When I bought and built my first house, I expected it would be a lengthy process but approached it with excitement. From early design meetings to watching the foundation being poured and the walls raised, each milestone felt like tangible progress. Framing, drywall, flooring, fixtures—with each phase, my vision materialized before my eyes.
Then came a day when everything seemed complete. The house stood proudly, the major work was finished, the occupancy certificate was in hand, and I could visualize living there. Then came the “punch list.” ☹. On the surface, it was a handful of small things: a missing piece of trim, paint touch-up, a closet door that didn’t quite close properly. Nothing that prevented me from moving in, but enough that each imperfection caught my eye daily. The builder confidently assured me these final details would be resolved quickly, so I was unconcerned.
As weeks passed, the fixes remained undone. The painter moved to another job; the carpenter was busy elsewhere and the builder was onto their next project. I was left with a house that was livable but unmistakably unfinished. I didn’t want to make a fuss, but it was frustrating. I was patient and understanding through the construction phase but now I simply wanted it done. Those final details stretched on for weeks until I notified them that the final payment would be withheld until every item was resolved and the house finished. It was remarkable how quickly the punch list was completed after that!
This experience revealed a universal truth: the excitement of beginning something new comes easily. The visible progress keeps motivation high, but when the work is nearly done except for small tasks, finishing is a challenge. I’ve seen this often in professional settings. Companies launch initiatives with fanfare, and the first 90% materializes rapidly. Then, the remaining tasks, documentation, final testing, and small refinements continuously get postponed. Team members have mentally moved to the next exciting project, leaving the “almost done” work suspended in perpetual limbo. This pattern appears in our personal lives, too. The fitness regimen that was abandoned just weeks short of the goal. The golf round played brilliantly until concentration lapses on the final holes, leaving the scorecard an incomplete reflection of true ability.
Why does this happen consistently? Because finishing lacks the excitement of beginning. The final 10% rarely brings joy or the same sense of accomplishment as earlier phases. Yet without this crucial final push, nothing truly reaches completion.
My house’s punch list was only resolved when I established clear accountability and a deadline with tangible consequences. This principle applies universally. Whether constructing a home, completing a business project, or achieving a personal goal, finishing requires a compelling reason to persist, a deadline, a commitment, a reward, something that motivates powering through that final stretch.
Now, whenever I feel momentum stalling on a nearly complete task, I recall walking through my almost-perfect house, and my attention repeatedly drawn to those tiny, unfinished details. I remind myself: that the job isn’t done until the last nail is in place. The satisfaction of true completion always justifies the final effort.
“It is not enough to start; one must finish.” – Jim George
We all have that one project that’s almost done but keeps lingering. What’s yours? Drop a comment or share your story—I’d love to hear how you push through that final 10%.
Have a complete weekend.
-Vijay