85% of my "failures" are because of this

I love to start. Starting a new project is exciting.
I love to finish. Pushing myself when I am close to the finish line is rewarding.

But, it's the goddamn middle where I really struggle.
Between my inspiration and the result, right in the middle, is a deep valley of despair.

The middle is cold, ambiguous, and lonely.
It's where most of my ideas/projects/posts die.

But why is the middle is so hard?
Its because,
The middle is where my conviction is tested.
The middle is where my limitations confront me.
The middle is where I am the most afraid to make mistakes.
The middle is where that lurking failure looks me in the eye.

But, how do I handle this monster who has killed so many of my ideas?
Well, I am not always successful, but I have a chance of success when I do the following.

1. Apply Parkinsons law
I set tighter deadlines for myself. By limiting the time I have, I automatically limit the time I spend in the middle. I force myself to prioritize.

2. Go back to the "Why?".
When you begin, write down your strong why. Why is this worth your time?
I keep going back to the why when I feel lost.

3. Be self-aware.
Self-awareness is deeply understanding my own strengths, my weaknesses, my motivations, my demons, and my biases.
Self-awareness lets me manage my emotions and face my dark reality.
Without self-awareness, I am a slave to my biases. I make impulsive decisions. I beat myself up. I complain. I act like a victim.

4. Focus.
Focus lets me do less. Say No. Concentrate my attention on a single goal.
Focus lets me avoid distractions. To stay on track.
Applying #1(Parkinson's law) also sets the foundation for focus.

5. Iterate - Make small, incremental changes.
Iteration pulls me out when I am stuck in the middle.
The more I iterate, the more I get to experience the joys of starts and finish.
Iteration lets me fail small, to learn, to improve. Lets me face my fears one small demon at a time.

6. Team up
If you want to go fast go alone. if you want to go far go together.
- African proverb.
Picking complementary partner(s) has been the key here. A pessimistic project partner will kill your fire.

7. Celebrate.
Celebrating my small wins releases Dopamine, which in turn, boosts my mood, motivation, and attention. Allows me to be optimistic.
I would love to hear, what strategies have worked for you. Do share in the comments.

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