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  • Start Finishing

  • How to Go from Idea to Done
  • Written by: Charlie Gilkey
  • Narrated by: Charlie Gilkey
  • Length: 7 hrs and 13 mins
  • 4.4 out of 5 stars (11 ratings)

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Start Finishing cover art

Start Finishing

Written by: Charlie Gilkey
Narrated by: Charlie Gilkey
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Publisher's Summary

Productivity Meets Purpose - Discover a Powerful Nine-Step Method to Start Finishing the Work That Matters Most 

How much of your time and attention lately has been focused on things that truly matter to you? 

Most people's honest answer is: not enough.

Everyone is buried by busywork, responsibility, distraction, and fatigue. 

The joy-producing, difference-making ideas are waiting for when the time is right, when the current project is over, when they have a little more money, when the kids are grown, or when they get a more understanding boss. They are waiting for someday

The trouble is someday never comes on its own. 

Start Finishing presents a nine-step method for converting an idea into a project by addressing the challenges you'll face and getting the project on a reality-based schedule. 

The book will teach you how to:  

  • Practice the five keys that lead to self-mastery 
  • Build your success pack of supporters, guides, peers, and beneficiaries 
  • Keep working through the thrashing that comes with any project that matters to you 
  • Chunk, link, and sequence your ideas down to doable parts 
  • Use the Five Project Rule to prioritize your daily schedule and be at peace with the work you choose not to do 
  • Fly through drag points - how to deal with head trash, no-win scenarios, and other people’s priorities 
  • Heatmap your schedule so you do the right work at the right time 
  • Overcome cascades, logjams, and tarpits - the three ways projects routinely get stuck 
  • Finish strong - celebrate, review, and ride the momentum to your next goal  

You are not incapable, wired to struggle, or fated to be unable to get your act together. With a few key steps, you can change the way you show up, how you plan, and how you respond when things get tough. 

You can Start Finishing the work that matters most to you. 

*Includes original contributions from Seth Godin, Susan Piver, Jonathan Fields, James Clear, and many other teachers.

©2019 Charlie Gilkey (P)2019 Sounds True

What the critics say

“Charlie Gilkey knows you have little trouble beginning new projects. But finishing them? That’s often another story. The good news is that Gilkey is here to help. His terrific book offers a 9-step program to turn those great ideas into finished products - and your dreams into realities.” (Daniel H. Pink, author of Drive and When)

“Just like our houses, our work is filled with clutter that’s keeping us from what matters most. Start Finishing shows us how to pick the ideas and projects that we want to keep and work through seeing them to completion. If you’re ready to get over the clutter of busywork and do the work that’ll make you come alive, get this book and start finishing.” (Joshua Becker, founder of Becoming Minimalist and author of The Minimalist Home)

“Big dreams can feel overwhelming, but in this encouraging book, Charlie shows you how to get started, plan your projects, and just keep going. You don’t find the time, you make the time - and Charlie will show you how.” (Laura Vanderkam, bestselling author of Off the Clock: Feel Less Busy While Getting More Done and Juliet's School of Possibilities

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The book truly delivers on its premise!

This audiobook helped me to narrow down my 'projects' to a manageable number. (A major feat!) Gilkey draws from numerous productivity thought leaders while still offering fresh insights. Not only am I raring to go on my projects, I feel like have a clear plan for actually finishing them.

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Great productivity info

While I'm already pretty skilled in productivity techniques, I read this because of a problem I've been having where I've become so efficient that when life threw me a loop, my schedule was so full that I didn't know how to adjust to reduced capacity. Charlie's idea of only five projects at a time, with health and family time both being projects, intrigues me. I'm definitely going to keep it in mind while I rework my plan. The book covers productivity skills and best practices that I would recommend for anyone, but especially creative folks.

I may actually buy the ebook or print book to have a quick reference to some of the exercises he recommends.

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