How to Finish What You Start

Today, I'll share four ways to use limitations to ensure you actually finish the projects you start.
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[@Thomasfrank]

Please be considerate about making jokes like, "I probably won't finish this video" because they are TOO funny and at a certain point it hurts to laugh Also connect with me on Instagram if you want more music clips and other cool stuff: instagram.com/tomfrankly/

[@vennyhearts2064]

I was just trying to procrastinate on my Case Laws notes. So I picked up my phone and I got the notification of this video. So now, I guess I'll get back to Studying. Truly effective video. THANKYOU SO MUCH SIR!

[@mohsinjameel5687]

thanks for uploading such informational videos

[@lisettegarcia]

Really dig the b-roll here: 3:26 - advances the idea as well as being visually compelling. Ty!

[@Jridgen]

I probably won't finish reading your comment.

[@tamasschumann]

Is the thumbnail a fight club reference? :D

[@PriyankaDaryani]

Time stamps: 3:00 Limitation 1: Time Limits and Deadlines - reduce the choices you make and the time you have to complete the task! The added time pressure will force you to complete the job with what you have, however it is! 4:17 Limitation 2: Scope- take on projects with a purposefully limited scope. Don’t try to be jack of all and master of none! Don’t try to do too many things or learn too many skills at the same time. Focus on one skill set at a time! 5:14 Limitation 3: Tools- again, having too many choices can create confusion and can overwhelm you. Pick a few resources you need and move forward! Brings your creativity out too... 6:46 Limitation 4: Ability to Undo- restrict yourself from trying to “undo” your mistakes. Commit to doing it right in the first take! This high-stake zone will force you to improve your skills and work with more focus as you can’t “undo” if you make a mistake!

[@santhoshanand1813]

Thank you

[@clarkkent3864]

Thank you Priyanka!

[@earldelacruz3727]

Thanks for this . It helped a lot

[@citigirlcountrified1927]

Not all heros wear capes

[@Dantick09]

Thanks! I always though this summary should be in the description

[@SAVAN_J-SAJI]

"One Today, is worth two Tomorrows" -Benjamin Franklin

[@WonderfulBoness]

What does this mean? Nvm: What you can accomplish today is more important than what you have planned for tomorrow. Today is definite, it is now. If you are able to do something today, do it.

[@rebeccadavison3933]

The concept of not being able to hit undo is sooo underrated for making progress on projects. I remember in my high school art classes I was always handing in my work late and getting too caught up trying to make my drawings perfect. One day my teacher told me that from then on I had to draw in pen, not pencil. I hated it at first because I couldn't erase my mistakes, but I quickly improved my drawings because I wasn't constantly trying to perfect minor details. Now I almost always draw in pen and I am so grateful my teacher made me adopt that technique. Perfectionism is often the enemy of success, limiting the number of times you can restart or redraft is such a useful practice! Thanks for another great video, Thomas!

[@cooldragoncool3046]

Thanks for such an advice i hope with this i can finish off my 3D projects which are stucked from long way

[@tumblingrosesstudio]

Thanks for sharing this story- so helpful and what a great teacher!!! Cheers!

[@MXRX]

Thank you for sharing, I think this will help!

[@ayoubbabiker5770]

"Analysis Paralysis" Problems that rhyme are the worst...

[@dennisdiede]

I appreciate Thomas' basic way of teaching and respect his intellect. Smart people love more knowledge and different perspectives. Thomas is one of my favorite teachers.

[@MisterPol]

It's a new month. No excuses to not hold yourself accountable to your goals!!

[@MisterPol]

And Thomas, you really helped me stay productive during quarantine. Thanks to you, I started a self-development channel!!

[@xiaominnnful]

July!!!

[@vaughnsmith5337]

I needed to hear this today, thank you!

[@roberthardy5171]

What’s so special about a new month? It’s just an arbitrary number on an arbitrary day

[@AtomizedMass]

@@roberthardy5171 It depends whether you make it meaningful or not. Make it matter. Whole life is like this

[@Yipper64]

0:50 you are literally speaking my #1 problem in life. Anyone could come up with ideas, it takes real talent to finish things, im ready to hear what you have to say to help everyone along in that.

[@bellamincooper3766]

How to Make Yourself Finish the Projects You Start Create limitation for yourself → Good limitations reduce the number of choices that you have, which reduces analysis paralysis. Limitation 1: Time Limits and Deadlines The important thing is the project’s done. Also, it can be a good exercise for your skills. Limitation 2: Scope Take on tiny little projects to develop your skills, make them habitual and the applied them to more challenging projects in the future. Limitation 3: Tools • Reduce the number of tools you will use. • You will become more creative when you use fewer tools. Limitation 4: Ability to Undo If you want to push your creativity and ensure that you finish, try restricting your ability to undo.

[@hugogirod1606]

Thank you Thomas once again for your wise advice. I am 18 and have had cancer for 2 years now. Since the first day I knew about this, I wanted to make a youtube channel to talk about it. I never did tho, because of chemotherapy. However, now that I am in a better place, I find myself having lots of ideas but neve manage to finish them, mainly because I find myself excuses. But I think, eventhough my energy is limited, I should also add limits and deadlines to my projects so I can finish them. This comment will be a witness of my commitment to succed in that!

[@Fabiandur]

Good luck man! Sincerely. What projects have you had difficulties with?

[@DeniseVlogs]

"How to Finish What You Start" Me: *clicks save to watch later*

[@nikolassehman]

I love seeing the production value increase with each episode! The “pick one the to improve” approach really starts to stack up!

[@marksilla8276]

Are you reading my mind? I've been suffering from this of late.

[@najrenchelf2751]

I don‘t remember who said this but: sometimes done is better than perfect. Hope y‘all are doing well! 🤗 Update: I just remembered - Legal Eagle said that!

[@AtomizedMass]

Couldn't agree more, thank you

[@mannybarnes2053]

Heard this on one of Peter Mckinnon's videos :)

[@UnboxingJobs]

Thank you, appreciate the reminder!

[@feeshac1974]

Basically every prof ive had has said this to me at some point as a chronic procrastinator/perfectionist 😅

[@scaramouche768]

"Something is better than nothing" -my teacher :)

[@jotarroa]

As a music producer, this is by far one of the best advices I’ve been advocating for and its explained marvelously. Well done 🙏🏼 Coming from both a classical and modern production background, limitation is actually a good companion if understood properly. I believe well thought out limitations on your art can creates good judgement; your judgement = your style and aesthetic.

[@transcendentdrummer]

This is exactly what I needed to see right now!!

[@abbey1207]

i love how this video takes exactly what I'm going through and puts it into words. I have so many projects that I've started and I keep revising everything before I finish them or starting over or just moving on to completely different things. It's so much weight to have so many halfway finished things that I usually end up just doing nothing at all with my time. Trying to turn it all around.

[@felix.dragoi]

7 years later, this channel is still as helpful and practical. ✔️

[@RunningTowardSunshine]

I love the jam study! It explains why we need to narrow our focus when it comes to tasks and at the same time it also explains why we shop at stores like Trader Joe’s with limited options.

[@alfonshomac]

I design "Missions" In Notion. Designing a mission has three definitional elements: 1. Recon: The world as it is explained in a way that makes it obvious that it is a problem. 2. Success Criteria: The world as I want it explained in a way that is achievable. 3. Optimization: Design the collection of tasks S.T. the world translates from Recon to Success Criteria. sometimes you can do 3 by "Reverse induction". You start with your goal and then figure out what's step N-1. Each mission has a view to my master task database filtering by elements having itself as a mission. I add tasks from there. This way, I rarely ask the question "Why was I doing this?" and it feels like an RPG in which I level myself up each time I accomplish a mission. I can also give badass codenames which is fun.

[@tearstoneactual9773]

S.T.? N-1?

[@LunarLightReal]

Why don't make a video about it and explain it in detail. If you really make a video about this then msg me, I would really like watch it

[@alfonshomac]

@@tearstoneactual9773 Sorry haha that's Mathspeak. S.T. : "Such that" N-1 means something like "Second to last". If I line up N things, give me the one before N. Say the state of the world is B but I don't know this and so I don't even know where to even start planning. What I do know is that I want to get to state F. I can tell that E is before F and so I write the action that achieves the following transition in "worlds". E -> F ( "->" is the actual task you design) Now I just need to know how to get to E... and I still don't know where I am but I know that D is before E and so I write: D -> E -> F D gives away C and once I recognize C as being just one task away from the world as it is right now, I've found myself by "Backwards Induction", which is a game theory idea you can search more about if you want, it's pretty interesting.

[@tearstoneactual9773]

@@alfonshomac - It's just walking yourself backward from where you want to be, to where you currently are.

[@alfonshomac]

@@tearstoneactual9773 that's the simplest way I'd put it but beware claiming competence prematurely. Inverse induction is as simple as that in the same sense that Differential Calculus is just about how one quantity changes with respect to another using fancy subtraction and Integral Calculus is just about how things accumulate using fancy addition.

[@YashBhatter]

Project management is like juggling three balls - time, cost and quality. My project is my KZbin channel, and quality of content is my #1 priority. Learning from Thomas :)

[@AnuragSharma-dm4bu]

I watched your video on self-doubt and loved your content! Subbed. Respect ++

[@YashBhatter]

@@AnuragSharma-dm4bu I'm glad you found it useful! Thanks Anurag :)

[@YashBhatter]

@@MyNontraditionalLife You are inspiring! You've been posting for years altogether, I'm sure I can learn a lot from you! I'd love to get your feedback on my channel! 😊

[@CameronGibsonIRL]

This video spoke to me on so many levels. I love starting new things but the consistency and following projects through to their completion is absolutely something I'm taking more action on. Starting my own KZbin channel has been a great exercise in discipline and applying these "limitations" . (eg a weekly deadline, a specific scope, tools AND the ability to undo - once you upload, there's no going back!) Thanks again for some great insights, Thomas!

[@lucijavidergar7425]

I have finshed a lot of my songs with a help of a friend. He helped me a a lot with just being there and adding some ideas here and there, with composing, chords, lyrics, and the process was quite fun. We also finshed the songs sooo quickly! So ANOTHER TIP would be to find someone who will keep you accountable for some time!! Then you'll get the hang of it and will manage on your own :) however, I'm going to start a band with my other friend now, and I'm sure that will also be quite fun. You know - the people who want to go far, go together.

[@SamMartinPeakPerformance]

Yes! Accountability partners is by far one of the most key things to ensure you keep on track to your goals

[@Thomasfrank]

That's a great additional tip!

[@72Reshu]

That's really encouraging, it's what I've been doing as well since writing things by myself can get lonely, or repetetive...

[@abdullahyahya2471]

Man, Thank you so much. Sometimes I think I have consumed enough productivity Videos and I don't need more, but your videos are an exception. I just went through your past videos that I have liked. Each one is Gold. Your videos are actually packed with great advice. ❤❤❤

[@VictorRegouin]

I so need this video right now! I had planned to finish this new youtube video on monday already and hope to finishing it today! Thank you for the inspiration!

[@bindiya_ganatra]

So needed this video today! Thanks Thomas Frank!!!!!

[@panorama_mastering]

As someone in the music industry I very much connected with this video. Analysis paralysis is a huge creative block a lot of artists get stuck in. Perfection is the enemy of progress!

[@JacoArias]

Awesome video Thomas! Thank you for all the advice! Your videos inspired me to create my own KZbin channel. Un abrazo desde Colombia!🇨🇴🇨🇴🇨🇴

[@caproductivity8463]

Bro I’ve recently learned how to apply consistency in m everyday life and that helped me with my channel but more importantly with my mental health and it’s because of people like you, Matt and Ali abdaal that I was able to make this change 🙏🏿

[@amarachiestherchukwu6952]

I realized i suffer from analysis paralysis recently and this just gave more tips to battle it. I found it helpful thank you

[@hils4228]

Loved this video! Well done!

[@callmesasha.n]

Really great advice! thanks for sharing.

[@jassimkoya]

I so needed this. Thanks a ton, mate!

[@NarangaravZorigt]

Thomas your video quality is just fire every time like dayum. You're one of the youtubers that inspired me to start my own channel. Thank you for all that you do.

[@savannahsosa4294]

Thanks for always releasing this when I need it

[@themagnificentshithawks1400]

bro, you are seriously saving my LIFE with this video. thank you from the bottom of my heart

[@jeremywest6603]

Incredibly well done video. Great information and succinct in its delivery.

[@_aceazka]

honestly this kind of topic came out just in time I need it, thank you so much Thomas, great insights and amazing video as alway

[@CassieWinter]

Yesssss. Intentional limitations are so important!

[@hamadkadventures5358]

I am the same. I have so many ideas and projects going but find it so hard to finish. Thank you for the video :)

[@neilirani7127]

Thank u for making these videos it has helped me in many ways I am thankful.🙂❤️❤️ Lots of love from me ❤️

[@sprocketblvd6758]

Thanks for another great video Thomas! Love what you do

[@financiallift6185]

I started this video but I'll probably finish it later...

[@MandiiKiniss1907]

🤣🤣🤣🤣💀💀💀💀💀

[@mouheb1526]

😂😂

[@joshuagrose-borton3736]

Ahaha haaa same 😂

[@69jalo]

❤️

[@jordiyaputra8359]

Haha good one. As for me who started to write this commen...

[@diegopayan6731]

Thanks for sharing such valuable information Thomas!!! Truly thankful

[@richardstanmeyer]

I've never thought of the 4th Limit in the manner that Thomas described, very insightful. Thank you Thomas!!

[@ayellowpapercrown6750]

Did the FBI agent in my webcam tell you to make this video I’ve literally never finished a project in my life but I start like 3 or 4 a day

[@metalinvador]

The video that I needed to watch, thank you!

[@ellensundestrand1326]

I've had that same problem. Tons of ideas, many songs started, but very few finished. Last December I challenged myself to do a song a week this year. It's been going very well and fighting both my perfectionism and fear of rejection. I'm still playing catch-up on it due to a health-related hiatus, but my mindset shift is really coming along. It's been very helpful.

[@faithfulgal3003]

Awesome podcast I needed to hear this! Much Love ❤️

[@soupsinha]

Thomas: Do whatever you want 'cause I'm not your dad Me: *panics* Father no plz give us limitations so we can finish our projects

[@DonsHerr]

"father no" that got me 😂😂😂😂

[@soupsinha]

@@DonsHerr I can't believe he just disowned us like that 😢

[@OmerHBabiker]

Thank you so much for this suggestions 🌷

[@sumahuma6054]

Soooo helpful. As always.

[@nileshgadiya]

Thank you so much.. You are doing an amazing work.

[@chandiragunasena5964]

Many thanks Thomas. Much needed video to help with my research.

[@CaspiaNadapdap]

Thank you for this video! I've been needing something like this for a project I'm working on right now

[@sherrybradshaw5099]

Thank you, this is very helpful.

[@pedrofigueirinha5325]

Loved the message. Loved the video edit, smooth transitions. Keep it up!

[@khateebahmed9523]

Thank you Thomas for the lit content

[@devotedsouls3760]

This is exactly what I needed!

[@ValerieOkorie]

Thank you so much Tom....you help me to grow everyday....your the best.

[@ishu5434]

Thank you for this video

[@francismoalahi7035]

Sometimes i use Thomas videos as motivation❤🙏🇿🇦

[@arvinsim]

Totally can relate with this one. I am learning music production and the start is usually intense and inspired. It's hard to power through a point where you feel that you cannot develop the song anymore.

[@niyamacharya7320]

Thank you so much Thomas!

[@tomisin]

I needed this video

[@MariaMoussa]

Thomas I don't know if you read all your comments or not but I felt the urge to tell you how valuable of a person you are. There's a difference between a world where you exist and a world where you don't. You make this world a better place. I hope you know that. Sending my love from Lebanon - Middle East.

[@Wellgraf]

Amazing tips Thomas! Just checked out you Notion Production template too, insanely good work there! Thank you!

[@transcendentdrummer]

Limitations are sooo good for creativity! I was struggling coming up with melodies with my full sized midi keyboard and then I had a rush of ideas when I switched to my 25 key midi keyboard!!

[@aditiofficial_965]

Actually this video helped me out alot...this was only my biggest problem which @Thomas Frank sir just solved in a go...the diversity in the choices i had made my mind puzzled all the time and i couldn't stick to a point confidentely i already did.....thank you so much sir....

[@MaksDopler]

Thanks for the video

[@Shadow0fGames]

I finished this video in 10 hours, always coming back and watching a little because i got distracted all the time... (a wonderful video by the way Thomas, I'm thankful for your effort, you bring such a calming and hopeful feeling to me about my future)

[@jonklopez]

Thanks for all the great tips

[@composerlordrye]

Hey man, just wanted to say thanks for the vid!

[@Lucas_S91]

I like what you said about limitations regarding musical instruments. I'm a bass player and I have several basses. One of them is a Fender Precision, another one is an active Ibanez 5-string. I usually grab the Fender when I want to play. The fact that it is quite limited in its options makes it more appealling to me. Just a volume- and a tone knob, one pick-up and flatwound strings. While the Ibanez has a lot more knobs, two pick-ups and 5 strings. Limitations inspire creativity.

[@iluvsyphonfilter]

Excellent video!

[@CCV334]

Hi Thomas, I Found this video very insightful. As a long time viewer of the channel, It's really inspiring seeing you grow as a creator. The evolution of your communication, storytelling skills, and editing has come a long way (shout out to your team as well). The concept of breaking projects down into smaller completed parts really stuck out to me. As a programmer, I would much rather have a repository of completed small projects than one of uncompleted large ones. P.S. Hopefully I'll finish some of my song ideas as well haha.

[@hiveimprovements3009]

Nice tips ! tnx

[@stacybeasley9450]

Thank you so much for this video. This is a major problem for me. I created notes from your video and plan to put those in action. Writing this book I am writing is important to me and I have to finish it. Thank you for these tips.

[@Rootiii1]

Great advice.

[@octobomb]

your videos are inspiring!

[@connorhebert6780]

The man does it all.

[@mindfuldeclutteringorganizingl]

So true that we get analysis paralysis with too many choice. Love that jam study!

[@evox2k]

Oh man, why is it when we start something for ourselves its harder to finish than when its for others. I feel we were brought up to finish what others ask of us.

[@ananyabaikar6985]

Nice video Thomas... Thank you for inspiring me

[@ivanov.roma2002]

Thank you for interesting and useful video👍😊

[@PrincessPumpernickel]

I love your videos since I've been watching your videos my tests score have been higher and I've been passing subjects thanks dude your awesome.

[@munirobeidat7433]

Good video, thank you

[@rahilatre8203]

Thomas you are a modern renaissance man! That guitar piece was sick man and hope the music projects continue to come out!

[@kozinoart]

Finishing personal l projects has been such a challenge! Thank you for this

[@amycurtis7954]

I started this video, got interrupted, and almost forgot to finish it later. The irony made me laugh. Lol

[@DeOPe]

Another problem of today: too much distractions and missing focus and concentration on one thing (which also can be a thing for not finishing projects - at least I recognized it for me). Thx for sharing :-)

[@thehappyalgorithm7707]

Awesome video 👌 definitely agree a lot of options can lead you to failure to complete your projects

[@defaultlicia4819]

Love you mate

[@arytiwari3789]

Nice frequency of uploads. The last video came just 3 days ago. Keep it up bro. U R highly motivating

[@ThomasSheltrownMusic]

From one tank engine to another, thank you for taking the time to make this vid. Also, this comment only exists because I know you made a Thomas the Tank Engine joke at one point and it's nice to know I'm not alone in that sense.

[@UnrealToonz]

I have a problem with finishing animation projects but this could work for my animation process.

[@bamlaktadesse4880]

I was so overwhelmed yesterday that I stop working on my projects, this helps me alot

[@arslanhashmi3103]

Very helpful.

[@jonathanqueiros4071]

Thank you 👏👏👏

[@jonathanallison785]

literally just what i needed atm

[@anirudhkumar4507]

The entire video before that Brilliant ad cutaway was perfect! 👌🏼