Why you should care

How many unfinished projects are sitting on your shelf right now? Half-read books with bookmarks gathering dust, abandoned coding projects, that online course you started with enthusiasm three months ago, or the half-built LEGO set sitting in the corner?

If you’re like most people, the answer is probably “too many to count.” We live in a culture of endless possibilities, where starting something new feels more exciting than finishing something old. But this habit of serial starting without finishing is quietly sabotaging your progress, confidence, and mental well-being.

The Hidden Cost of Unfinished Business

Starting multiple projects simultaneously isn’t productivity - it’s procrastination in disguise. When you spread yourself across ten different initiatives, you’re not being ambitious; you’re ensuring that none of them get the focused attention they deserve to succeed.

Every unfinished project in your backlog creates what psychologists call “cognitive load.” Your brain keeps a mental tab open for each incomplete task, constantly reminding you of what you haven’t done. It’s like having dozens of browser tabs running in the background - eventually, your mental computer starts to slow down.

This psychological burden manifests as a persistent feeling of being behind, overwhelmed, and unsuccessful. No matter how hard you work, you feel like you’re not getting anywhere. The reason is simple: you’re attacking many problems at once and failing to solve any of them completely.

The Compound Effect of Completion

When you actually finish something - anything - you experience a powerful psychological boost. Completion triggers a dopamine release that reinforces the behavior and builds momentum for your next project. More importantly, finishing teaches you that you can finish, building the self-efficacy that’s crucial for tackling bigger challenges.

Each completed project becomes evidence of your capability. When you face the next difficult task, your brain has proof that you can push through obstacles and reach the finish line. This creates a positive feedback loop where success breeds more success.

Living Intentionally is What Matters

To live your life intentionally, you need to be on track with your goals, not scattered across multiple pursuits. Intentional living means making conscious choices about where to invest your limited time and energy. When you start multiple books, projects, or courses simultaneously, you dilute your progress in any given area.

Think of it like water pressure in a hose. If you poke ten holes in the hose, the water barely trickles out of each opening. But focus all that pressure through one opening, and you get a powerful stream that can accomplish real work.

Practical Strategies for Finishing

1. The One-Thing Rule Focus on one major project at a time. Not two, not three - one. This doesn’t mean you can’t have different types of activities (work, hobby, fitness), but within each category, commit to finishing before starting.

2. Define Success Before You Start Before beginning any project, write down exactly what “finished” looks like. Is it completing all 20 lessons of the course? Building a working prototype? Reading all 300 pages? Without a clear finish line, you’ll never know when you’ve won.

3. Make Starting Harder Create friction for new projects by implementing a “finish one, start one” policy. Before you can begin something new, you must complete or consciously abandon something from your current list.

4. Embrace Strategic Quitting Sometimes the most productive thing you can do is quit. Be honest about projects that no longer serve you and formally abandon them. This isn’t failure - it’s intelligent resource allocation. Clear them from your mental space so you can focus on what truly matters.

5. Celebrate Completions When you finish something, acknowledge it. Share your success, treat yourself, or simply pause to recognize the achievement. This reinforces the completion habit and makes finishing feel rewarding rather than just another task to check off.

The Freedom of Finishing

There’s a profound freedom that comes from being someone who finishes things. You stop being haunted by the graveyard of abandoned projects. You build trust with yourself, knowing that when you start something important, you’ll see it through. Most importantly, you actually achieve the outcomes you set out to create.

Conclusion

I discussed minimalism in a previous post. The idea is Less is More! To expand on that, Fewer Complete Projects is Better Than More Incomplete Ones! (Not as catchy but you get the idea!)

In a world that celebrates starting - new ventures, new habits, new goals - there’s tremendous power in becoming someone who finishes. Every completion builds your confidence, clears your mental space, and proves to yourself that you can accomplish what you set out to do.

The next time you feel the urge to start something new, ask yourself: “Is this the most important thing I should be working on this right now?” By constantly asking yourself this, you will channel your focus and energy on the stuff that actually matters to you.

The age of AI is upon us! Is there any point of learning new things anymore? The AI will do it much faster than we can ever do anyway. The future might feel a dark and gloomy these days especially if you are a knowledge worker. But maybe there is still some hope for us after all? Let’s find out if there is any value in learning new skills at this day and age or all is lost.

Working with AI agents

Nobody can predict the future. Everybody has their own guesses but as things stand today I’m certain of one thing: AI is a co-pilot and not auto-pilot. If you did any work by employing an AI-assistant you must have quickly noticed that it starts very fast and everything looks great when your work is still in “greenfield” stage. Then after a while, it loses context, starts hallucinating and break things. You start to go in circles. With every fix you notice it breaks something else. So you need to slow it down and completely be in charge. To be able to do that, you must have the skills and know-how to be in the driver seat.

Test working with AI on a completely new tech stack

If you don’t believe me and thinking that AI is doing most of the work by itself, try to create a new project with a tech stack you never used before. I guarantee you will lost so quickly and have no idea what’s going on. The second it breaks, you will be completely dependent on the AI-agent. As stated above, you will keep on asking it to fix it and it will keep on adding lots of more code while breaking more stuff in the process.

We are not in a stage to treat software projects as blackboxes. You can take your to a mechanic and you don’t need any knowledge of the internals of a car because you know the mechanic will almot guaranteed to fix it (if he can’t fix it you won’t be able to anyway). But when it comes to developing a software project you still need the full skillset as if you’re the only one that’s working on it. AI can help in that case, otherwise you’re setting yourself up for failure.

Don’t be dependent on a single employee

Things change. Even if you feel like you are happy in your job, your favourite manager can leave, you nca be reassigned to a different team etc. When you work in a team, things get more fragile. One hostile colleague is enough to ruin your entire day. You need your skills up-to-date and sharp so that you can make a move and find a better opportunity. Always be ready.

Build self-confidence by being the “go-to guy”

Be the person that other people come to you to seek advice and pick your brain, not the other way around. Being that person makes you feel much better about yourself. Not only you will feel more confident in the meetings, you will get more respect and admiration from your peers too.

Happiness comes from fulfillment - Mastery gives you fullfillment

Learning new skills and improving to a point of mastery, gives you the morale boost. People always think they will be happy in retirement after long years of misery. But it doesn’t work that way. It doesn’t come automatically. You need to fill your life with meaningful work. By work I don’t mean something you get paid for. It can be anything you enjoy doing. If you want to be happy in retirement, take up a hobby and get good at it. If you want to be happy at work, be good at your job.

Improve your brain health

Just like you need exercise to keep your muscles and keep in shape, you need to exercise your brain as well. Having discipline to read, research and learn will keep your brain healthy and active.

Conclusion

The question isn’t whether AI will change how we work - it already has. The real question is whether you’ll be driving that change or just along for the ride.

Yes, AI can generate code, write content, and solve problems faster than most humans. But speed isn’t everything. The person who combines deep skills with AI tools will always outperform someone who relies on AI alone. When the AI breaks down, hallucinates, or goes in circles, you need the expertise to take control and steer it back on track.

Beyond the professional benefits, learning new skills is an investment in yourself that pays dividends in confidence, mental health, and personal freedom. It’s the difference between being a passenger in your own career and being the pilot. In an age where change is the only constant, your ability to learn and adapt isn’t just valuable - it’s essential.

So pick up that programming language you’ve been curious about, learn that musical instrument gathering dust, or dive into that hobby you’ve been putting off. Your future self - and your brain - will thank you for it. The age of AI doesn’t make human skills obsolete; it makes the right human skills more valuable than ever.

The Power of Data-Driven Progress

In the ever-evolving landscape of modern businesses and personal development, the saying “what gets measured gets improved” has become a guiding principle for achieving success and continuous growth. This simple yet profound concept emphasizes the importance of tracking and quantifying key aspects of a system, process, or individual performance to drive positive change. In this blog post, you will delve into the significance of measuring, the benefits it brings, and the potential pitfalls to consider when employing a data-driven approach.

The Power of Visibility

Measurement provides unparalleled visibility into the current state of affairs. Whether you’re running a business, managing a project, or striving for personal goals, having access to relevant data allows you to grasp the reality of your situation. It paints a clear picture of what’s working well and what areas require improvement, giving you the foundation to make informed decisions.

Identifying Patterns and Trends

Data-driven measurement enables the identification of patterns and trends that might otherwise remain hidden. By analyzing the data, you can pinpoint correlations, successes, and setbacks. Armed with these insights, you can capitalize on strengths and tackle weaknesses more effectively. Continuous tracking of metrics empowers you to spot both positive and negative trends early, enabling proactive interventions to sustain growth.

The Accountability Factor

When progress is quantified, a sense of accountability takes root. Whether it’s a team striving for project success or an individual pursuing personal goals, knowing that performance is being measured encourages everyone involved to take ownership of their actions and responsibilities. This enhanced accountability often leads to higher motivation and a greater commitment to achieving desired outcomes.

Feedback Loop for Continuous Improvement

Measurement provides a crucial feedback loop essential for continuous improvement. By regularly assessing performance metrics, you gain actionable insights into what aspects of your endeavour need refinement. These insights pave the way for strategic adjustments and optimizations that, over time, result in significant progress. The feedback loop promotes a culture of learning and adaptation, fostering an environment where growth becomes the norm.

Benchmarking for Setting Goals

Measuring performance against historical data or industry standards allows for benchmarking. This practice sets realistic goals and targets for improvement. As you compare current performance with past achievements or the best in the field, you can set ambitious yet achievable objectives. Benchmarking serves as a roadmap, guiding your efforts toward excellence.

Beyond Quantitative Metrics

While quantitative metrics are powerful tools, it is vital to recognize that not everything that matters can be easily measured. Aspects such as creativity, innovation, and employee satisfaction are critical components of success but are often challenging to quantify precisely. Therefore, it’s essential to strike a balance between quantitative and qualitative analysis to ensure a holistic approach to improvement.

Potential Pitfalls

While the saying “what gets measured gets improved” is valuable, it’s essential to approach measurement with caution and avoid some potential pitfalls. Overreliance on certain metrics may lead to tunnel vision, neglecting other crucial elements. Moreover, selecting inappropriate metrics or misinterpreting data can result in misguided decision-making.

Conclusion

In conclusion, “what gets measured gets improved” is a powerful mantra that underscores the significance of data-driven progress. Measurement empowers us to see, understand, and enhance performance at various levels, be it in business, projects, or personal endeavours. The insights gained from quantifiable data, coupled with qualitative analysis, form the foundation for informed decisions and continuous improvement.

However, it is essential to remember that measurement is not an end in itself; it is a means to an end. To achieve true success and growth, we must use the data to inform our actions, foster accountability, and maintain a focus on the bigger picture. When harnessed effectively, the power of measurement becomes a catalyst for transformative progress and innovation. So, let us embrace the ethos of data-driven improvement and embark on a journey of excellence and continuous growth.