By Bill Quain
In an attempt to “level the playing field,” many Americans are focused on moving the starting line. They argue that the current situation in the U.S. is unfair because some people start with more advantages than others. They want everyone to start in the same place so that everyone will finish in the same place. But moving the starting line is a bad idea. However, moving the finish line is a fantastic idea. Sound crazy? Let me explain my thoughts on the starting line, the finish line, and the journey along the way.
Practice “The Art of the Start”
If you want to help yourself and others, stop worrying about where you start. Instead, focus on when you start. You have no control over where you start. If you come from a poor family, then starting on the road to wealth means you’re starting behind children of wealthy parents. But here’s what you need to remember—everyone starts where they start. You have no choice! If you didn’t go to a good school because your neighborhood didn’t have one, you’re certainly starting at a disadvantage, and it’s not your fault. But you do have absolute, unquestioned, and unrestricted control over when—or if—you start. You can start today, tomorrow, or even choose never to start. Only you control the “when should I start” decision.
But I Need to Get Ready!
Here’s an excuse I often hear: “Well, I never got the training I need to get started, so I have to spend time preparing before I can really get going.” Big news—if you start preparing, then you’ve already started on your journey. Congratulations! You made a choice, and it was a good one. Remember, where you start isn’t important; when you start is all that matters.
Life is About the Journey
It amazes me that people aren’t more excited about the journey. When you focus on the finish, you miss so much fun along the way. People are happiest when making meaningful progress toward a goal. But today’s culture often emphasizes equality over achievement, and when we do that, we miss the joy of being self-reliant. If we spend all our time comparing our situations to others, we miss the point. It doesn’t matter if we start in the same place as everyone else or finish in the same place. What matters is that we start and that there’s a difference between the two places!
Don’t Stop After Crossing the Finish Line
Now, get ready for a shocker. Let’s return to this week’s Six Words on a Boardwalk Bench: “Want Success? Move the Finish Line!” You have complete control over the finish line. Yes, that’s right. You control when and where you finish. Don’t set the finish line so far away that it seems impossible even to start. In fact, set the finish line close to the starting line, so close that you can’t help but finish.
Consider the two journeys below. In the first example, the finish line is so distant that you’re unlikely to have the endurance to reach it. In the second example, the first finish line is so close that you could finish just by falling forward. And take a look at the rest of the picture—are you having an “ah-ha” moment? You see, the first finish line becomes the new starting line. This is true for all of your finish lines. How is this possible? Because you have complete control over when and where you place the finish line.
Bill, Isn’t This Cheating?
No! It’s winning! I see so many people fail because they set the finish line too far away. They create a long journey with no rewards along the way. No wonder they’re unhappy! They let someone else decide where the finish line is instead of creating a habit of winning and celebrating each win. Would you rather spend a lifetime hoping for a win, or would you prefer to be more motivated, less stressed, and a better example to others by making winning a habit?
Bill, Isn’t This a “Participation Trophy?”
This question came up when I first shared this idea at a conference in New York. My answer? “Maybe the first finish line is a participation trophy, but the second one is more than that.” This idea is simple but can be hard to accept because we’re often taught to think of the finish line as the journey’s end. It isn’t! It’s a “win” and a “celebration” along the way. And who doesn’t love that?
A Way to Reach Your Goals
Think about using this approach the next time you consider an important goal. Here’s a simple example: Want to lose 20 pounds? Set your finish line to lose two pounds. When you hit that line, it becomes the starting line for the next two pounds. It’s really that simple.
Now, Tell Me What You Think
As always, I’d love to hear your thoughts on this idea. You can reach me at bill@quain.com. And as I say each week, I’ll see ya’ in the papers!
Bill is a Professor in Stockton University’s Hospitality Management Program. He is the author of 27 books, and a highly-respected speaker. Even though he is almost totally blind, Bill is a long-distance runner and runs the Ocean City Half Marathon each year. He lives in Ocean City with his wife Jeanne, and his Guide Dog Trudy. Visit www.billquain.com or email him at bill@quain.com.
