Talane’s Blog of the Week, August 20, 2007

A Classic Tip from Talane . . .
Do Complete Work
Excerpted from bestselling book Coach Yourself to Success by Talane Miedaner

It may seem that the only way to save time is to get the job done as quickly as possible. While that may save time in the short run, doing complete work saves time in the long run and gives you the mental space and clarity to tackle the next project. Complete work is done so well and so thoroughly that it won't come back to haunt you.

Suppose a customer calls in and complains that an erroneous fee was charged to his account. The customer service representative reverses the charge and a credit appears on the next statement. But there is also a new charge for that month's statement. The representative took care of the fee, but did not get to the source of the problem. The client then writes a complaint letter to the president's office, and ten other employees get involved. Make it a company policy to do complete work and watch your problems disappear. At home, suppose you decide to wash the car. You use long-lasting polish to protect the finish, polish the chrome, and vacuum the glove compartment. You do a complete job. If you really go all out on a project, it is personally fulfilling. You'll be proud of your work.

You can do this in relationships too. What would your relationships be like if you said everything that needed to be said and made sure that nothing was left hanging? I have talked to many people who have never thanked their parents for bringing them into this world or told them that they love them. It is far better to express your love and forgiveness while your parents are still alive. You will free up plenty of mental space when you make a standard of doing complete work and tying up loose ends in all areas of your life.