Following Through

The Unfinished Story

It’s easy to forget.

In a world where conformity often reigns supreme, it is easy to lose sight of the fact that we each have only one life to live.

The words of the renowned poet Mary Oliver serve as a poignant reminder of the importance of embracing our individuality and living life on our own terms.

Whenever I lose sight of this truth, the tempting path of conformity appears effortlessly attainable.

My dreams fade, plans are abandoned, hope diminishes, and sort of melt into the crowd.

I become just another brick in the wall.

Why Motivation Isn’t Enough

Motivation is what gets you started. Habit is what keeps you going.

Between them is the Rubicon.

Even though I write a lot about motivation and inspiration, I find myself struggling to keep that fire burning all the time.

I wear many hats, like many of us - balancing personal desires, family commitments, and societal expectations.

Often, it leaves me little time to follow through with my real intentions.

That project. A cherished hobby. That budding business idea.

I find myself continuously back at the beginning, unable to progress.

Have you ever had something nagging at the back of your mind, but can't quite put your finger on it?

That's how I felt about lacking motivation and being unable to focus until some time ago when I stumbled upon this book written by Steve Levinson and Chris Cooper.

They write about maximizing success in whatever we set out to do, and that resonates with what most of us are looking for—turning our good intentions into action.

Success Hinges On My Ability To Follow Through

One of the first phrases in the opening pages that caught my eye was the keyword: Follow Through.

Without the ability to follow through, failure is pretty much a sure thing.

That realization hit me hard. It's the reason I sometimes feel stuck, despite my strong desire to write.

I’d like to share two examples from two different sports:

1. "Follow through" in golf means smoothly completing your swing after hitting the ball. It adds accuracy and power by extending the club's motion in the direction you want the ball to go.

   

2. In soccer, "follow through" means your kicking foot's motion after striking the ball. It generates power and accuracy by moving forward and upward. You must keep your foot relaxed for a strong, precise shot toward the goal.

Whether on the golf course, football pitch, or in life, following through is the key to turning aspirations into reality. It demands commitment and persistence.

The question is “Am I ready for that?”.

Following Through: A Real-Life Story

So what was preventing me from following through on my desires?

A little excerpt from Levinson and Cooper’s book can illustrate this better:

"You’ll clean your desk only if you’re motivated to overcome the resistance you feel to clean your desk.

Being motivated to succeed won’t do the trick.

You have to be specifically motivated to clean your desk.

For example, if somebody threatened to shoot you right now ‘unless you clean your desk’, you’d probably have enough motivation to overcome that resistance!”

3 Steps To Make The Shift

1. Acknowledge that you won't always feel motivated to take the necessary steps to achieve your dreams.

2. Prepare to stop depending solely on inspiration, enthusiasm, or optimism to motivate you to do what you know needs to be done.

3. See your intentions turning into actions as a result of the deliberate steps you take.

How I Manage

Like I said earlier, I wear many hats.

As important as those responsibilities are, they shouldn’t stop me from achieving my deepest desires.

So accordingly, I made a few deliberate decisions.

1. I get up daily by a certain time. As a senior citizen, the mind is willing but the body isn’t, so I allow myself this flexibility as to how I feel in the morning.

2. I dedicate a little quiet time to prayer and journaling. It helps me center myself and express my gratitude for all the blessings in my life.

3. Then it’s time for a bit of household chores, not because my wife needs it, but because it fosters our connection. We sync our schedules over coffee and a chat.

4. By 9.30 am, I’m headed to a shared office overlooking the bay, where I split the rent with a friend. Working from home tended to interrupt my concentration. An office offers a distraction-free environment and helps me focus. I spend four focused hours researching, planning, writing, making calls, and decisions—tasks I'd often procrastinate on at home.

5. I return by 2 pm, unwind with family, and catch up on some TV. I also prioritize physical activity, aiming for gym sessions or walks three times a week.

6. Rinse and repeat.

This process has now become a habit, almost automatic even.

Consistent actions driven by positive habits lead to significant achievements and success.

I feel I’m finally on the way there. 😃 

Wrapping Up

Going back to Mary Oliver - so, tell me, what is it you plan to do with your one wild and precious life?

This is how Jonathan Scales discovered the art of following through at a very young age:

Recommended Reading

Atomic Habits – by James Clear https://amzn.to/4bpMwXp

The Power to Get Things Done: (Whether You Feel Like It or Not) - by Steve Levinson, Ph., & Chris Cooper https://amzn.to/3TqcPFM

Till next time.😃 

Jude

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