Start Finishing: How To Go From Idea To Done

Start Finishing: How to Go from Idea to Done by Charlie Gilkey

How many projects are you currently juggling?

5?

10?

Too many to count?

Maybe you want to renovate your kitchen.

Maybe you want to start a business.

Maybe you need to help your mom downsize the family home and move to a retirement village.

Maybe you have 20 pounds you’d like to lose.

Maybe you want to take up yoga.

Maybe you want to help with the jazz festival fundraiser.

There are all these things you want to do. But finding time to get them all done feels impossible.

Well, Start Finishing: How To Go From Idea to Done by Charlie Gilkey has a unique way of looking at time management. And it might be just the thing you need to get all your ideas organized and all your projects accomplished.

Why is it so hard to get stuff done?

There could be several reasons you struggle to get things accomplished.

You have too many things you want to do.

You have too many competing priorities.

You lack clarity about what you want and what it takes to get things done.

You have too few resources to accomplish your to-do list.

Your mindset is tripping you up.

To get past this, Charlie Gilkey has created a plan to get your projects to the finish line.

How Do You Start Finishing?

1. Make Your Project A SMART Goal

Take your idea (clean out the closet, start a business) and break it down into a SMART goal. The SMART framework he uses is:

S=Simple

M=Meaningful

A=Actionable

R=Realisitc

T=Trackable

2.  Create A Success Pack

A success pack is the people who will help you reach your goal.

The number of people and who you include will depend on your project. If you’re cleaning out the entry closet in your home, your success pack will probably be your family—either getting them on board to help or keeping them occupied and out of the way. A project for your business will involve more (and a different set of) people.

3.  Make Time For Your Project

Learn how to chunk, link, and sequence your project so you know how long your project will last and how much time you need to allocate on your calendar.

4.  Keep On Track

This step teaches you how to stay on track and not get distracted by OPP—other people’s priorities.

5.  Expect Obstacles

Here, you learn how to anticipate the obstacles that will pop up and how you can respond when that happens.

6.  Get Started And Build Momentum

Once you get moving on a project, momentum will help you move forward.

7.  Finish Strong And Transition

Learn how to do an after-action review to see what works for you and what steps you might need to change.

My Favorite Ideas from Start Finishing

1. The 5/10/15 Split

Five refers to the idea that you should only work on five projects maximum at any one time. Three for work and two for home and personal.

Ten is the 10-minute check-in when you begin your day. Charlie has three questions he suggests you ask yourself.

• Has anything changed between now and your last checkout? (I’ll define checkout below.)

• What did you plan for today?

• And what’s one thing you will start on right now?

Fifteen is for the 15-minute checkout at the end of the workday. There are three questions to ask yourself as you wind up your day.

• What did you accomplish?

• Is there anything you want to tie up before you end the day?

• When will you do the things you didn’t get done today?

2. Everything Must Have A Due Date

“Putting a date on an item makes it a commitment…” 

This is an area where I really struggle. And because of my reluctance to set a due date, sometimes I have a problem getting things done. It’s too easy to push it off to another time.

3. Other People’s Priorities

There is an entire section on dealing with other people’s priorities, which can be a big sticking point for many women.  I know I struggle with this sometimes. I’ll sit down to read or write a blog post or create social media graphics, and that’s just the moment my daughter decides she must go to the store. And I usually oblige her, not because she wouldn’t be okay with waiting, but because of my personal desire to prioritize my family.

Final Thoughts on Start Finishing

Start Finishing has a lot of superb ideas and suggestions. Even if you don’t implement Charlie’s system precisely as he lays it out, you can use those ideas in your own system.

You can also check out Charlie’s planner, which aligns with the Start Finishing principles, The Momentum Planner. It’s available as a printable, or you can order a physical copy.

Other Recommended Reads

If you enjoy Start Finishing, you might also like:

• I Know How She Does It by Laura Vanderkam

• 168 Hours by Laura Vanderkam