Have you been satisfied with an apparent victory, stopping short of complete success?

Scripture: And it came about when Israel became strong, that they put the Canaanites to forced labor, but they did not drive them out completely (Judges 1:28).

Today’s Thought: When God delivered victory to the Israelites, he instructed them to drive the Canaanites completely out of the Promised Land. But instead of finishing the task, the army stopped short of full possession -- and the Canaanites continued to plague Israel for years to come.

Loose ends can plague your business as well. There’s an old adage that goes “Well begun is half done.” It takes persistence, discipline, and hard work to finish the job. Even when a task at work seems complete and looks successful, make sure you have followed through diligently in every respect. Don’t waste a major effort by failing to wrap up the last 3 percent of the job.

Go the extra mile. Finish filing those documents, write that follow-up report, inspect the final product, ask your customer for feedback. Following through completely will distinguish you from others, help you maintain your victories, and improve your overall performance and profitability.

Poor is he who works with a negligent hand, but the hand of the diligent makes rich (Proverbs 10:4).

Following through completely will distinguish you from others, help you maintain your victories, and improve profitability.