It’s Easier To Start Strong

An expression that we’ve all heard at one point or another is “Finish strong”. I love the intention behind it - it’s a motivational push to put the energy, effort, enthusiasm, and focus you had at the beginning into the final touches.

But let’s diagnose why the expression is needed in the first place. Why is it that we need extra emphasis when we’re so close to the finish line? You’d think that’s a time when we’d be the most motivated because we’re almost there… The best way to explain it is by comparing the environment you’re in at the start with the end.

Let’s use the example of starting to post content on social media. In the beginning, things are new, novel, and hopeful. You feel the healthy challenge of the creative process, you have so many fun ideas you want to explore, and the task of posting a new piece of content is lighter. You’re also encouraged that the posts will gain traction and create opportunities.

From an environmental support standpoint, this helps you because it’s much easier when you are in a good mood and you’re enjoying doing it.

After 6 months to a year of consistent posting, the environment isn’t quite as favorable. Maybe you don’t have as much engagement as you thought you would, you’re running out of ideas, and you have other things you want to do that are more exciting that you need to resist doing to stay consistent with your content. Getting yourself to take action within that environment is much harder. This is what it’s like being at the finish.

According to the Follow Through Formula… Environment + Effort > Action…  A less supportive environment means that taking action requires more effort. So the nudge to “finish strong” is a reminder to use your willpower and fight your way to the end by adding more effort. 

I believe we think too narrowly when defining what is your environment. Your environment is made up of the conditions you’re operating within. Sure that involves the layout of the physical spaces around you, but it also involves the way that you feel and the systems you’re operating with.

In summary, your environment does more of the work for you when you’re just getting started. That’s why high performance is a game of environmental design!

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