Hey :)
A partner said to me recently: “None of this would have been done if it wasn’t for you, Marr.”
It was a great compliment.
But what it really confirmed for me was this: someone has to be the one who ships things.
Someone needs to take ideas, run with them, and actually get them over the line.
And the truth is, it’s not any easier for me than it is for most people.
Most of us are great at starting things, but not finishing them.
Ideas are cheap, fun, and easy.
Finishing them is hard, uncomfortable, and usually a bit boring.
Here’s how I’ve come to understand it:
Starting is exciting because it doesn’t demand much commitment.
Finishing requires conviction — and conviction comes from clarity.
If you’re clear on why something matters, you’ll stick with it when it gets hard.
If you’re not clear, you’ll drift.
Before I start something, I slow down and ask:
A partner said to me recently: “None of this would have been done if it wasn’t for you, Marr.”
It was a great compliment.
But what it really confirmed for me was this: someone has to be the one who ships things.
Someone needs to take ideas, run with them, and actually get them over the line.
And the truth is, it’s not any easier for me than it is for most people.
Most of us are great at starting things, but not finishing them.
Ideas are cheap, fun, and easy.
Finishing them is hard, uncomfortable, and usually a bit boring.
Here’s how I’ve come to understand it:
Starting is exciting because it doesn’t demand much commitment.
Finishing requires conviction — and conviction comes from clarity.
If you’re clear on why something matters, you’ll stick with it when it gets hard.
If you’re not clear, you’ll drift.
Before I start something, I slow down and ask:
- Should I even be doing this?
- Is it the best use of my time?
- Does it have strategic intent?
If I can answer yes, I’ll finish it.
The hard part is always the last 10%.
It’s where things stop being fun and start demanding focus.
And that’s where most people give up.
There’s a line from Elizabeth Gilbert I love:
“You’re not allowed to start something new unless you have a history of finishing something.”
If you’re always starting but never finishing, nothing gets shipped — and no value gets created.
Finishing is a skill.
It’s one you can learn.
And it’s the one that will make you more valuable — to your clients, your business, and yourself.
For owners & leaders: The question isn’t how many ideas your team has. It’s who’s actually getting them shipped?
Who’s the “shipper” in your organisation — and what helps them get things over the line?
🗣️👀
Chris.