{"id":133647,"date":"2024-10-21T09:26:00","date_gmt":"2024-10-21T13:26:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.shortform.com\/blog\/?p=133647"},"modified":"2024-10-21T12:58:51","modified_gmt":"2024-10-21T16:58:51","slug":"finish-what-you-start-book","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.shortform.com\/blog\/finish-what-you-start-book\/","title":{"rendered":"Finish What You Start: Book Overview & Takeaways (Peter Hollins)"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

How can you turn your ambitious projects into completed achievements? What’s holding you back<\/a> from following through on your goals?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Finish What You Start<\/em>, a book by Peter Hollins, explores the mindsets and habits that empower people to accomplish their life goals. Hollins provides insights on developing a finisher’s mindset, preparing for productive action, and maximizing<\/a> your work efficiency.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Keep reading to discover Hollins’s techniques for sustaining motivation and seeing your projects through to completion.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

Finish What You Start<\/em> Book Overview<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Do you constantly start ambitious projects only to run out of steam halfway through? You\u2019re not alone. Although it\u2019s easy to be enthusiastic about your goals while setting them, many people find that this motivation fades quickly. But it doesn\u2019t have to. Finish What You Start<\/em><\/a>, a book by Peter Hollins, explains how to develop mindsets and habits that will empower you to follow through on your life goals.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Hollins is an author and researcher specializing in psychology<\/a>. He has written over 50 books on the topics of self-discipline and accelerated learning, including The Science of Self-Discipline<\/em><\/a> and Mental Models<\/em><\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

We\u2019ll begin this overview by dissecting the mindset\u2014or mental habits\u2014that you need to sustain motivation toward your goals. Then, we\u2019ll detail simple actions you can take to prepare for highly motivated work. Finally, we\u2019ll discuss what you can do while working to maximize your productivity<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

How to Develop a Finisher\u2019s Mindset<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

According to Hollins, if you want to commit to finishing your life goals, you need to develop the right mindset<\/em>. He defines \u201cmindset\u201d as the mental habits you use to make sense of your life experiences. <\/strong>Your mindset determines your attitude toward the problems in your life. Thus, without the right mindset, you\u2019ll never work up the motivation to solve your problems and achieve your goals<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

We\u2019ll provide several of Hollins\u2019s tips for developing the most productive mindset<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Tip #1: Identify Your Sources of Intrinsic Motivation<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n

First, Hollins suggests precisely identifying what motivates you<\/a>. There are two kinds of motivation<\/a>: extrinsic<\/em> and intrinsic<\/em>. Extrinsic motivation is rooted in external rewards and punishments. For instance, if you want to earn a large holiday bonus or avoid disappointing your co-workers, you\u2019re being driven by extrinsic motivation. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

In contrast, sources of intrinsic motivation<\/a> only exist inside you. If you believe that something you\u2019re doing is morally right, worthwhile, or enjoyable, that would be intrinsic motivation. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Although Hollins asserts that both forms of motivation are useful, he argues that intrinsic motivators are typically more powerful than extrinsic motivators in the long run. To this end, identifying your existing sources of intrinsic motivation allows you to consciously focus your attention on them. This focus strengthens your dedication and helps you make progress more easily.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

To identify your intrinsic motivators, Hollins recommends asking self-reflective questions. Ask yourself what positive emotions you expect to feel after you attain success, how your life will be different, and how your accomplishments will help the people you care about. All of the things you\u2019re eager to gain by achieving your goals<\/a> are your intrinsic motivators. <\/strong>For instance, if you want to start a community food bank, your intrinsic motivators might be the idea of improving the lives of people in need and the feelings of pride that come with this.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Tip #2: Avoid Rumination<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n

Hollins recommends that you develop the habit of acting before you think you\u2019re ready instead of ruminating.<\/strong> Ruminating is<\/a> when you spend too much time weighing the possible future consequences of your decisions. As a result, you\u2019ll probably fail to make substantial progress toward your goals.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

According to Hollins, one likely reason you ruminate (and procrastinate in other ways) is because you\u2019re afraid of failing to achieve your goals and being judged negatively by others. To avoid failure and rejection, you obsess over doing everything you can to ensure a perfect outcome. However, since it\u2019s impossible to ensure a perfect outcome, this mindset causes you to endlessly plan and overanalyze, never feeling fully prepared to take action.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Worrying about the future<\/a> diverts your attention from the present moment, which makes it more difficult for you to take action and make decisions that lead you toward your goals. Hollins recommends doing everything you can to focus on acting responsibly in the present moment.<\/strong> What you do right now<\/em> determines whether you\u2019ll succeed\u2014ruminating isn\u2019t likely to help you much.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

To avoid rumination when making decisions, Hollins suggests identifying and focusing exclusively on the most significant determining factors. Then, deliberately ignore everything else. This way, you can minimize the time you spend thinking while still making well-informed decisions. For example, if you\u2019re trying to decide whether to accept a job offer, identify the factors that had the greatest impact on your satisfaction in your last job (perhaps flexible scheduling and autonomy at work<\/a>). Then, judge the new job solely on those criteria.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Tip #3: Set Reasonable Expectations<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n

Hollins warns against overestimating how easy it\u2019ll be to achieve your goals.<\/strong> If you have overly optimistic expectations, you\u2019ll only be disappointed when you don\u2019t achieve your goals straight away. This disappointment can be very demotivating, making you less likely to persevere in the future.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Similarly, Hollins cautions against overestimating how happy achieving your goals will make you.<\/strong> If you expect that working hard and getting something you want will completely transform your life, you may be disappointed and demotivated if that\u2019s not the case.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

To avoid feeling disappointed<\/a> and demotivated, manage your expectations<\/a>: Set realistic progress goals so you can reliably complete them and feel satisfied. Likewise, don\u2019t assume that accomplishing a single goal will resolve all the problems in your life that are making you unhappy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Tip #4: See Failures as Learning Opportunities<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n

Finally, Hollins recommends viewing your life journey as a never-ending process of incremental growth.<\/strong> As you complete tasks<\/a> and achieve your goals, you can assess what parts of your strategy and mindset work well (and which don\u2019t), and you can identify areas for improvement. Note that the optimal conditions and strategies for success are different for everybody. The goal is to discover the conditions and strategies that best suit your unique strengths.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

According to Hollins, every time you fail, it\u2019s a sign to reexamine your working conditions, strategies, and mindset to discover why <\/em>you failed. The cause may be anything from a suboptimal work schedule to negative emotions that pressure you into giving up. By repeatedly identifying and resolving the problems that cause you to fail, your chances of success will continually improve.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Additionally, when you use failures as valuable learning opportunities, you\u2019ll come to see them as a good thing. Then, you won\u2019t be as afraid of failing, making it easier to motivate yourself<\/a> to take action.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

How to Prepare for Productive Action<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Once you\u2019ve started developing a productive mindset, you\u2019ll be somewhat motivated to put in the work required to achieve your life goals. But Hollins argues that there\u2019s no need to rely solely on your mindset for motivation: If you prepare properly before you start working, you can plant the seeds for future motivation and make your tasks much easier to overcome.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Here are five actions you can take to prepare for progress toward your life goals.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Action #1: Set Up Sources of Extrinsic Motivation<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n

Hollins advises setting up ongoing sources of extrinsic motivation. Although internal motivators are generally more effective in the long run, supplementing them with short-term extrinsic motivators can boost your productivity.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

One effective source of extrinsic motivation is social pressure<\/em>. Ask someone in your life to regularly do motivational check-ins with you. They should know when you need to take productive action, get in touch to make sure you do, and express their disappointment if you fail to act. The threat of letting this person down will motivate you to get things done.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

According to Hollins, another way you can leverage extrinsic motivators is by setting up a situation in which you lose or waste a significant amount of money if you fail to take productive action. For example, purchase a year\u2019s subscription to a sophisticated diet-tracking app. You\u2019ll be motivated to track the food you eat so the money you spent on the app doesn\u2019t feel wasted.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Hollins asserts that you may find it useful to combine these two strategies: Give a friend a sum of money, then tell them not to return it until you complete your goal. This way, you\u2019re motivated by the fear of losing money and<\/em> looking bad in front of someone you care about.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Action #2: Create a Reminder of What\u2019s Motivating You<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n

Hollins recommends creating a persistent reminder of your extrinsic and intrinsic motivators so they\u2019re always at the front of your mind. This reminder can be anything you associate with your motivators. For instance, you could keep a rock from your vacation to Iceland on your desk to remind you of your intrinsic motivation to be more adventurous in your day-to-day life. Alternatively, if you\u2019re leveraging extrinsic motivation by asking a friend to make sure you\u2019ve written a new song every week, you could change your computer\u2019s desktop background to a picture of their face.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As these examples illustrate, you should put the reminder somewhere you\u2019ll engage with it frequently. Ideally, whenever you encounter your reminder, it\u2019ll snap you out of unproductive mental habits like rumination and motivate you to take action.<\/strong> Make this reminder as prominent as possible so you don\u2019t overlook it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In addition to creating a reminder of what\u2019s motivating you, Hollins recommends making a scoreboard<\/em>, a visual depiction of your progress on your goals. This is essentially a large to-do list<\/a> posted somewhere you can see it frequently: Write down tasks you need to accomplish and cross them off as you complete them. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Like your other, more general reminder, seeing this scoreboard will motivate you to act. The goal is to make completing tasks feel like you\u2019re winning a game. Promise yourself a treat as a \u201cprize\u201d for accomplishing a major task down the road. Celebrating the steps you take toward this prize will motivate you to continue.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Action #3: Create Strict Rules for Yourself<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n

Hollins suggests writing a set of rules to help you follow through on your goals. Once you get in the habit of following certain rules, they allow you to make decisions automatically<\/strong> instead of relying solely on willpower to drive healthy behavior.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He explains that these useful rules come in two types: restrictions<\/em> that cap the amount of unproductive actions you\u2019re allowed to take and obligations<\/em> that outline actions you must take. To ensure your restrictions and obligations are as effective as possible, make them precise and concrete. Design them to apply every day<\/em>, so you\u2019re constantly making progress toward your goals. For example, you could set the restriction that you can\u2019t watch more than two episodes of a TV show per day, or set the obligation that you must eat a portion of fruits and vegetables with every meal.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Action #4: Atomize Your Tasks<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n

According to Hollins, the hardest part of any task is starting\u2014if you consider the enormous amount of work ahead all at once, it can overwhelm you with anticipation of discomfort and fear. Thus, another useful action you can take to prepare for work is to break your next task down into extremely small, easy-sounding steps.<\/strong> For example, if you need to plan your entire wedding, just focus on one step at a time<\/a>: Decide on a budget. Write a list of supplies and services you need. Spend twenty minutes researching potential catering options.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Making your first step as easy as possible reduces your fear and resistance to the task, allowing you to make progress. As you successfully take little steps, your goal will seem increasingly attainable as you prove to yourself that you\u2019re capable of moving forward. This allows you to accelerate your progress over time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Action #5: Schedule Time for Self-Care<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n

Finally, Hollins recommends setting aside time to rest and take care of yourself. Establish a regimented schedule with plenty of time for work, but also schedule a significant amount of time during which you must relax.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

According to Hollins, if you never allow yourself time to rest, you\u2019re likely to build up chronic stress<\/a>. This stress can wreak havoc on your productivity:<\/strong> You\u2019ll find it more difficult to build the willpower necessary to take productive action, and the fears that discourage you from acting can overpower you much more easily.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Hollins notes that even if you\u2019re not chronically stressed, your brain requires periods of unfocused rest to function optimally. Unfocused attention and mindless activities like daydreaming trigger alpha waves<\/em>, a type of neural activity that promotes creativity and feelings of happiness. Such benefits make it much easier to progress toward your goals. Therefore, try not to use social media during your time away from work. This focused stimulation doesn\u2019t allow your brain to shift into a healthy, scattered state.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

How to Properly Work Toward Your Goals<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Now that we\u2019ve discussed how to develop a motivated mindset and prepare for your best work, let\u2019s examine some of Hollins\u2019s tips for being as productive as possible while working.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Tip #1: Work on One Task at a Time<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n

Although multitasking can make it feel like you\u2019re being unusually productive, Hollins asserts that it\u2019s ineffective. Whenever you switch between tasks, you continue having thoughts about the previous task for some time. These thoughts distract you from the task at hand, resulting in decreased productivity and performance. Instead, you\u2019ll get much more done if you focus solely on <\/strong>one<\/em><\/strong> task for an extended stretch of time.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

With this in mind, Hollins recommends grouping tasks that require the same kind of thinking and completing them in a single session. This way, you\u2019re essentially combining them into one task, allowing you to avoid the splintered attention that comes from repeatedly switching between tasks. For example, block out two hours every month to handle all your financial management tasks at once\u2014pay your credit card and electricity bills, create a budget for next month, and review your investment portfolio.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Tip #2: Combine Treats With Tasks<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n

According to Hollins, another way that you can maximize your productivity is by treating yourself at the same time you complete unpleasant but necessary tasks.<\/strong> For example, order delivery from your favorite local restaurant and eat it while researching how to set up a retirement fund.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Hollins explains that normally, your desire for short-term pleasure is at war with your desire for long-term improvements to your life: You must sacrifice one for the other. Unfortunately, short-term pleasure often wins, causing you to continually treat yourself and put off productive action. However, if you can find a way to make productive action pleasurable in the moment, you\u2019ll resolve this conflict.<\/strong> Consequently, you\u2019ll be motivated to finish tasks that you might have otherwise avoided indefinitely.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Tip #3: Resist Compulsions by Considering the Future<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n

According to Hollins, an effective way to resist compulsions and distractions is by considering your life in its totality rather than just the immediate present.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you\u2019re being productive and you notice that you\u2019re about to stop and surrender to a compulsion, stop and think about how you\u2019ll feel about your decision in the future. You\u2019ll gain a more accurate idea of how little this compulsion will please you in the long run<\/strong>, motivating you to resist it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When you think about the future, consider imagining the worst-case scenarios that could occur if you gave into your compulsions or put off work. Hollins contends that fear of these negative futures may motivate you to make wiser decisions.<\/strong> For example, if you\u2019re tempted to watch TV instead of spending time playing with your child, imagine how heartbroken you\u2019d feel if they grew up emotionally distant and rarely talked to you as an adult. Use this strategy in moderation\u2014obsessing over worst-case scenarios too often can cause excessive stress and anxiety, which can ruin your productivity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Hollins argues that examining the big picture of your life can also help you stay committed to your life goals when you\u2019re more seriously considering giving up. Strengthen your determination by asking yourself three questions: Ultimately, what do you want most? What do you need to do to get it? What actions should you avoid to get what you want? Your answers will clarify what you truly want to do in life.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

How can you turn your ambitious projects into completed achievements? What’s holding you back from following through on your goals? Finish What You Start, a book by Peter Hollins, explores the mindsets and habits that empower people to accomplish their life goals. Hollins provides insights on developing a finisher’s mindset, preparing for productive action, and maximizing your work efficiency. Keep reading to discover Hollins’s techniques for sustaining motivation and seeing your projects through to completion.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":9,"featured_media":133654,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[40,42,30],"tags":[1636],"class_list":["post-133647","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-books","category-motivation","category-work","tag-finish-what-you-start","","tg-column-two"],"yoast_head":"\nFinish What You Start: Book Overview & Takeaways (Peter Hollins) - Shortform Books<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Peter Hollins's book Finish What You Start will help you sustain motivation and see projects through to completion. Here's our overview.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.shortform.com\/blog\/finish-what-you-start-book\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Finish What You Start: Book Overview & Takeaways (Peter Hollins)\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Peter Hollins's book Finish What You Start will help you sustain motivation and see projects through to completion. Here's our overview.\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/www.shortform.com\/blog\/finish-what-you-start-book\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"Shortform Books\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2024-10-21T13:26:00+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2024-10-21T16:58:51+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/s3.amazonaws.com\/wordpress.shortform.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/man-reading-book-in-home-office.webp\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:width\" content=\"1344\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:height\" content=\"768\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:type\" content=\"image\/webp\" \/>\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"Elizabeth Whitworth\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Written by\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"Elizabeth Whitworth\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:label2\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data2\" content=\"13 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\/\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"Article\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.shortform.com\/blog\/finish-what-you-start-book\/#article\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.shortform.com\/blog\/finish-what-you-start-book\/\"},\"author\":{\"name\":\"Elizabeth Whitworth\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.shortform.com\/blog\/#\/schema\/person\/d2928cf6c11a69ced1491d6a5b74fb13\"},\"headline\":\"Finish What You Start: Book Overview & Takeaways (Peter Hollins)\",\"datePublished\":\"2024-10-21T13:26:00+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2024-10-21T16:58:51+00:00\",\"mainEntityOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.shortform.com\/blog\/finish-what-you-start-book\/\"},\"wordCount\":2796,\"commentCount\":0,\"publisher\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.shortform.com\/blog\/#organization\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.shortform.com\/blog\/finish-what-you-start-book\/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\/\/www.shortform.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/man-reading-book-in-home-office.webp\",\"keywords\":[\"Finish What You Start\"],\"articleSection\":[\"Books\",\"Motivation\",\"Work\"],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"CommentAction\",\"name\":\"Comment\",\"target\":[\"https:\/\/www.shortform.com\/blog\/finish-what-you-start-book\/#respond\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.shortform.com\/blog\/finish-what-you-start-book\/\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/www.shortform.com\/blog\/finish-what-you-start-book\/\",\"name\":\"Finish What You Start: Book Overview & Takeaways (Peter Hollins) - Shortform Books\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.shortform.com\/blog\/#website\"},\"primaryImageOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.shortform.com\/blog\/finish-what-you-start-book\/#primaryimage\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.shortform.com\/blog\/finish-what-you-start-book\/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\/\/www.shortform.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/man-reading-book-in-home-office.webp\",\"datePublished\":\"2024-10-21T13:26:00+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2024-10-21T16:58:51+00:00\",\"description\":\"Peter Hollins's book Finish What You Start will help you sustain motivation and see projects through to completion. Here's our overview.\",\"breadcrumb\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.shortform.com\/blog\/finish-what-you-start-book\/#breadcrumb\"},\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"ReadAction\",\"target\":[\"https:\/\/www.shortform.com\/blog\/finish-what-you-start-book\/\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.shortform.com\/blog\/finish-what-you-start-book\/#primaryimage\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/www.shortform.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/man-reading-book-in-home-office.webp\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\/\/www.shortform.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/man-reading-book-in-home-office.webp\",\"width\":1344,\"height\":768,\"caption\":\"A man with wavy brown hair, a beard, and glasses is wearing an orange sweater and reading a book in a home office\"},{\"@type\":\"BreadcrumbList\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.shortform.com\/blog\/finish-what-you-start-book\/#breadcrumb\",\"itemListElement\":[{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":1,\"name\":\"Home\",\"item\":\"https:\/\/www.shortform.com\/blog\/\"},{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":2,\"name\":\"Finish What You Start: Book Overview & Takeaways (Peter Hollins)\"}]},{\"@type\":\"WebSite\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.shortform.com\/blog\/#website\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/www.shortform.com\/blog\/\",\"name\":\"Shortform Books\",\"description\":\"The World's Best Book Summaries\",\"publisher\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.shortform.com\/blog\/#organization\"},\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"SearchAction\",\"target\":{\"@type\":\"EntryPoint\",\"urlTemplate\":\"https:\/\/www.shortform.com\/blog\/?s={search_term_string}\"},\"query-input\":{\"@type\":\"PropertyValueSpecification\",\"valueRequired\":true,\"valueName\":\"search_term_string\"}}],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"},{\"@type\":\"Organization\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.shortform.com\/blog\/#organization\",\"name\":\"Shortform Books\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/www.shortform.com\/blog\/\",\"logo\":{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.shortform.com\/blog\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/www.shortform.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/logo-equilateral-with-text-no-bg.png\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\/\/www.shortform.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/logo-equilateral-with-text-no-bg.png\",\"width\":500,\"height\":74,\"caption\":\"Shortform Books\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.shortform.com\/blog\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/\"}},{\"@type\":\"Person\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.shortform.com\/blog\/#\/schema\/person\/d2928cf6c11a69ced1491d6a5b74fb13\",\"name\":\"Elizabeth Whitworth\",\"image\":{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.shortform.com\/blog\/#\/schema\/person\/image\/\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/1fff9d65a52ac4340660218e7b63ee5e365cf08e7aa7adff79a0142cd4b96f84?s=96&d=mm&r=g\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/1fff9d65a52ac4340660218e7b63ee5e365cf08e7aa7adff79a0142cd4b96f84?s=96&d=mm&r=g\",\"caption\":\"Elizabeth Whitworth\"},\"description\":\"Elizabeth has a lifelong love of books. She devours nonfiction, especially in the areas of history, theology, and philosophy. A switch to audiobooks has kindled her enjoyment of well-narrated fiction, particularly Victorian and early 20th-century works. She appreciates idea-driven books\u2014and a classic murder mystery now and then. Elizabeth has a Substack and is writing a book about what the Bible says about death and hell.\",\"sameAs\":[\"rina@shortform.com\"],\"award\":[\"Contributions to joint task force efforts (FBI)\",\"Contributions to Special Operations Division (DOJ & DEA)\",\"Efforts to fight the war on drugs (NSA)\",\"Contributions to Operation Storm Front (US Customs Service)\"],\"knowsAbout\":[\"History\",\"Theology\",\"Government\"],\"jobTitle\":\"Senior SEO Writer\",\"worksFor\":\"Shortform\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/www.shortform.com\/blog\/author\/elizabeth\/\"}]}<\/script>\n<!-- \/ Yoast SEO Premium plugin. -->","yoast_head_json":{"title":"Finish What You Start: Book Overview & Takeaways (Peter Hollins) - Shortform Books","description":"Peter Hollins's book Finish What You Start will help you sustain motivation and see projects through to completion. Here's our overview.","robots":{"index":"index","follow":"follow","max-snippet":"max-snippet:-1","max-image-preview":"max-image-preview:large","max-video-preview":"max-video-preview:-1"},"canonical":"https:\/\/www.shortform.com\/blog\/finish-what-you-start-book\/","og_locale":"en_US","og_type":"article","og_title":"Finish What You Start: Book Overview & Takeaways (Peter Hollins)","og_description":"Peter Hollins's book Finish What You Start will help you sustain motivation and see projects through to completion. Here's our overview.","og_url":"https:\/\/www.shortform.com\/blog\/finish-what-you-start-book\/","og_site_name":"Shortform Books","article_published_time":"2024-10-21T13:26:00+00:00","article_modified_time":"2024-10-21T16:58:51+00:00","og_image":[{"width":1344,"height":768,"url":"https:\/\/s3.amazonaws.com\/wordpress.shortform.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/man-reading-book-in-home-office.webp","type":"image\/webp"}],"author":"Elizabeth Whitworth","twitter_card":"summary_large_image","twitter_misc":{"Written by":"Elizabeth Whitworth","Est. reading time":"13 minutes"},"schema":{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@graph":[{"@type":"Article","@id":"https:\/\/www.shortform.com\/blog\/finish-what-you-start-book\/#article","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.shortform.com\/blog\/finish-what-you-start-book\/"},"author":{"name":"Elizabeth Whitworth","@id":"https:\/\/www.shortform.com\/blog\/#\/schema\/person\/d2928cf6c11a69ced1491d6a5b74fb13"},"headline":"Finish What You Start: Book Overview & Takeaways (Peter Hollins)","datePublished":"2024-10-21T13:26:00+00:00","dateModified":"2024-10-21T16:58:51+00:00","mainEntityOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.shortform.com\/blog\/finish-what-you-start-book\/"},"wordCount":2796,"commentCount":0,"publisher":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.shortform.com\/blog\/#organization"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.shortform.com\/blog\/finish-what-you-start-book\/#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/www.shortform.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/man-reading-book-in-home-office.webp","keywords":["Finish What You Start"],"articleSection":["Books","Motivation","Work"],"inLanguage":"en-US","potentialAction":[{"@type":"CommentAction","name":"Comment","target":["https:\/\/www.shortform.com\/blog\/finish-what-you-start-book\/#respond"]}]},{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https:\/\/www.shortform.com\/blog\/finish-what-you-start-book\/","url":"https:\/\/www.shortform.com\/blog\/finish-what-you-start-book\/","name":"Finish What You Start: Book Overview & Takeaways (Peter Hollins) - Shortform Books","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.shortform.com\/blog\/#website"},"primaryImageOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.shortform.com\/blog\/finish-what-you-start-book\/#primaryimage"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.shortform.com\/blog\/finish-what-you-start-book\/#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/www.shortform.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/man-reading-book-in-home-office.webp","datePublished":"2024-10-21T13:26:00+00:00","dateModified":"2024-10-21T16:58:51+00:00","description":"Peter Hollins's book Finish What You Start will help you sustain motivation and see projects through to completion. Here's our overview.","breadcrumb":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.shortform.com\/blog\/finish-what-you-start-book\/#breadcrumb"},"inLanguage":"en-US","potentialAction":[{"@type":"ReadAction","target":["https:\/\/www.shortform.com\/blog\/finish-what-you-start-book\/"]}]},{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/www.shortform.com\/blog\/finish-what-you-start-book\/#primaryimage","url":"https:\/\/www.shortform.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/man-reading-book-in-home-office.webp","contentUrl":"https:\/\/www.shortform.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/man-reading-book-in-home-office.webp","width":1344,"height":768,"caption":"A man with wavy brown hair, a beard, and glasses is wearing an orange sweater and reading a book in a home office"},{"@type":"BreadcrumbList","@id":"https:\/\/www.shortform.com\/blog\/finish-what-you-start-book\/#breadcrumb","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Home","item":"https:\/\/www.shortform.com\/blog\/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"Finish What You Start: Book Overview & Takeaways (Peter Hollins)"}]},{"@type":"WebSite","@id":"https:\/\/www.shortform.com\/blog\/#website","url":"https:\/\/www.shortform.com\/blog\/","name":"Shortform Books","description":"The World's Best Book Summaries","publisher":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.shortform.com\/blog\/#organization"},"potentialAction":[{"@type":"SearchAction","target":{"@type":"EntryPoint","urlTemplate":"https:\/\/www.shortform.com\/blog\/?s={search_term_string}"},"query-input":{"@type":"PropertyValueSpecification","valueRequired":true,"valueName":"search_term_string"}}],"inLanguage":"en-US"},{"@type":"Organization","@id":"https:\/\/www.shortform.com\/blog\/#organization","name":"Shortform Books","url":"https:\/\/www.shortform.com\/blog\/","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/www.shortform.com\/blog\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/","url":"https:\/\/www.shortform.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/logo-equilateral-with-text-no-bg.png","contentUrl":"https:\/\/www.shortform.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/logo-equilateral-with-text-no-bg.png","width":500,"height":74,"caption":"Shortform Books"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.shortform.com\/blog\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/"}},{"@type":"Person","@id":"https:\/\/www.shortform.com\/blog\/#\/schema\/person\/d2928cf6c11a69ced1491d6a5b74fb13","name":"Elizabeth Whitworth","image":{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/www.shortform.com\/blog\/#\/schema\/person\/image\/","url":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/1fff9d65a52ac4340660218e7b63ee5e365cf08e7aa7adff79a0142cd4b96f84?s=96&d=mm&r=g","contentUrl":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/1fff9d65a52ac4340660218e7b63ee5e365cf08e7aa7adff79a0142cd4b96f84?s=96&d=mm&r=g","caption":"Elizabeth Whitworth"},"description":"Elizabeth has a lifelong love of books. She devours nonfiction, especially in the areas of history, theology, and philosophy. A switch to audiobooks has kindled her enjoyment of well-narrated fiction, particularly Victorian and early 20th-century works. She appreciates idea-driven books\u2014and a classic murder mystery now and then. Elizabeth has a Substack and is writing a book about what the Bible says about death and hell.","sameAs":["rina@shortform.com"],"award":["Contributions to joint task force efforts (FBI)","Contributions to Special Operations Division (DOJ & DEA)","Efforts to fight the war on drugs (NSA)","Contributions to Operation Storm Front (US Customs Service)"],"knowsAbout":["History","Theology","Government"],"jobTitle":"Senior SEO Writer","worksFor":"Shortform","url":"https:\/\/www.shortform.com\/blog\/author\/elizabeth\/"}]}},"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/www.shortform.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/man-reading-book-in-home-office.webp","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.shortform.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/133647","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.shortform.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.shortform.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.shortform.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/9"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.shortform.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=133647"}],"version-history":[{"count":6,"href":"https:\/\/www.shortform.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/133647\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":133653,"href":"https:\/\/www.shortform.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/133647\/revisions\/133653"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.shortform.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/133654"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.shortform.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=133647"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.shortform.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=133647"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.shortform.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=133647"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}