“Less than 20% of people who start something ever finish. Be the exception.” — Darren Hardy
Every now and then, you come across a quote that doesn’t just sound good — it hits you right between the eyes. This one did exactly that for me.
Because if I’m honest, I’ve spent a lot of my life in that 80% group. The starters. The planners. The enthusiastic “this is going to be brilliant” people. The ones who get a project 80% done… and then somehow drift onto the next shiny thing.
If that sounds familiar, you’re not alone. Most people live in that space. But here’s the thing:
The world doesn’t reward starters. It rewards finishers.
And that’s why this quote matters.
⭐ Starting is easy. Finishing is rare.
Starting feels exciting. Finishing feels uncomfortable.
Starting gives you dopamine. Finishing requires discipline.
Starting is about ideas. Finishing is about execution.
And that’s why only 20% of people ever cross the finish line. Not because they’re not capable — but because finishing demands a different version of you.
A focused version. A committed version. A version that doesn’t get distracted by the next idea, the next project, or the next “I’ll do that later.”
⭐ I’m choosing to be the exception.
Right now, I’m pushing myself to finish a major project: Book One of The Shaper Chronicles.
It’s been sitting close to completion for a while. The story is done. The illustrations are done. The structure is done.
It just needs the final push — the finishing touches, the formatting, the upload, the proof copy.
And I’ve realised something:
If I finish this book, it changes everything. Momentum shifts. Confidence grows. Opportunities open. And I move from “someone who starts things” to “someone who finishes things.”
That’s the difference between being in the 80%… and being in the 20%.
⭐ Finishing creates momentum
When you finish one thing, you’re more likely to finish the next. It’s like a muscle — the more you use it, the stronger it gets.
Finishing creates:
- clarity
- confidence
- direction
- discipline
- belief
And once you’ve finished one project, you start to see yourself differently.
You stop saying “I’ll try.” You start saying “I’ll finish.”
⭐ My plan to finish (and yours too)
I’ve created a simple checklist to get Book One over the line. Not a complicated system. Not a 47‑step productivity ritual.
Just a clear, doable list.
Because finishing isn’t about perfection — it’s about progress.
And here’s the part where I turn the spotlight to you:
⭐ What’s the one thing YOU could finish before Christmas?
Not five things. Not a whole life overhaul. Just one.
One project. One commitment. One finish line.
Pick it. Focus on it. Finish it.
Be the exception.
Most people never finish what they start. But you’re not “most people.”
You’re capable of more. You’re ready for more. And you’re choosing to be in the 20% — the finishers, the doers, the ones who actually make things happen.
Let’s finish strong.
