Start Finishing: How to Go from Idea to Done

The real problem is we practice “I’m not good enough.”

You don’t find time and space for your best work—you make time and space

we’re like the rocking chair that moves a lot but doesn’t actually get anywhere.

As you get better at using the five keys and focusing on your best work, displacement will become an even better friend. When stuff that really doesn’t matter and isn’t worth your time, energy, and attention shows up, you’ll feel it right away, and you’ll also feel the potential cost of letting your current project go.

Cultivating the awareness to pay attention to when we’re lit up, wondrous, and in flow, or when we’re stifled, numb, and full of dread, is critical to growth.

Your supporters are the people who are doing work with and for you to help you get the project done. More so than status or level of accomplishment, you can ask the people in this category for support and expect them to meet reasonable deadlines — guides and peers are much more removed from this aspect.

The three steps above will free up a significant amount of energy in the long run because (a) you won’t have to make the choice again; (b) if you lose your list, you have a backup; and (c) you’ll be reminded of the ideas you didn’t choose at the same time that they’ll get some background incubation while you’re finishing the one you did.

Professionals have the discipline to stick to the schedule; amateurs let life get in the way.

for intention to have any grip, it has to be about something.