Start strong and finish well

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Someone reminded me we’re just days away from another New Year. I checked my calendar and had to laugh – I’m already booked for several “start-of-the-year” rallies for different companies.

Those rallies always emphasize the same idea: Start strong, finish well.

Every time I hear that phrase, two names come to mind – two army buddies who once slept on bunks just a few feet apart, got up early together, marched together, and then went their separate ways when new orders came.

Their names? Walt and Ray.

Back then, they were just soldiers. No one knew that each of them carried a gift that would reshape global business and entertainment. Their rare ability was simple: they could see the finish line.

Walt, who was always sketching during his spare time, was a fast starter. He saw more in those drawings than anyone else. He saw Mickey Mouse, then a studio, then Disneyland. Before he died, he already had the vision for Disney World and EPCOT. He wasn’t just drawing cartoons; he was drawing the future.

Ray, on the other hand, wasn’t a fast starter. He sold milkshake machines. He became his company’s top salesman, but by most standards, he was a late bloomer. Yet Ray Kroc had a vision.

He bought a small burger operation from the McDonald brothers, saw what it could become, and built the world’s largest fast-food chain.

Today, we watch The Lion King and Pocahontas, then drive out for a Big Mac – thanks to two former bunkmates who learned to see beyond their current assignment.

Nobody in the barracks could have guessed who they would become. That’s how vision works. It often looks unimpressive at the start.

As this year comes to an end, I find myself asking:

What do I want my life to look like five or 10 years from now?

What kind of person do I want to be by then?

What kind of future do I want my children to step into?

Honest answers to those questions determine the choices you make today.

The problem is that most people never define their finish line. They define deadlines, quotas and annual targets – but not life targets.

When that happens, you can be very busy and still be headed in the wrong direction.

The biggest lie we’re sold is that the best security is to amass as much wealth as possible “for a rainy day.”

Don’t get me wrong – saving and investing are wise and responsible. But if your ultimate vision is just a bigger pile of money, that’s a very short runway.

There are things more important than income and assets if you want to finish strong and finish well.

Nothing beats the vision of building a God-fearing, values-centered family.

We don’t just reproduce our genes; we reproduce our values.

Few joys can compare with knowing your children’s souls are secure in God’s hands and that you’ve modeled integrity, faith, and love in front of them.

Nothing beats the vision of understanding that everything we “own” is really on loan. Our time, talents, influence, and resources are all entrusted to us.

Finishing well means we’ve been faithful stewards of what God placed in our hands – not just successful managers of our personal brand.

The apostle Paul used the image of a race:

“I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.”

Olympic champions receive medals hung around their necks. The Bible talks about a day when God Himself will give crowns and rewards to those who have run their race and completed the task He assigned.

That’s the ultimate finish line.

That’s the vision that outlives every contract, campaign, and career.

So as one year closes and another begins, don’t just write resolutions – clarify your finish line.

Not just “What do I want to have next year?” but “Who do I want to be in ten years?”

Not just “How can I hit my numbers?” but “How can I deepen my character, my faith, my relationships?”

Not just “How can we start strong in January?” but “How can we still be faithful and fruitful when December comes around again?”

Every time a company invites me to speak at their New Year rally, I’m grateful and quietly reminded. The clock is ticking for all of us. The quarters and fiscal years will come and go.

The real question is:

What story are you writing with the time you have left?

Walt saw cartoons and imagined kingdoms. Ray saw a burger stand and imagined a global system.

You may see only a small business, a simple job, a quiet home. But if you can see the finish line and live today in light of it, God can do more than you think.

Time flies. Years vanish. But vision, faith, and obedience leave a legacy.

So, as we step into another year, don’t just move faster – move with purpose. Start strong. Stay the course. And, by God’s grace, finish well.

May the coming year find you not just busier, but wiser, deeper, and closer to the finish line that truly matters.

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Join Francis Kong at SpeakersCon 2026, a one-day experience designed for leaders, educators, executives, and professionals who want to communicate with clarity, credibility, and purpose. Happening on Feb. 11, 2026, at SPACE, One Ayala Makati. Gain practical insights on leadership, influence, and authentic communication in today’s evolving landscape. For inquiries, email us at [email protected] or send us a direct message at facebook.com/SpeakersCon. Visit www.speakerscon.ph for details.