Finishing is not as much a battle of being productive as it is a torture chamber for the mind. There is a part of you and of the folks you work with that says, “That’s good enough.” Finishing is not just a good idea or something that signals the end of a job, it is critical to everyone’s success and emotional well-being.
Not to throw you in the middle of a psychological dissertation, but there have been actual studies done on the impact of unfinished work. It’s known as the Zeigarnik Effect. I’m giving bonus points for anyone that can correctly pronounce it. The basic premise is that the jobs you don’t finish create the most stress. You remember them more than the stuff that you did finish and it constantly weighs on your mind.
Not finishing is damaging on so many levels to everyone involved, so FINISH!
No one is going to be happy if you never finish fixing the hole in the wall. This cannot be a project that goes on indefinitely. They need to be able to move on to other things. They may really like having you around. If so, you’d likely be welcome to come over again just to hang out, but the project at hand needs to be completed. If you did a good job of outlining the process, and have been productive throughout that process, the finish line should be rather well defined. You have other things you need to be doing. Someone else has a hole in their wall. So, finish!
There is a difference between finishing and finishing strong. Finishing is like a delicious, sweet ice cream sundae. Finishing strong is the unexpected and delightful customer service you receive as you walk out of the door of the ice cream sundae shop. If you want to finish strong, you need to do more than simply collect your tools and move on to the next job.
That hole that kept them from inviting other people into their house is now gone. The thing they were ashamed of is no more. Put them in a position to make it faster and easier to get those friends and family back into that home. You made it better simply by fixing the hole, but always leave the house in better condition than when you got there. Sure, you’ll sweep the floors around where you were working, but just go ahead and sweep the rest of the floor, maybe put a mop on it if you can. That picture on the wall may have been hung crooked when you got there, but make sure it’s straight when you put it back. Create an environment that is inviting for the homeowner and their soon-to-be guests as you walk out the door.
Life is about to start again in a new direction for the people you had the privilege of serving. Put them in the best possible position to succeed. Leaving the house after the job is completed is considered finishing. Having the empathy to care about them and do whatever you can to put them in a position to succeed moving forward after you’ve finished is finishing strong. Points are given for every finish, but integrity is earned when you finish strong. If you become a strong finisher, you are going to encourage the people you help to be strong finishers, as well. Be what you want to cultivate.
Finish Strong!