The Art of Finishing
Copyright © 2018 by LeVar Kelly
No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopy, recording, or any information storage and retrieval system, without the prior written permission of the author.
Book Cover Design by Jeffery Brower of Custom Made Graphics Design CustomMadeGraphics@gmail.com
ISBN: 978-1-54-392530-2
Table of Contents
Acknowledgements
Introduction
Chapter 1: Starting is Easy
Chapter 2: Practice Makes Better
Chapter 3: Why Can’t You Finish?
Chapter 4: You Can Finish This
Chapter 5: I Finished. Now What?
About the Author
Connecting with the Author
Other Books by the Author
To God – I know it seems like a cliché and people always say it, but I must mention Him first. He placed me in a specific place in time, in a family full of gifts on a path that will ensure I walk with Him and do His will. Without Him knowing me first and placing me where I should be, I wouldn’t be the vessel He’s creating me to be. I continue to yield to Him as He helps me finish my course.
To my immediate family – mom, dad, and siblings – they each influenced me to be better in countless ways. Their example has been the best examples in my life. I know many people, but there’s no other group of people around like my immediate family.
To my niece, Janai, and nephew, Cabel – I love them both dearly. My prayer for them is that as they watch me they only see God in me helping me to be all He wants me to be. I also pray that as they see God in me, they allow God to work in them so they too can learn The Art of Finishing.
To my extended family, The Frazier’s and The Kelly’s – God knew what lineage to place me in. My ancestry roots run deep with people who have finished many goals. I know them from afar but know them so close and near because of the testimonies and impressions they have left with many.
To all my challenges, handicaps, and fears – They each said I couldn’t accomplish goals and make it to the finish line with many things. By the grace of God, I’m a finisher who is continuously finishing. They try to hold me back, but they can’t. God is with me.
On Sunday, November 1, 2015, I crossed the finish line at the TCS New York City Marathon. Upon completion, I had a new found love and appreciation for people who finished marathons. This one race caused me to realize that it takes a series of activities to be able to complete marathons or anything for that matter.
While reflecting on the training process of a marathon, I was able to glean several critical elements related to The Art of Finishing. Many of these features have been elements I’ve learned over the years in many situations and circumstances. From marathon training to studying for tests to working multiple projects at work, the elements presented in this book are applicable in so many areas of anyone’s life.
In this book, Taylor is a fictional character I created to help explain The Art of Finishing. Through her life and those in her life, you will learn the process of The Art of Finishing. Likewise, you will understand how to apply The Art of Finishing to your goals.
You’ve struggled long enough with your goals. It’s time to finish them.
My prayer is that by the end of this book, you will feel empowered to begin to and perfect The Art of Finishing in your life.
Each of us innately knows how to start. It’s a matter of cause and effect.
When Taylor was born, she came out of the birth canal crying and screaming. She did the only thing she knew to do from the very beginning of life – cry. When she was hungry, she cried. When her diaper needed changing, she cried. Baby Taylor used her only means of expression to get what she needed or rather reach her goal - food, diaper change, etc.
It’s often sad to see adults who continue this cycle. They grow up into adults, but continue to cry – whine, complain and sometimes fall into deep depression or become suicidal. Why do some people do this? It’s because they know how to start. Crying is the most basic form of starting a goal and many people get stuck there.
During Taylor’s adolescent and teenage years into adulthood, like many people – she started many things. There were many first days of school; first dates; starting school projects; reading of new books, starting household chores, starting new jobs, and countless other things. Hence, she understood the principle of starting.
If we consider Taylor’s life presented thus far in this book - and our own lives for that matter - we probably all can agree that to some extent we all innately understand how to start a vision or goal. So, I must present this question. Is the problem finishing?
Why is Finishing an Art?
Before answering the question, “Is the problem finishing?” I must answer the question of, “Why is Finishing an Art?”
I use the word art to describe finishing because it is an art. It is something learned, and practiced. It’s something that has levels of intellect and perception. There is depth, skill, and a level of brilliance associated with the ability to finish. Let me give you an example. Baby Taylor just took her first baby steps. She will never experience her first steps again. Soon, she progressed from baby steps to full on walking to then running. Later on in life, while in high school, Taylor joined the track & field team. It was during this time the dream of being an Olympic athlete was born. Her performance in high school was so outstanding that she received a full scholarship to college. While in college, she was able to participate in national and international races. During her senior year of college, she qualified for a spot on the track & field team of the Olympics where she won her Olympic medal in the 100-meter dash.
During Taylor’s early years as a runner, she lost many races. She learned from them, practiced more and continued to display improvements in the artistry. She endured the process throughout her training and reached a significant amount of accomplishments as a runner. With each phase of her life, she was committed to the goal and grew to master the artistry of running. With each phase, she improved her outlook from what it was (her reality) until she reached what she perceived or viewed in her mind – Olympic victory.
Taylor could have very well operated on an intermediate level – a level where she walked and ran like any normal person with a moderate exercise level. However, at the birth of her goal – Olympic victory – came the need for her to move from intermediate to expert. She learned the art of finishing from one goal.
Taylor was able to change the quality of walking, by performing and practicing aesthetic principles associated with the advanced demonstration of a runner. She went beyond the level of normalcy and became more than ordinary in her expression of finishing as a runner.
If you are going to learn how to make art by finishing, you will have to be like Taylor. Pick one goal you have in life and become an expert. By picking one goal and going through the process with that goal, you will learn so much about yourself. Thereafter, what you’ve learned from one goal, you can apply to many other goals.
Is The Problem Finishing?
The best way to answer this question is with an experience from Taylor. During Taylor’s freshmen year in high school, she, Dannielle and Sonia - her best friends at the time - loved running. They all dreamed of one day being on the track and field team, and spent most of their freshmen year together experiencing high school life. However, they all had different goals in their math class. Taylor always studied to achieve an “A+” grade in math and all her classes. Dannielle struggled with math class. Thus, she studied and worked hard, but was only able to achieve a grade of a “B.” For Sonia, she didn’t care about her grades at all. She focused on being a track and field star. Thus, when she passed math class with a “D,” she wasn’t pressed about it.
So, was the problem finishing for these girls? For each of these girls, finishing looked different for each of them. They all had a different goal or perception of what finishing the math class would look like for them. Based on their desire, they applied what they thought was necessary to achieve the finish they perceived. Taylor had an active study habit and motivation to try to achieve “A+’s” in all her classes. Despite Dannielle’s struggles, she applied study habits but could only reach a grade of a “B” in her understanding, application, and advancement to the finish line. Sonia was just happy to get by with little to no understanding, no application and no advancement in math class.