April 6, 2022 –
When he was the chairman and CEO of Raytheon, William H. Swanson wrote, “Don’t be known as a good starter but a poor finisher! There is often a wonderful excitement when starting something new. It is important to maintain that passion through the course of the project, especially when difficulties arise, or the project encounters negative thinkers or those who lack the commitment to persevere.”
Speaking of the importance of maintaining passion through the course of a project, Jesus said, “For which of you, wanting to build a tower, doesn’t first sit down and calculate the cost to see if he has enough to complete it? Otherwise, after he has laid the foundation and cannot finish it,” all the onlookers will begin to make fun of him, saying, “This man started to build and wasn’t able to finish.” (Luke 14:28-30, HCSB)
Most people begin a task with enthusiasm because something new attracts them. But when they meet obstacles, their passion quickly vanishes. Faced with resistance, they throw in the towel. Do you complete what you start?
“Swanson’s Rules of Management” and Jesus’ teachings in the Bible support the idea of start, do, and complete. A great start does not guarantee an excellent finish, but a poor start assures poor results.