Every award, every honor, every aspect of what we call success, comes from finishing what an individual started. Recognition and success never come from merely starting an activity, no matter how great your goals or your original intention. Only those who finish the race can ever enjoy the prize.

We all know people who are going to do something great someday, but they never seem to start, much less finish, anything. Month after month, year after year, these people blissfully go through the exercise of stating grandiose and lofty goals that they really never internalize and take to heart.

Those people throughout history that we come to respect and revere, in the final analysis, are those people who finish what they start. If you are to be great or significant in this life, you must be a finisher. Starting is easy. It costs nothing. The real race begins when you encounter the first obstacle along the way to success. Then, more and more people drop out of the race as the road becomes steeper and more filled with obstacles. When you finally reach the finish line at the top of the mountain, the air is sweet, the view unparalleled, and the mountain top is uncrowded. All of the starters have been left behind somewhere along the course. The only people left to stand on the mountain top are the finishers.

It does not matter how grand your goal as much as it matters whether or not you finish. Far too many people casually commit to a new goal and, just as casually, quit when they face a minimal obstacle. Decide today that you will not start a task or set a goal unless you are prepared to finish. This commitment alone will cause your life to be far less cluttered because you will find yourself undertaking very few tasks.

If you know that you have to finish what you start, you will be very particular what goals you set and tasks you begin. This clarity of thought and goal will bring focus into your daily life. Focusing on the finish line will bring you success in every endeavor. Make the commitment today to finish.

Today’s the day!

Jim Stovall is the president of Narrative Television Network, as well as a published author, columnist, and motivational speaker. He may be reached at 5840 South Memorial Drive, Suite 312, Tulsa, OK 74145-9082, or by e-mail at JimStovall@aol.com.