Every step made up to this point has been working to this moment. This is where all the talking and planning turns into productivity. Starting is always easy. Finishing is always the hardest. But, it’s the emotional highs and lows of the rollercoaster middle, where things can be going great one minute and then you hit a major setback the next, that can break your spirits and cause the whole thing to fall apart.
I’m currently attending Highlands College in order to grow as a leader. One of the lecturers is Chris Hannah. On week #4 he covered three aspects of a productive individual. A productive individual is: Intentional, Consistent, and Practical. I believe these are the traits that allow you to create maximum momentum on the start that will propel you through the middle. You have to get to work, but then you need to keep working.
Be Intentional: You are not there to provide feedback on their choice of décor throughout the house – you’re there to address a specific issue. Address the things that are specific to that issue and leave the rest for another day. The best quote Chris gave us for this aspect is, “Activity does not equal accomplishment.” Anything you “rabbit-trail” on is simply activity, not accomplishment, so avoid the distractions at all cost. Remember the goal.
Be Consistent: People are flexible and resilient, but people generally don’t thrive in those areas. One of the things I appreciate most about the Highlands College experience is their consistency. It seems small, but one of the things I appreciate most is that they start and end exactly on time. It’s a big deal to me. I know exactly what to expect. The people who have asked for your help aren’t going to be able to count on the process if they can’t count on you. Be consistent. Be reliable.
Be Practical: A college friend of mine, Jon Acuff, has written multiple books on starting, doing over, finishing, and even quitting. One of the biggest keys to success is being practical and he talks about multiple ways to achieve that. We all have lofty goals. I can’t tell you the number of times I’ve looked at a patch job and told the homeowner that I’d be done in 2 days only to spend nearly a week there due to unexpected issues. It happens, and when it does, it taints the overall experience. Sure, the hole might get patched, but the experience along the way made for a bitter-sweet finish at best. One of the best ways to approach practicality is to set milestones, but make them easy. As Chris mentioned in the same lecture, you need to make those milestones clear and measurable so that you are able to create a path to getting better.
One of the things I have found that makes for a sweet and satisfying experience is being able to see the progress. I frequently would take before and after pictures of the job. Progress can sometimes be slow and potentially painful. Once a homeowner is reminded of where things were, they are able to see how far things have come. That realization changes any negative thoughts they may have and reengages them in the process.
Remind the people you work with about where they were, where they are, and especially where you are going. Fixing holes in walls is not like flipping a light switch. If it were, they wouldn’t have called you to do it. If you remain productive with slow and steady results, you are eventually going to come to the end of the project. The journey has had its share of ups and downs, but the hardest battle is about to start: The Finish…