Begin At the Beginning and End At the End

There's something about the first day of a project that has always energized me. Fresh slate, new challenges, opportunities to learn - and a start time. It is absolute.

Absolutes are so much fun (for me). They are exact, precise, clean, flawless. Which is probably why I look forward to them so much. I can draw a specific line in the sand and say "this is where X began." But sometimes you can never identify when something - be it an experience, a relationship or a project - actually ended. And for a starter like me, this poses quite the dilemma. How can a blurry line be precise?

Take web sites for example. To an outsider, it might seem that the moment you launch a site to the world is completed. Not so. Often this is when the fine tuning begins. There are often tweaks and minute changes that occur for weeks (or months) as a site evolves. So when does it end? And are there those of us who actually look forward to this blurred line of completion at the end? It turns out there are.

Blue Flavor writes about starters vs. finishers. If you're a one man show, you may be tasked with managing both sides of the spectrum. Those of us who work in teams, however, can learn to rely upon (and learn from) the strengths of others.

"Some people will never be as good at closing projects as they are at starting them. Some will never be good at getting started as they are about finishing. This is why we’ve got teams. When it comes to getting something done it’s good to work with someone who compliments your own skills and can make up for your faults...

The great thing about teaming with people to get things done is that you’ll become better at those things you struggle with. It’s kind of like osmosis. See enough things get to the end and you’ll become better and better at taking things through to completion yourself."

This is not to say that starters aren't good at finishing. Good starters take pride in clean finishes. The topic here is that some might be naturally predisposed to one stage of a project over another.

Interesting thought. I'd write more on this...but I have to go begin a new project. Jim...how about finishing this post?