7 Counterintuitive Ways to Actually Finish Your Goals (Backed by Real Stories)

1. Cut Your Goal in Half

One woman wanted to write a novel in a month. After failing twice, she cut her goal to a novella—and finished for the first time. Shrinking your goal makes it achievable and gives you momentum for bigger wins later.

2. Choose What to Bomb

A busy dad stopped mowing his lawn and let it go wild for a summer, freeing up hours to finish a business plan. Strategic neglect isn’t failure—it’s focus. Decide what you can let slide, just for now.

3. Make It Fun (Even Silly)

An office worker used a sticker chart—yes, like kindergarten—to track her writing progress. The silly reward made her smile and kept her going. Fun is fuel for finishing.

4. Simplify, Don’t Stop

Instead of quitting family dinners, one mom switched to easy sandwiches and paper plates during her busy season. Simplifying routines creates space for your real priorities.

5. Ignore Noble Obstacles

A would-be entrepreneur kept delaying launch to 'do more research.' She finally set a launch date and accepted imperfection, learning more by doing than by planning endlessly.

6. Use New Ideas as Rewards

When tempted by a shiny new project, one artist promised herself she’d start it only after finishing her current painting. This turned distraction into motivation.

7. Track Progress Publicly

A group of friends made their progress visible on a shared board. The public accountability and friendly competition kept everyone engaged and moving forward.

Lessons Learned

Finishing isn’t about being perfect or superhuman. It’s about being strategic, playful, and kind to yourself. These real-life stories show that anyone can finish—with the right mindset and a willingness to break a few rules.

Inspired by Jon Acuff’s Finish and hundreds of reader stories shared in online communities and book reviews.