Rethink Journeys Part IV: The art of finishing
How to end with intention, not just completion
Dear Rethinkers,
What a whirlwind week! Roots of Trust finally opened at the London Design Biennale, and it’s been a beautifully surreal experience. Standing in an installation that began as a vague idea and now lives, breathes, and invites others in.
I find the end of long creative projects are often met with a mixture of anxiety, excitement and a tinge of sadness. There is the joy of seeing how people will respond and experience your work, and the fear that all might not go as planned. Over the years, I’ve learned (slowly!) that this dance between excitement and uncertainty is part of the process and that some things are simply beyond our control.
Despite all the confidence, knowledge and skills we gain over the course of a creative journey, just before you reach the finish line, there’s often a sudden, quiet doubt: Am I really ready?
That feeling never fully goes away, no matter our level of experience. But I’ve come to see it as a powerful sign. It means you care.
Throughout this Rethink Journeys series, I’ve loved hearing about the ideas you're nurturing, building, and bravely sharing with the world. This final edition is about something we rarely talk about: the art of finishing with intention.
If you’re anything like me, that part doesn’t come naturally. I’ve often rushed past the moment, already on to the next idea, or focused on the tiny things I wish I’d done better. But I’m learning that finishing (really finishing) is itself its own creative act.
So, here are a few reflections and learnings I hope will be helpful to you as you cross your own creative finish lines.
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