How to Help Your Student Finish What They Started

Does your student get frustrated trying to complete a project? Do they get excited about something new and just totally drop that goal they were working on?

I think most everyone struggles with getting to the finish line of a project or goal. Healthy people (in all versions of the idea) are people who know they are a work in progress. But what keeps us from finishing all our well-intentioned goals?

This book “Finish: Give Yourself the Gift of Done” by Jon Acuff was a Christmas present this year. It’s one of my new favorite books to recommend.

The funny side of this story is that even though I got it for Christmas, I didn’t even finish it until February. I took it on a trip with me and barely touched it until close to the end of the trip, and I told myself “I hauled this book over 2000 miles. I AM GOING TO FINISH IT before I go home!”

So I did - during the last week of my trip. And it was so worth it! Aside from all the common-sense advice, I was having a hard time not laughing out loud because the author has the funniest stories that perfectly illustrate his points.

Here’s my big takeaway (and why they can help anyone get stuff done):

A theme throughout the book talked about the lies that “Perfectionism” tells us – before, during, and right before we accomplish our something.

Here are two lies from Perfectionism and what our answer should be:

Perfectionism: “Quit if it isn’t perfect”
Our Answer: “No, ‘The day after perfect is what separates finishers from starters.’”
(Chapter 1)

and

Perfectionism: “Fun doesn’t count.”
Our Answer: “No, ‘Fun not only counts, but it’s necessary if you want to beat perfectionism and get to the finish.’”
(Chapter 4)

It is so powerful to see, in writing, the lies we so easily fall prey to when we are working on change.

Some other traits of Perfectionism that I notice for me:

• “Perfectionism has no sense of gray, things are only black or white (pg 91)

• “Perfectionism is a desperate attempt to live up to impossible standards” (pg 101)

• “Perfectionism persists unless we ask questions.” (pg 117)

• “Perfectionism doesn’t want you to look at the progress” (pg 128)

Since finishing the book, it has been so helpful to actually hear the lies of Perfectionism, and to know that I don’t have to listen to them.

I highly recommend this read. It would probably make a great read-aloud (here’s an audio version read by the author) for parents and students because it’s not a difficult reading and filled with humor! Here's a testimony of how it changed a 13 years old's outlook.

And I hope, even if you don’t get your own copy, that you’ll be able share some of the lies of Perfectionism with your student who is easily discouraged or easily distracted.
It could make all the difference.

“Starting is fun, but the future belongs to finishers. Ready to be one?” -Jon Acuff, “Finish”