Starter or Finisher?
By Cahaya
@cahaya1983 (11116)
Malaysia
September 21, 2015 8:38am CST
I think the two hardest parts in any job is the starting and the finishing. They sort of determine whatever goes on in between.
Not everyone is good at initiating something. Some need a base or foundation to start with. But just because one is good at starting something, doesn't mean he/she can finish it well.
I'm more of a starter. I like coming up with ideas, but not building on them and finishing the job. I find the beginning of anything the most exciting part - the part that I'm most enthusiastic about. Writing is the same. I can think of a thousand different points to start with, but I can be lost somewhere in the middle, not knowing how I should end.
So which one are you, starter or finisher?
22 people like this
23 responses
@sofssu (23662)
•
22 Sep 15
I guess i am okay.. I go from start through finish most of the times.. of course there are unfinished projects in my closet as well. However, when it comes to writing mosts of my projects are done. I am happy writing.
Cleaning up always has me all confused.. I don't know where to start.. however, when I get going I see the end.
Its the opposite with crafts projects, I am happy starting of on new ideas.. I may get bored when it takes too long to dry or the process is time consuming.Most of my projects are finished.
3 people like this
@cahaya1983 (11116)
• Malaysia
23 Sep 15
I usually manage to finish whatever I start, it's just I find it a challenge to find that "perfect" finish, you know? Plus with my indecisiveness it takes time for me to figure out how to end something nicely, hehe.
I guess you're right, it depends on the kind of task too. You can be a good starter at something but a good finisher at something else. In general I think I'm better at starting, though. 
@sofssu (23662)
•
23 Sep 15
@cahaya1983 I would also think of myself as a good finisher in general.. I love to see what I do being finished. I may sometimes try shortcuts to reach there.. but I do love to finish stuff.
1 person likes this
@cahaya1983 (11116)
• Malaysia
23 Sep 15
@sofssu That's good. I generally don't like shortcuts, but if I'm really stuck and that's the only way to finish what I started, then I would choose that.
I generally don't like shortcuts, but if I'm really stuck and that's the only way to finish what I started, then I would choose that.1 person likes this
@dpk262006 (58676)
• Delhi, India
26 Sep 15
There is a saying - 'Only beginning is hard'. So if we are able to start something, we could finish it as well. I take initiatives and if I start something I see to it that it is accomplished in an appropriate manner and I take it to the finishing level. I do not believe in leaving a project mid way.
2 people like this
@dpk262006 (58676)
• Delhi, India
30 Sep 15
@cahaya1983 - Leaving a task unfinished gives us a feeling of dissatisfaction, which keeps haunting our mind
1 person likes this
@cahaya1983 (11116)
• Malaysia
30 Sep 15
@dpk262006 True. I don't think I'd be able to do focus on other things if I don't finish the tasks I started.
1 person likes this
@cahaya1983 (11116)
• Malaysia
26 Sep 15
Good to know you're good at both. I don't believe in leaving a project incomplete as well. Even though I'm not good at finishing it I would get ideas from people who are, or try my best at doing it myself if that's not an option.
1 person likes this
@SIMPLYD (90722)
• Philippines
23 Sep 15
@cahaya1983 But why ? You must finish what you started .
2 people like this
@cahaya1983 (11116)
• Malaysia
23 Sep 15
It does give a sense of satisfaction when you're both the starter and finisher, right? I'm not very good at finishing though. 
I'm not very good at finishing though. 1 person likes this
@cahaya1983 (11116)
• Malaysia
23 Sep 15
@SIMPLYD Yeah I can. It's just the process of getting there that I find to be a challenge. I usually do finish whatever I started.
1 person likes this
@besweet (9859)
• Ireland
27 Sep 15
@cahaya1983 Yes, teamworking is more effective in completing tasks. Good managers can identify each person's skills and assign them the right positions in the team to work effectively and with harmony. I also think we would make a great team. 
1 person likes this
@cahaya1983 (11116)
• Malaysia
26 Sep 15
So you're the opposite of me, hehe. I think good starters and good finishers need to work together if you want to get a good outcome.
1 person likes this
@cahaya1983 (11116)
• Malaysia
21 Sep 15
I think there is a truth in that. I'm so not good at finishing stuff. I can start, and maybe fill in the details more than halfway...but when it comes to finishing I'd rather delegate it to someone else.
1 person likes this
@LadyDuck (471421)
• Switzerland
22 Sep 15
@cahaya1983 It is good if you have someone to whom delegate.
1 person likes this
@cahaya1983 (11116)
• Malaysia
26 Sep 15
@LadyDuck Yes unfortunately that's not always the case. If I don't have anyone to delegate that part of the project I'd at least get ideas from others who are better at it.
1 person likes this
@simone10 (54187)
• Louisville, Kentucky
29 Sep 15
@cahaya1983 I can be a big procrastinator and it drives my brother crazy.
1 person likes this
@cahaya1983 (11116)
• Malaysia
30 Sep 15
@simone10 Haha I guess that's a universal problem. I just listened to a podcast yesterday and apparently famous people can be big procrastinators too.
1 person likes this
@cahaya1983 (11116)
• Malaysia
29 Sep 15
I might not be too enthusiastic starting something I'm not interested in, either. But when I have to, I still can come up with plenty of ideas to start.
1 person likes this
@cahaya1983 (11116)
• Malaysia
26 Sep 15
Haha yeah I don't blame you. Not everyone's good at starting things, let alone things they don't like! Good that you don't leave things unfinished though.
1 person likes this
@redvakaurvaki (4216)
• Indonesia
29 Sep 15
I'm more of a starter, just like you. It's like I always have big enthusiasm in the beginning, come up with cool ideas, but then may lose ideas and that enthusiasm since the middle to the end. That's not good for me
1 person likes this
@cahaya1983 (11116)
• Malaysia
29 Sep 15
I know what you mean. I think it has to do with the momentum that we gain when we're about to start something. I usually lose that in the middle, so what I do when I'm stuck is just take a break and come back to the task later when I re-gain that momentum.
@arthurchappell (44998)
• Preston, England
27 Sep 15
I'm a starter. I later get distracted and move off at tangents. I find I often start work in the middle too to make things even more confusing.
1 person likes this
@cahaya1983 (11116)
• Malaysia
27 Sep 15
Hehe I don't think it's confusing. It just means you're good at starting and at working on the details in the middle. I think it's okay to start at whatever point you like. Different strokes for different folks!
1 person likes this
@cahaya1983 (11116)
• Malaysia
28 Sep 15
You're welcome. Sounds like you're a starter like me, then. I can get so many ideas to start different things at once, but as you say, it takes discipline to see them through and make sure they're completed.
Sounds like you're a starter like me, then. I can get so many ideas to start different things at once, but as you say, it takes discipline to see them through and make sure they're completed.
@spleendingo1 (799)
• Grand Haven, Michigan
22 Sep 15
When it comes to writing, if I think of something I want to say but can't think of a lead in or an ending, I jot it down and maybe come back to it later. But I won't actually write it for public viewing.
1 person likes this
@cahaya1983 (11116)
• Malaysia
23 Sep 15
Yeah that's what I usually do too when I have trouble filling in the details and finding the right ending. I don't like to rush and publish anything for public viewing until I figured out everything.
1 person likes this
@cahaya1983 (11116)
• Malaysia
26 Sep 15
Yeah I can get distracted pretty easily too when I'm in the middle of a task, but the starting is always the time when my focus is usually at its maximum level.
@sprinklesare4winners (531)
• Avenel, New Jersey
25 Sep 15
i think im more of a finisher. i like starting projects but typically i like to have some sort of guideline.
1 person likes this
@cahaya1983 (11116)
• Malaysia
26 Sep 15
I'm the same when it comes to finishing. I'll make sure I will finish it somehow, but I would prefer to get advice and ideas.
@Marilynda1225 (82789)
• United States
25 Sep 15
Basically I'd have to say I'm more of a starter. If you looked in my craft basket you'd see a few unfinished projects LOL
1 person likes this
@cahaya1983 (11116)
• Malaysia
26 Sep 15
Haha you're definitely a starter then. It happens to me, too. When I'm doing something I'd get another idea to start something else and I ended up doing more than one thing at a time.
@cahaya1983 (11116)
• Malaysia
23 Sep 15
That's interesting. So I guess in a sense you're a good starter, because you can come up with the idea of different endings.
@thesids (22180)
• Bhubaneswar, India
21 Sep 15
I think it depends on what you are into. For me, I find it difficult to start a conversation with a complete stranger. But that said, I have been a Teacher most of my professional life and here, when a new batch starts almost all are unknown faces. And the conversation is quite good.
1 person likes this
@cahaya1983 (11116)
• Malaysia
23 Sep 15
That's true. When it comes to conversation I still consider myself a good starter. I'm not good ending it though. I'm sure being a teacher it's important to know how to start off well to engage your students in the classroom - initiating discussions and activities, etc.
I'm sure being a teacher it's important to know how to start off well to engage your students in the classroom - initiating discussions and activities, etc.1 person likes this
@cahaya1983 (11116)
• Malaysia
26 Sep 15
I can easily get bored and distracted if the task isn't something that I'm interested in. Now that you mention it, I wonder if good starters are generally good multi-taskers as well, since they're always excited to start doing different things.
@AbbyGreenhill (45494)
• United States
25 Sep 15
I am both. I can start and finish a job easily as long as it is something I am totally interested in.
1 person likes this
@cahaya1983 (11116)
• Malaysia
26 Sep 15
Yes I think the level of interest is a huge factor. I'm better at starting things that interest me.
