Because starting something new is so easy, and yet finishing is so hard, it is easy to get trapped in the cycle of continuously starting a new project, task or to make any number of new commitments, without taking into account the effort it will actually take to finish everything you have already started. I find myself falling into this trap regularly–just like a compulsive shopper, I jump at the opportunity to take on a new challenge, only to find myself spread too thin to meet all my commitments on time, or with quality.
The trick is to find the right balance between taking on too much, and turning down opportunities that are truly important to you. And of course, it is not necessary to finish everything you start–as long as you consciously and thoughtfully make the decision to abandon a commitment or endeavour, then you have to trust your decision. So taking on something new means you need to be realistic about the time it will take, and examine whether you will also need to drop something else from your plate to make room.
Over time, I find it helpful to look at the trends of what I have started, what I have finished, and what I have chosen to abandon. While each individual decision may seem justified at the time, the trends will show you your track record, which you can then decide whether or not you are happy with. If not, it is time to simplify and focus–be honest with yourself about why you are really committing to so many new projects, while not finishing the ones you were so excited about just a short time ago.
Applying simplicity and focus is a useful practice in many areas. For example, tonight I spent an hour unsubscribing from about a third of the feeds I subscribed to in Google Reader, so that I can focus more attention on the remaining ones. While I found 100% of the feeds interesting, the time I am willing to commit to reading feeds is not enough to cover them all, and so I was lacking the focus to gain much value from the whole experience.
Take the time to examine each area of your corporate life to find opportunities to simply and focus. Start with your project or task list, your email, or your calendar. I guarantee there are many ways to reduce the scope of your commitments in each area, which will allow you to apply greater focus to what’s left, and ultimately finish more of what you start.
