"A lot of people don't know how to finish." During a conversation, a close friend made this statement about his difficulty hiring for a software engineering role. He noticed that many candidates had numerous half-baked projects in their GitHub profiles.
Our discussion then broadened beyond software engineering to life in general, exploring why so many people consistently start things but rarely finish them—whether it's a side project, a new business idea, a fitness commitment, or any other endeavor. I concluded there are two main reasons:
- Finishing is hard
- Starting something new is more shiny and attractive than finishing something old
One primary reason it's hard to finish things is what I call the "noob curve." Everything is exciting and relatively simple When you start learning or building something new. You're a beginner or a "noob," and the basics are fun to learn. But after a while, you pass the noob curve and move into more complex territory. This is where things get tricky. You start dealing with issues requiring much more effort to solve.
For example, many people follow tutorials to build side projects. Following the steps in the tutorial is straightforward, but they often don't take the project any further once the tutorial ends. Without a tutorial to guide them, they'd need to figure out the next steps on their own or find another tutorial to continue. This transition from guided learning to independent problem-solving is where many people get stuck and give up.
The second reason is that starting new things is inherently more attractive. New ideas and projects are exciting and fun. They come with a fresh wave of motivation and curiosity. However, once you reach the noob curve, the initial excitement wears off, and the real work begins. This is when many people lose interest and start looking for the next new, shiny thing to capture their attention.
So, what can we do about this tendency to abandon projects midway? The key is to learn how to finish. This requires effort and resiliency. It means pushing through the difficult parts of a project and staying committed even when the work becomes challenging or less exciting.
It's not easy, but developing the habit of finishing what you start can be incredibly rewarding. Not only does it lead to a sense of accomplishment, but it also helps build discipline and perseverance — valuable qualities in every aspect of life.
It takes effort and resilience, but learning to finish is a skill that will serve us well in all areas of life.