She was confident that she was faster than the other runners on the starting line. As the starting gun fired, she thrusted forward from the starting block with great energy and speed. Three quarters of the way through the race she had a notable lead and began to revel in the thought of her victory. Her overconfidence and premature gloating caused her to slow her cadence and just as she approached the finish line two runners darted pass her leaving her with a third-place finish.
Ideally you want to start strong, stay strong, and finish strong. However, a weak start does not prevent you from having a strong race. You may have a mid-race spirt and make up for lost time. You may have a strong start and a mid-race stumble or lull, but the race may be determined in how strong you finish. Like the runners who took the lead at the finish line, if you discipline yourself to always finish strong, you may be surprised at the outcome.
To be disciplined for success, we must give consistent effort to always finish strong. The more determined we are to finish strong, the more likely we are to develop a habit of starting strong. When we develop the discipline of starting and finishing strong, the easier it becomes to stay strong. If we practice this discipline every day, and in every task, our ongoing success will astound us and those who may be watching from the stands. Start strong! Be strong! Finish strong! Stay strong!