Fully Booked VA Blog

4 Reasons You Need to Finish What You Start

Today we have a guest post from Stephanie German, who enrolled in 30 Days or Less to Freelance Writing Success earlier this year. I would love to think (and be able to say) that everyone that purchases hits the ground running, completes the course in record time and lands their first client ASAP. But we all know that I’d be lying. Because that’s just not how it works. But luckily, Stephanie is here to share her story. And maybe it’ll inspire you to finish something you’ve been putting off too!

If you are anything like me, I get excited about new opportunities. I often see the latest and greatest and think, “I could do that.” And I jump in with both feet.

At least for a little while.

When I learned about Gina’s online course, 30 Days or Less to Freelance Writing Success, I knew I had to jump at the opportunity. I love to write. I was in the process of creating a website with my own domain and web hosting and had a backlog of blogs written.

I have a message I know I am supposed to share with the world. What better way to do this than to write?

From the reviews, I knew I would receive a step-by-step guide on how to launch a freelance writing career. The self-paced email feature was great…at first. I did a couple of lessons a night or was able to complete a lesson on my lunch break.

I started the course on March 20th. And I am ashamed to admit as I’m writing this, that I’m stuck on Day 18! If my math is correct, it has taken me more than 30 days to launch my freelance writing career.

And it’s not that I don’t want to do the lessons. I just have a lot of irons in the fire.

And what started out as a priority slowly dwindled down the list to being non-existent. Every time I look in my inbox, I see my flagged email with the subject line “Lesson 18: Accounting for Your Business.”

If the word accounting doesn’t scare you, then you must not be afraid of anything. 😉

But I also know without a doubt that I am supposed to work towards a freelance writing career. It’s time that I get my butt in gear.

If there’s something you’ve been putting off too, let’s ignore the fear (or other excuses) and get going doing it anyway. Here are four reasons why you (and I need) to finish what we start.

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1. Remember Your Why

The first lesson of 30 Days or Less is to write down your “why.” A strong why is important for any goal that’s important to you. Like becoming a freelance writer, for instance.

Like me, I imagine that you had an excellent and very compelling reason as to why you wanted to pursue whatever goal you’re working towards.

If you were smart enough to write it down, go back and look at it.

Is it compelling enough to finish? If it isn’t, then feel free to stop reading. You probably shouldn’t try to finish something that’s not important to you.

If it is compelling enough, then make it your mission to remember it and meditate on it often. Write it down on a piece of paper or post-it note and put it where you will see it every day. Put it on your bathroom mirror or on the dashboard in your car.

Remind yourself of your why every day.

2. Live the Life You Want

From everything I have seen and read, becoming a freelance writer is a lot of work, but it is also a means of creating a pretty amazing lifestyle if you do it right. Do you want:

  • More flexibility in your life?
  • To control how much income you are able to make? 
  • To control your time instead of the corporate world telling you when to show up and when you can leave?
  • More time to travel?

These are the things I want. And for me, each lesson I finish takes me one step closer to living the life I want. What does completing one more step of your goal get you closer to?

3. Do Something You Love

If you started pursuing a big, scary life-changing goal, it’s safe to say it’s important to you. And you decided to keep reading, so it must still be.

I signed up for a freelance writing course, because I love to write and have something to say. I believe the world needs my voice and what I have to share.

This course has provided hands on, practical advice that will help me launch the freelance career I want and finally start doing something that I love. On day 13, Gina gives us an example of the evolution/format she uses when she pitches for writing work. I can use this template as an example and format it with my own information. 

Finishing the course is going to get me one step closer to doing something I love. How about you?

4. Overcome Your Fear

One reason I stopped the course…fear.  What if I pitch and no one takes me on as a client? What if I get a job, but can’t deliver like I think I can? What if no one reads what I write?

Living in a place of fear and worry means you will never take a chance on what could be. Don’t look back in 10 years and wonder what could have been.

Let’s overcome our fear and live out our fullest potential by taking risks. Take the risk that is going to move you in the direction you want. For me completing this course is the next step to help me do just that.

The Next Practical Step

If finishing what’s important to you truly is a priority, you need to schedule it in your calendar.

On Sundays, I go to my main calendar and add any appointments that are not already listed. I create appointments with myself to make sure I have my priorities in place.

I have set aside time to workout regularly in the past using this method and now I need to do the same thing to finish the course. If I am invited to do something, I can legitimately say I have an appointment and can’t make it, even though the appointment is with myself.

How many days of working towards your goal do you have left?

It’s time to get it done. Pull up your calendar and add some appointments with yourself.

The main time I have to complete the course is during my lunch break. To make sure that I complete the course, I have scheduled time during my lunch break over the next three weeks. And I’m going to make it happen!

When will you commit to completing what’s important to you?

Stephanie head shotStephanie German is a coach and freelance writer specializing in purposeful living, leadership, and work-life balance. She is passionate about helping others learn to thrive in the busyness of life.

She’s married and has her hands full with two little ones. Check out her website, From Here to There to learn more.

Ready to Kickstart YOUR
Freelance Writing Biz?
Grab two of our most popular workSheets and get started TODAY!

Gina Horkey

Gina Horkey

FOUNDER & CO-OWNER

Gina Horkey is a married, millennial mama from Minnesota. Additionally, she’s the founder of Horkey HandBook and loves helping others find or become a kickass virtual assistant. Gina’s background includes making a living as a professional writer, an online business marketing consultant and a decade of experience in the financial services industry.

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