Well too be fair, it’s not really THE finish line, more like the 5k finish line as you prepare for the Marathon, but either way I finished it-My book proposal. It’s done. It took me three months, (which by the way, is longer than most of my relationships last), but after endless drafts and re-writes I picked my two best chapters, typed up a 15 page proposal and query letter and sent it in. Now what?
Well, I wait, but I also reflect.
When I was Young
I wouldn’t exactly call myself a “quitter”, but I never really stuck with things. I’d play softball for a season or two and then not want to go back for a third. My mom got tired of dragging me, kicking and screaming, to piano lessons and everyone in my ballet class just seemed like such a b*tch, I didn’t really want to go. Nothing ever quite fit.
Then I got older and learned you can’t finish everything you want, because you have to make choices. My senior year of high school I chose the Drama club over the Cheerleading squad, and I couldn’t do both my sorority and keep up with my theater rehearsals when I transferred schools. You get older and learn you can’t really do it all.
Then you become an Adult….
But then “you can’t do it all” turns into, “I can’t get anything done.” Sure, everyone sets goals as an adult: pay off debt, get a better job, find someone to spend your life with. Still, we aren’t kids anymore and have a lot of additional responsibilities that get in the way of us accomplishing the longer-term items that will make us truly happy, or get us to where we ultimately want to be. Life becomes more about accomplishing the day-to-day than going for the long term. I mean, how often do we in our adult lives get to hold up that spelling bee trophy, participants medal? We don’t even get fun pizza parties anymore as a reward just for showing up.
Doing things to progress your “long term” goals is overwhelming. There were a lot of nights I wanted to go to trivia, or meet up with friends and I couldn’t because I knew I needed to finish. Sure, selling the book and getting published would be nice, but that’s not why I did it. I did it because I wanted to prove to myself that I could, that even though I’m not a child anymore I can still show up, suit up, and accomplish things for myself. In the middle of this process I realized, I haven’t really finished anything since I left college. Perhaps that’s why I’ve been feeling so lost, because I haven’t taken the chance to prove something to myself in a really, really long time.
What Does it Mean to Finish Something?
It’s so inspiring when people accomplish their goals: losing weight, hitting a zero balance, or getting a promotion. Yet, what does it really mean when we finish something? When we were younger it didn’t mean as much, yet we celebrated accomplishments more. Accomplishing your goals means you have tenacity, to go after the things you want, drive to kick yourself in the ass when no one else will, and the character to see things through. After all, when you fall short of your goals, the only person you fail is yourself.I guess what I would like for you to take away from this post is this: finish something today that you may have put off doing. Something that will help you for the long term, not doing your Wednesday night laundry on a Tuesday. Don’t finish it for the trophy or pizza party, finish something because of what it will say about you, your character and your own values.
I can honestly say I have never worked harder or for as long as I did on getting my book ready. I’m happy, but I also want to weep, because I’m just mentally exhausted. I managed to crank out this post though, my own emotional equivalent of a pizza party. I’m motivated to keep going and working hard on my goals, but not until after a nice, long nap.
Have you finished anything lately? Accomplished any important goals? I want to hear about it!
Carnivals
Finance Carn. for Young Adults at 20s Finances
Carnival of MoneyPros at Family Money Values
Carn. of Financial Camaraderie at My Personal Finance Journ
Yakezie Carnival at Young And Thrifty
Hi, my name is Lauren but I'm known to those nearest and dearest as L. Bee. After twenty-five years on the planet I have worked in a lot of industries, moved to many different cities, and made almost every money mistake you can make.Join me on my journey as I navigate my twenties and try not to pick my "money tree" bare.
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Finished a marathon yesterday =) Does that count?
Our next big goal that’s going to take more time is saving up to pay back Mr. PoP’s folks $50K that they loaned us to buy our rental property. We’ll just have to attack it in chunks and keep plugging away the way you did with your book.
Mrs. Pop @ Planting Our Pennies recently posted..A-Z of Saving Money EBook And A Giveaway
OMG Yes it counts! I could never do a marathon
Congrats on finishing your book! That’s so amazing, I can’t wait to hear more about that process. My fiancé is convinced that I should write a book sometime in the future – but I don’t think I have it in me.
The biggest accomplishment I’ve achieved recently was this morning I made a big payment on my student loans from my tax refund. The payment brought my loan balance owing down to $5132.66. The end is officially in sight!
Jordann @ My Alternate Life recently posted..Friday Link Love
Thank you Jordann, it’s a lot of work, but I think you have it in you too. Congrats on your recent debt accomplishments! That’s phenomenal!
Major congrats in order for accomplishing such a huge, emotional & daunting feat! That must feel amazing.
I totally know the feeling of being lost after college–without concrete goals and a bit adrift. I haven’t really *finished* anything in a while, unless you count painting the walls of my new home. Which seems entirely whomp whomp in comparison to a book proposal! Onwards and upwards for me, I guess!!
Painting is hard, tedious work, don’t sell yourself short! It’s all good for your arms, so I bet you’re pretty ripped
It does feel good to finish something…even for me something like getting my taxes out of the way is going to feel so good just because it’s such a pain to organize. Congrats on getting the draft done of your ebook, and speaking of ebooks, I just launched mine today with eleven other bloggers. I had a hard time just finishing two chapters, so I know it can be tough. I’m really excited though!
Budget and the Beach recently posted..So you want to save money?
I have that problem too, you are not the only one.
So major accomplishments for me this past week:
- Finishing defense driving course (started on Oct) to get insurance discount
- Switching my blog to self host
SavvyFinancialLatina recently posted..Last Check for The Mitsubishi Car loan
Congrats on switching to self hosted-this is a BIG step for your blog, and also a time consuming massive process. It was so frustrating trying to move mine over when I knew so little about computers. Let me know if you need anything!
I wouldn’t call it a goal, but I just put together my 2012 tax stuff to send to my CPA. I hate doing it, but I knew I wanted it done now before Spring Break. Why ruin a vacation doing something you don’ty like to do?
krantcents recently posted..Stop the Budget Insanity!
Major congrats on getting the book proposal done. That is a huge step. I finished up my website design this weekend and that felt pretty good. I did it myself and that is always better. My biggest finish was when I paid off my last credit card last year. I am still happy about that one. Maybe time for a pizza party?
Grayson @ Debt RoundUp recently posted..The A-Z of Saving Money eBook Review + Giveaway
Definitely time for a pizza party!
Congratulations on finishing the book proposal! Good for you! I`ve always been bad at finishing small projects, but I have finished certain big goals in life, such as losing 20+ pounds in one year!
The Norwegian Girl recently posted..Budget Friendly Cooking – What`s in your pantry?
20 lbs is no small feat, congrats on your accomplishments!
Super congrats on finishing what you started out to do, and it sounds like you learned a lot about yourself along the way
I had a tendancy to start too many things at once, and then put stuff on hold to finish up all those projects. But man does it feel good once it’s completed
Jacob @ iheartbudgets recently posted..I Wrote A Book!
I also have a hard time of “biting off more than I chew” and I am one of those people who doesn’t like to say no.
Congrats on the book proposal submission! I haven’t accomplished anything major in recent weeks except to stay sane during very difficult times. I also managed to submit all my paperwork for my taxes to my accountant and get back to working out on a more regular schedule. I”ll be content with that for the moment
Living Debt Free Rocks! recently posted..Hey Murphy: Get Your Ass Outta Here!
Sometimes when things are bad, we should all get credit for just breathing. Congrats to you!
Congratulations on your book proposal, Lauren. I just read another blogger’s proposal, and was so impressed with the huge effort it took and the insightful content. I have that list of projects not finished, many because I couldn’t possibly call it done if it isn’t perfect, right? Well, I finally switched my website over to self-edit, and it’s a big responsibility, but much more responsive. Now I’m ready for a new challenge.
Thank you Susan! The proposal was the hardest part! I’m also a perfectionist, so it took me months to craft TWO chapters because I kept re-doing them and re-doing them.
Congratulations on sending out your proposal and query letter! That is so exciting! I followed a friend’s blog as she had her first novel published and it was an incredible process. I’m so proud of her and it seems like that first phase to getting an agent was the longest/hardest and now everything is snowballing.
I recently passed my preliminary exam for my PhD, which in my program is the last step before the defense (with a lot of work and publishing in between). That was a big accomplishment – I had to produce a document and presentation along the way, which were finished products – but the bigger one will be the entire doctorate. I want to finish it definitely before I turn 30, or even before I turn 29 if I really push and get lucky.
I’m excited to see what happens, but I know I’m probably in for a bit of a wait. Thank you for your well wishes. Congrats on passing your exam, sounds like even MORE writing than a book proposal.
That’s awesome! My older sister also writes and she’s finished a few full drafts of books, and even if they never see the light of day, she wanted to finish them and I think finishing something no matter what is a big accomplishment, because it’s so easy to quit mid-way!
Mo’ Money Mo’ Houses recently posted..Thailand Trip Days 17, 18, & 19 – Doi Suthep and Ben Cocktail Bar
Yes, definitely. A LOT of people have half written novels in their desk drawers. Finishing is the hardest part, not publishing.
Woo hoo, big congratulations are in order! I had a pizza party for my team at work a few weeks back (just to tell them I’m proud of the work they’ve been doing). I think pizza parties (or the equivalent) are really important. They keep us going and remind us that we can push through the tough times. Sending a big imaginary ice cream sundae your way
KK @ Student Debt Survivor recently posted..The A-Z of Saving Money: $250 Giveaway!
Thanks KK! I wish I could get pizza parties at work!
I mostly finish small projects all the time. It feels great to put something behind me and start on something else!
Holly@ClubThrifty recently posted..Are You an Extreme Cheapskate?
Congratulations on finishing your book proposal! That’s a huge accomplishment and I’m so excited for you! You are right that it seems like we’re always moving onto something or chasing after the next thing and don’t take enough time to bask in our achievements. I’m goal-oriented person, so I get a thrill out of checking things off my list. But sometimes I wonder am I just doing stuff so I can check it off my list or am I doing the stuff that I really want to do? Something to ponder. Keep us posted on your book, fingers crossed it goes faster and brings better results than you ever imagined.
I savor that feeling of finishing something- especially something big like a book proposal. That’s excellent! I love the quote, finishing what I started has been my focus, especially since I started blogging. Writing consistently, doing what I say I will do in my business, not going deeper into debt, they’re all little steps helping me get to where I want to be.
American Debt Project recently posted..Here and There: Crack Cocaine in the 80s
Awesome post and congratulations! I just reached one of my 2013 goals of completing a half-marathon in under two hours. There is nothing quite like finishing/winning even when it’s exhausting.