Pick A Date!

I was speaking with a client the other day about a project I wanted to get going. When he asked me what my target date was for completion, I started to hem and haw and justify why I couldn’t give him a date.

He said: I’ll say the same thing to you that you’d say to me—pick a date. A goal is a dream with a deadline. If you can’t decide when you should finish, at least choose when you’ll start. He was right on both counts. That’s exactly what I would have said to him.

Beginning a project often helps you clarify your end date. If you pick an aggressive starting date, chances are you’ll get to the finish line much sooner. If it’s important, start now.

I picked a date and gave myself the target I needed to motivate me to do what I had to do. We’re human and we all fall into this same trap. Thank goodness I hang with people who remind me…if you really want to do something, pick a date.