvel to see how well and hard they work collectively.
But life is more than food or finances. What is the dream in your heart that you will diligently work for like the ant? Are you actively thinking, praying, planning, living your dream?
Life Question:
What big dream have you yet to start and yet to finish?
Finish the dream you have yet to start or did in part.
Dr. Kevin Ham
Life is precious. Each day is a gift, an opportunity to start once again on the dreams in your heart.
Next week:
I had planned to start a series on wealth but I just had a calcium heart scan, and the result came back very high (which is not good) so now I'm contemplating doing a health series instead.
With my eye, the risk was just blindness. With my heart, it could be early death.
Please let me know if you prefer a health series or a wealth series.
See you next Thursday!
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