The Art of Finishing The Project

I have written extensively about the Art of Learning, and am hesitant to overuse the “Art of ____” phrasing — even though in my opinion there is a real art to anything that we can do. However, in this case, I am completely justified in the emphasis on the Art of Finishing whatever project we happen to be working on.

The reason is that I have found the final stages of anything to be the most important. It is easy to start new things. I have started 10,000 things in my life, and do so with the same beginners enthusiasm every time. It is fun, exciting, invigorating, engaging to start new things, made even more so when they are new to you. Especially when they are something that you have been curious about for a long time.

It is also relatively easy to take things from the beginner to the intermediate stages. My instinct is that this is because during this period we see the most rapid growth. In the beginning we learn faster — at least that is the illusion that we experience — because we absorb everything new like a sponge.

But this doesn’t last, because growth slows down as we improve. It takes more effort to make smaller incremental gains. Which is why finishing projects becomes harder towards the end. The details become more minute, and we require greater precision to put those finishing touches on our work.

Rules For The Art of Finishing

Over the years, I have made repeating mistakes in finishing my works. One of the greatest mistakes, perhaps, is that I haven’t finished most of my projects. But in my defence, the projects were greater than I ever dreamed they would be. So while I haven’t achieved the final products yet in many, I have taken solace in the many small completions and victories along the way.

These are a few of the principles that I have learned through this experience.

Focus, Focus, Focus

One of the mistakes that I have made again, and again … and again … is that I divide my attention too much. In early stages you can afford more balance in your work and life. You have the option because a lot of the work takes time to accumulate.

However, at the end, I feel that the stakes are higher. It is like preparing for an athletic competition. Early in the season, in the offseason even, there is little pressure. Yes, you have to put in the work, and in many ways, this is when you have to put in the most work. But often this work feels easier, because in the back of your mind, you know that you have time.

Once the season starts, things begin to change. You see whether your work paid off or not, what worked and what didn’t, what you still need to work on. But now the stakes are higher. The pressure is greater. Every mistake you make has greater repercussions. Now you have a finite window to make the correct changes.

The later you get into the season, towards the playoffs, the big games, the big fights, the big moments, you have to be locked in. Everything has to be dialled in. The pressure is on. This is when all of the work you have put in will resolve itself into success or failure, which is why a key element of the Art of Finishing is to focus, focus, and focus.

At the end of the path is where we can make or break all of the work that we have done, so we have to be more locked in — and intentional in our actions — than ever before. We cannot deviate. We cannot make mistakes.

Build The Tension, and Maintain The Pressure

For many people, the instinct might be to find ways to alleviate tension and reduce pressure towards the end. Maybe this is a good move in some cases, and for some people, depending on the scenario. Unfortunately, we might not always have that luxury. An NBA player in the finals, a political candidate approaching the election, a businessperson getting ready to finalize a deal, or a student approaching finals do not have that option.

We cannot tell life to slow down. So maybe we should rely on that option, even if it is there. It is often better to maintain the tension and pressure, and learn how to use it instead. Build the tension, maintain the pressure, lean into it, and allow it to guide you back into focus to complete your task.

Finishing Requires The Most Patience

Right at the end of our journey, when we can taste the finish line, will cause many to lose their control, their focus. Their composure falls right at the end, and they rush when they should move carefully, with intention, and make a mistake.

That moment of impatience causes you to use force right at the end, which creates the mistake. You can see the finish line, and you blow the last of your energy on a final burst of speed just meters too early, so your opponent overtakes you in the final stretch. If you would have maintained your pace, matching theirs for only seconds more, you know you could have beat them in the final stretch.

In whatever you are doing, whether it is speed or caution you need at the end — which will vary greatly depending on the specific of the circumstances — you must fight to keep your mind calm. Regardless of whether a desperate sprint or quietly waiting for the right moment to strike is required, in order to discern which is the right course of action, your mind must be calm.

You must be focused, you must be patient, to know when to stop, go, slow down, or run desperately. As it is, success is not guaranteed. Chances are you will make the wrong choice often enough anyways. But the chances of you making the wrong choice are higher if your mind is not patient, receptive, focused, in the taught relaxation of a mind that is locked in.