Unfinished Business

Productivity
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When I first met Kevin Hogan, I would often start projects in a blaze of energy and exctiement.  I would work long days and long nights getting things done and planning out each step in detail.

And then, as the project started to get closer to completion, I would lose the passion just a little at first, and then a little more, and before I got to the finish line, I would find another project to get all excited about and begin the process anew.

This behavior leads to a lot of very long days, a lot of hard work, and a large pile of unfinished “projects”.  And do you know how much value is generated from unfinished idle projects?

Zip.  Zero. Nada.

This wasn’t the case for me with everything.  I have ran my own successful business with a co-owner and we have done well.  I have a great family with three kids and we have been able to do so many great things as a family that have required focus and effort.  But in some areas of my life and some types of projects, I seemed doomed to remain incomplete.

Then I met Kevin Hogan through a teleseminar he did on “The Secret”.  This hugely successful book really ticked me off, and I searched for kindred spirits to discuss this abominable concept with, and I found Kevin.  And then I started to buy his programs, starting with The Three Disciplines and progressing through “Lifestorms”,  and then everything he has recorded and written.

And for the first time I understood the concept of Self-Sabotage.  And how our brain actually works against us to shut down our dreams.  And understanding what I was up against changed everything.

I have for a long time played around with the idea of creating a product to help small corporation owners to keep track of all the record keeping they need to be doing.  Once I identified the self-sabotage, I was able to dust off my abandoned project file and start working on it again.  And six months later I had finished the product (Phase 1) which I call CorporateVeil Pro and in July/August of this year I had 33 people in all sorts of businesses take a “Test Flight” with me and we went through the system together…

I got rave reviews about how easy-to-understand it was, and it has inspired me to do more of the same type of products to help small business owners cut through the garbage and get to the clear, concise, step-by-step truth of business matters…

I’m not working any harder, I’m just getting things “finished”.   And that, my friend, makes all the difference…  Thanks for the insights, Kevin Hogan!

 

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15 Comments

14 Comments

  1. DIY LawyerNo Gravatar (23 comments)  •  Nov 24, 2008 @9:38 am

    Great Post Rob,

    We can talk more about this tomorrow AM, but I often wonder if I am really self sabotaging or when I get in far enough, I see that I really don’t like it or it is not viable.

    Learn How to Be A Do It Yourself Lawyer

    Learn About the Last Will and Testament Annotated E-Book

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    Rob NorthrupNo Gravatar (84 comments) Reply:

    DIY,

    That’s always a good question, and I look forward to discussing it with you further…

    Rob

    Reply

  2. Scott A BellNo Gravatar (27 comments)  •  Nov 24, 2008 @9:49 am

    Rob,
    Thanks for the great post. This is something I struggle with as well.

    Scott A Bell

    The Road Warrior

    http://www.scottalexanderbell.com

    Reply

  3. Steve ChambersNo Gravatar (103 comments)  •  Nov 24, 2008 @10:58 am

    Obviously it is better to have one completed project than 100 sitting their waiting to be done. Your post is a reminder to all of us to get off our asses and to move.

    Steve
    Influence Tactics

    Reply

  4. Lisa McLellanNo Gravatar (90 comments)  •  Nov 24, 2008 @11:11 am

    I must buy Lifestorms, I must, I must!!!!!
    Babysitter Tips

    Reply

  5. Jennifer SkinnerNo Gravatar (42 comments)  •  Nov 24, 2008 @12:37 pm

    Rob-
    Wonderful post! I can absolutely identify with the million-incomplete-projects syndrome. This is such a good reminder to focus the energy on completion of just one. Thanks!
    Jennifer Skinner
    Wardrobe Planning Expert

    Reply

  6. April BraswellNo Gravatar (73 comments)  •  Nov 24, 2008 @1:42 pm

    Hi Rob,

    Excellent post about keeping on keeping on and continuing until we finish.

    And indeed, DECIDING not to finish is finishing.
    All the best,

    April Braswell

    Online Dating Expert, Romantic Relationship Coach, Romance Coaching

    Online Dating Sites Review, Internet Dating Sites Guide

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  7. Matthew ShieldsNo Gravatar (36 comments)  •  Nov 24, 2008 @2:41 pm

    Hi , Rob
    Indeed finishing a project is very important, when you finish something it also charges you to work on the next project as well.
    Energy Expert
    Anything Solar

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  8. Philip GravesNo Gravatar (52 comments)  •  Nov 24, 2008 @4:10 pm

    A great point Rob and congratulations on getting to the end point with more of your projects. You’re setting an excellent example to the rest of us.

    Philip

    Reply

  9. Intuitive JohnNo Gravatar (31 comments)  •  Nov 24, 2008 @6:59 pm

    This is a point of my confusion at the moment.

    I have two projects…each one is moving forward…each one has it’s bumps.

    I’m not abandoning either. I can’t push them any faster. Though there’s always work to do.

    Tired and frustrated…but keeping on…and not adding anything else to the pile.

    Intuitive John

    Reply

  10. angelaNo Gravatar (13 comments)  •  Nov 24, 2008 @7:17 pm

    I also relate to having unfinished projects. Being part of this course has really made some of my issues around finishing what i start.
    I know i’ve read the statement from Kevin about how the brain works to shut down our dreams Did he explain why? And if does, where is that information? Thanks…great post

    Angela R. Silvestri
    Patterns of Perfection

    Reply

  11. Cindy EyansonNo Gravatar (36 comments)  •  Nov 24, 2008 @7:26 pm

    Wonderful post Rob! I think we all need Lifestorms and to get past what ever is stopping us for making our dreams a reality.
    Congrats on your work and your work on yourself!
    Cindy

    Cindy Eyanson Online

    Reply

  12. Michael RothNo Gravatar (24 comments)  •  Nov 24, 2008 @7:38 pm

    Hi Rob, I am currently dealing with my own issues of self sabotage. Thanks for your post!!

    Reply

  13. David J. ParnellNo Gravatar (38 comments)  •  Nov 24, 2008 @7:56 pm

    What a great story… I am glad to see that you overcame the self sabotage… It is a difficult to deal with enemy.

    David J. Parnell | Communication Expert
    Communication Expert Blog

    Reply

  14. LenaNo Gravatar (39 comments)  •  Nov 24, 2008 @8:52 pm

    Good post on how to concentrate on getting things done. And it’s good to know that I’m not the only one with self-sabotage and that it is possible to improve on that. Glad you have overcome it. I have a lesson from your post. Thank you.
    Improving communication in Business and Personal life

    body language blog

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