Almost There

Almost there is where most people mess it up.

This is dropping at the end of year, it’s Christmas and the new year is around the corner. Naturally, that puts people (us OG MIllennial’s, we’re people) in reflection mode.

We start looking back and taking stock.

Thinking about what worked, what didn’t, and what’s almost done. That’s exactly why this idea of being ‘ALMOST THERE’ matters even more right now.

One of the most dangerous places to be isn’t behind.
It’s almost there.

Here’s a fun fact stat I found via research that underscores just how important this idea of almost there is:

Moral of the story, the closer you get to your destination, the more lax you become, when that’s the time you actually need to tighten up and arrive at the destination safely.

We don’t usually fall apart when things are going badly.
Failure is loud. It forces humility. It slows you down.

Progress on the other hand, is quiet and that’s what makes it dangerous.  On both ends of the mental spectrum.

Not winning. Not losing. It’s being almost there.

Almost in shape.
Almost consistent.
Almost disciplined.
Almost profitable.
Almost free.

That’s when people stop respecting time.

Especially late in the year, this is when momentum exists and patience starts to wear thin.

When you’re far from the goal, you respect the process because you have no choice.  You know you have a long way to go and you just focus on putting one foot in front of the other.

When you’re close, you can start acting like the process is optional.

Rules bend. Standards soften. Shortcuts look reasonable.  After-all, you’re almost there.

Think about it:

Nothing blew up.
That’s the trap.

Failure teaches patience.
Progress creates urgency.

When things start working, the internal dialogue changes:

Most people don’t fail from lack of effort, they fail from premature confidence.

They stop tracking.
They stop reviewing.
They stop optimizing,
They stop protecting consistency.

It’s also never because they stopped caring, it’s usually because they felt close enough to let their foot off the gas.  Keep in mind letting your foot off the gas isn’t limited to just reduction in sheer effort.  As highlighted earlier, it could be less discipline, less foucs on fundamentals, skipping steps, etc.

This is the point in the year where people mentally coast because a new chapter feels imminent.  However, momentum doesn’t reset just because the calendar does.

How you finish matters more than how you plan.
The habits you loosen now are the ones you’ll have to rebuild later.

OG Millennials should understand this:

The closer you get, the more disciplined you need to become.
Not looser. Not faster.  Not sloppy.

Almost there isn’t permission to relax.
It’s your signal to lock in.

The finish line doesn’t care how close you felt, it only cares what you sustained and if you actually got there.

Progress isn’t supposed to rush you.
It’s supposed to refine you.

So before the year closes, ask yourself:

Finish steady.
Finish disciplined.
Finish intentionally.

That’s how you actually arrive.