Text and Hubris

I have my lesson for the week: finish what you start!

This week I started work on a University project that seems right on target with something I would want to do. The organization seems pretty solid. I wish I had a bit more direction in what it was they wanted from me but I will hash that out as my time there progresses. I’ve only been there three days and I already feel like I should have produced something. Instead, all I have is scattered notes and a lot more questions than answers. Odds are, that isn’t unusual. That doesn’t make it any less frustrating.

The most frustrating part of the whole procedure is the fact that it looks like I will be repeating a lot of work that was already done before. I find snippets and pieces of attempted code everywhere. Most are from people who are now long gone and who never completed what they started. Now, I won’t be working on this project forever. I know that. I’m also not going to up and leave something half done. I will provide documentation and hand-off. I will make sure what I do is commented and ready for whoever takes my place.
I will finish what I start. I don’t want to leave a trail of unfinished ideas behind me. I’ve done that too much in my life. Dreaming is great. Doing is better. To follow through on what you set out to do – to actually finish it – that is the real goal, though. I need to remember that.

I think we all do.