the craft. finishing what you start.

How do you become a finisher? It’s a question I’ve been asked. Not because I tote myself as some kind of guru, but because with all my other shortcomings, one thing I do have the ability to do is finish what I start. It was not always this way.

In 2013, when I released my first book, it was my lesson in finishing. It was the first taste I got in seeing something through from start to finish. I had an idea, a concept, and then went through the necessary steps in order to complete it. And there was a lot of research and a few failed attempts in between. All of which made the moment standing on stage looking out into the faces of friends, family, and supporters that much more gratifying.

Once you get to that space, you never forget what it takes. You never forget the feeling of seeing the things in your head turn into something tangible for people to consume. That’s what keeps me going even when it gets hard. Even when I have to pivot or go back to the drawing board, the only way ahead is completion.

So, what are a couple of things that I’ve learned along the way?

Find something you’re actually passionate about. Believe me, I have many interests. But every idea is not a right now idea and sometimes you have to put things on the back burner. When it comes to finishing, start with the thing that sets your heart ablaze. That will keep you going when times come that will definitely make you want to throw in the towel. (Or tile if you’re a Tyrese enthusiast.)

Remembering that done is better perfect. Let me say it one more time for the people in the back. Done is better than perfect. You have to get it in your mind that you can always improve, you can always get better. I would be ashamed to show you the first iteration of Dear Love. It looked more like a pamphlet than a book. Ha! But I kept going, did my research, and got it right. And even still, I might be afraid to actually read it now! I’ve learned so much more since then, but I couldn’t let my inexperience slow me down.

Protect your creative time. I do my best when working on a longer-term project to protect and prioritize the time I need to work on it. This is where being passionate about the things you start may help. When it’s important to you, you’ll make the necessary adjustments to work on it.

Be as accountable to yourself as you are to others. When we have a deadline at work, I’m certain we do our best to make it. But when it comes to our own things, we want to treat them like a hobby. If you say you want to finish the book this year, do that. Hold yourself accountable. Get some accountability partners. Treat your work like a priority, not an option. Drake taught us.

Lastly, fall in love with the process. I had to stop rushing from thing to thing and learn to enjoy the process. And it’s ongoing for me. Even now, I’m constantly reminding myself not to rush revisions on my book. I had to readjust my thinking to the fact that my draft that was purchased was the beginning, not the end. So, I’m invested in the process, and eventually, I’ll reach the finish line.

Here’s the thing, you can’t have a year like 2020 and come out the same person you were when we went in. Things are different now and thinking that we have some inordinate amount of time available to see things through is arrogant. I don’t mean to invoke fear tactics here, but it’s simply the reality. We might not have as much time as we think. So what are we going to do while we’re here? Hopefully, we’ll love a lot, laugh even more, and know the joy of what it means to finish our ideas and see them through to completion.