Finish What You Start
Peter Hollin’s ‘Finish What You Start’ is that chiming church bell that wakes us up from our slumber, reminding us of the worthwhile visions we’ve started but lack the drive to see through to completion.
Book Title: Finish What You Start: The Art of Following Through, Taking Action, Executing, & Self-discipline
Book Author: Peter Hollins
Publisher: CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform.
Date: 2018
ISBN: 1986622312, 9781986622318
Length: 206 pages
Book Reviewer: David Oletu
If I were to adopt a nickname for myself, I would call myself ‘Lord of the Dreams’, because I have a lot of dreams and visions I still wish to bring to reality.
Finish What You Start
We all have great dreams and aspirations. We all want to climb to the top of the ladder, but often, according to Peter Hollins, we start with excitement and enthusiasm but end with excuses and explanations.
We start with anticipation but end up with alibis. And all too often, we don’t bother looking past what’s in front of us because what’s in front of us is easy and convenient.
A part of us doesn’t want to know what’s possible beyond that because we are afraid to want it and to have to do the hard work that will get us there.
In eight incredibly inspiring chapters, Peter Hollins’ “Finish What You Start” walks us through the process of perseverance, action, execution, and discipline in handling the difficulties we might encounter in our “dream world” and aims to make those dreams come true.
Peter Hollins presents the idea of ‘Following Through’ in Chapter 1.
According to Hollins, following through entails remaining determined, self-controlled, proactive, and persistent.
He illustrates how many of our goals go unfulfilled by telling the tale of his made-up character, Esther.
Through the relatable story of Esther, Hollins argues that when we don’t follow through—that is when we lack determination, self-control, action, and focus—our aspirations won’t come true.
Peter Hollins continues by demonstrating how certain body parts are in charge of each aspect of the following-through process, demonstrating that one body part cannot simply complete the process of following through on its own without the assistance of other body parts.
He concludes by outlining the reasons we don’t follow through and also outlining the many advantages of following through.
Finish What You Start
In Chapter 2, Peter Hollins uses the story of Sally to show the various factors that demotivate us from finishing what we start.
He also shares the factors that could serve as motivators for us to work better towards achieving our goals, discouraging us from giving up.
Hollins states that we need those motivators to help us minimize the negative consequences involved with our work and simultaneously maximize the positive benefits that we will receive.
According to the author, those motivators are great ways to fuel the productivity and commitment required for following through, but they won’t do anything for us if they are out of sight and out of mind.
Have you ever been in a position where you are committed to achieving your daily or annual goals, yet you are tempted to stray from your course by attractive distractions?
In Chapter 3, Peter Hollins acknowledges the potential diversions we may encounter when attempting to follow through and talks about the significance of “creating set rules” that we should abide by each time we encounter a distraction in the process of achieving our goals.
Hollins lists a number of advantages of “making set rules,” contending that they prevent us from weakening the willpower we already possess by pushing and guiding us properly.
Finish What You Start
He continues by outlining six guidelines that will help us “make set rules” for ourselves and abide strictly by them.
In Chapter 4, Hollins helps us understand that following through is 100% mental.
He claims that while following through requires cognitive work—focusing, exercising self-control, acting, and persevering in the face of disheartening setbacks—a positive mindset aids in overcoming the challenges we may experience in the process.
Positivity will help us do more, whereas negativity will cause us to accomplish little or nothing.
Hollins further provides a detailed explanation of four positive mindsets that we might adopt in order to follow through in this chapter.
Finish What You Start
In Chapter 5, Hollins addresses the common issue of procrastination, where people try to meet deadlines to get quality work done but can’t meet them due to the habit of postponing schedules.
Hollins recognizes that procrastination is a huge problem in following through, stating that we can beat it back for a bit but can never be fully rid of it.
He views the problem of procrastination as being typified by time inconsistency, where we comprise two selves that don’t have overlapping desires—one wants gratification in the future and the other wants it immediately.
Hollins didn’t leave us scratching our heads over how to stop procrastinating. He offers the finest strategies for overcoming time inconsistency and breaking bad procrastination habits to boost productivity.
Finish What You Start
Peter Hollins titles Chapter 6: ‘No Distraction Zone.’ In the words of Hollins, this is a chapter that promises to ‘kick our butt.’
He highlights and explains the various powerful techniques that will help us ensure we jump into action.
He suggests that we should minimize our distractions in our environment, create default actions wherever possible, single-task, create a ‘don’t-do list’ just as we have a ‘to-do list,’ create the 40–70% rule, and create time to rest, but think of it as a form of mental recovery. Finish What You Start
Peter Hollins admits in Chapter 7 that there is are tons of mistakes that may be made in the science of following through and potentially impede our progress.
He tells the tale of Michael, who attempts to force himself to work an impossible schedule when he first started his at-home freelance consulting business because he thinks it would instantly transform his life.
Michael believes that he would have a lot more time on his hands if he had no boss. However, he is not able to accomplish his objectives because of his high expectations.
Like Michael, we are all fallible. But Hollins says that knowing what errors to avoid helps us to become more proactive.
Peter Hollins goes on to discuss four frequent mistakes that we should avoid, and he assures us that if we do so, it won’t tax our willpower or self-control to follow through. Finish What You Start
In Chapter 8, Hollins makes us understand that there are daily systems for success.
He shares the story of Ned, who started his software consulting firm and relied solely on himself to get everything done but did not implement a way to organize and streamline his work to make it easier.
He takes on too much at once, trying to accomplish tons of goals each day without using a system to make those goals easier. And, as a result, his business folds up.
Not just his business, but his personal life and health have become a mess.
The story of Ned is a great glimpse into what happens when we try to always push ourselves to do things that we need to do for success in life.
Hollins claims that overcoming the sense of being overwhelmed and overworked is not easy, but we have to create an organizational system to make our success consistent even when we feel tired.
The author goes on to unveil and discuss four systems we can adopt to make meeting our goals easier.
In conclusion, I will say that Peter Hollins injects a large chunk of guts into our minds to stay persistent towards achieving our goal using this book.
Finish What You Start
I describe Peter Hollin’s ‘Finish What You Start’ as that chiming church bell that wakes us up from our slumber, reminding us of the worthwhile visions we’ve started but lack the drive to see through to completion.
Many times, we need books like this for us to stay highly motivated. The place of motivation shouldn’t be neglected in our lives.
We only see a lot of impossibilities and what-ifs, which make us overthink and remain stagnant. What if we begin to see possibilities and diligently take action?
You will learn and be inspired better when reading Peter Hollin’s ‘Finish What You Start.’
