In 1997, Gary Winnick based Global Crossing, an organization with the daring imaginative and prescient of laying undersea fiber-optic cables to construct a world IP-based telecommunications community. It was an enormous infrastructure play, designed to type the core transport layer for the web, connecting knowledge facilities and community hubs worldwide.
However as visionary because the plan was, none of it mattered with out one essential part: the final mile. That remaining connection to shoppers and companies decided whether or not the community might fulfill its promise.
World Crossing turned some of the hyped firms in the course of the dot-com growth, peaking at a $47 billion market capitalization. The demand for web bandwidth surged – simply as predicted. However by 2001, the bubble burst. The corporate had overbuilt its capability and couldn’t generate sufficient income to cowl its money owed. In January 2002, it filed for chapter with $12.4 billion in liabilities.
The lesson? You may be early and even proper, however when you don’t full the journey on the proper time, the chance slips away. As growth investors, it’s a reminder to take some earnings every so often when pleasure runs excessive. Not each rocket ship reaches the moon.
Ah, these had been the times. I used to be buying and selling tech and web shares on the forty ninth flooring of 1 New York Plaza like a person possessed. Such a career-limiting move looking back! I even traded GBLC however can’t recall whether or not I made or misplaced cash (in all probability misplaced as a result of day buying and selling seldom works out).
Why Finishing the Final Mile Is Every little thing
If there’s one mantra my spouse is uninterested in listening to, it’s this: End the final mile. Trying again, I didn’t totally admire how a lot World Crossing’s rise and fall formed the way in which I function right now.
If you not have a gradual paycheck—as I haven’t since leaving my finance job in 2012—there’s nobody to catch you when you slip. No conferences? Incredible! Neglect to comply with up? Oh properly. But in addition, no paycheck and no accomplishment. Every little thing will depend on your means to comply with by means of.
In distinction, as an worker, you would take two weeks off and nonetheless receives a commission. At giant firms, your absence may barely register when you take a three-month sabbatical. However whenever you’re by yourself—whether or not as a retiree or solopreneur—the final mile is all on you.
With out ending the ultimate leg, all of the planning, effort, and setup quantities to nothing.
A Current Missed Final Mile That Bothers Me
I’m sharing this story as a result of I dropped the ball, and I need to be accountable.
As a part of selling Millionaire Milestones: Simple Steps To Seven Figures, I supplied readers a novel likelihood for a 1-on-1 monetary session. The promotion: purchase 55 arduous copies at a bulk low cost, which might complete roughly 40% lower than my regular consulting fee, and in return, get a personalised session. Purchasers might present the books, and I’d get to assist somebody instantly and unfold the phrase. Although I might make no cash, it is nonetheless a win-win.
This promotion ends Could 10 and doubtless received’t return till my subsequent e-book drops in late 2027 or mid-2028. If you happen to’re , you may fill out the quick type on the finish of this page.
One potential shopper accepted the provide. We exchanged emails, and he stuffed out the onboarding questionnaire. I reviewed his information, and he proposed a date and time. I mentally confirmed, opened my calendar, created a Google Meet invite, wrote a word about trying ahead to the decision… and pressed save.
Sadly, I forgot to truly ship the calendar invite!
Off we went on a five-night Tahoe ski trip. I even took a couple of consulting calls throughout downtime and returned feeling recharged. It is crunch time! However I didn’t understand till the next Thursday morning, 4 days after we had returned, that I had by no means confirmed the assembly with him.
There was no e-mail, no invite despatched. Simply silence on my finish, with the idea I had a name lined up all alongside because it was in my calendar.
After I lastly responded and despatched the calendar invite at 7 a.m. Thursday morning, the day of the supposed assembly, it was too late. His day had stuffed up. Worse, his final e-mail to me was 11 days in the past. Think about paying for 55 books after which listening to nothing in return. I felt horrible.
Why I’m Now Unhealthy at Conferences (And What I’m Doing About It)
In my finance days (1999–2012), conferences had been all the things. When serving to IPO candidates pitch to purchasers, I’d typically attend 7–8 conferences in a single day. Being punctual and ready wasn’t non-obligatory, it was anticipated. I might additionally typically meet with purchasers for meals or drinks. There was no approach I might ghost them if I wished to construct good relationships.
However now? I common possibly one business-related assembly per week. I restrict consulting to at least one or two periods monthly to take care of my freedom. That’s why you received’t discover my consulting web page until you seek for it. The demand is overwhelming, and taking it on would recreate a full-time job, inflicting my life-style to say no.
The outcome? My “assembly muscle” has atrophied. Typically I neglect appointments which might be in my calendar. Alerts pop up, and I’ll nonetheless mentally dismiss them, as in the event that they had been invisible. Since 2012, my mind has been rewired to function on my schedule, not another person’s.
So right here’s what I’ve began doing since early 2025:
- Verify my calendar each morning
- Set two alarms for each assembly: half-hour earlier than and 5 minutes earlier than
Why two alarms? As a result of I’ve nonetheless missed conferences prior to now after the 30-minute one goes off. Oh boy… the rewiring for conferences takes time.
Success Comes From Closing the Loop
You possibly can brainstorm, plan, and put together endlessly, however when you don’t full the ultimate step, none of it issues. The final mile is the place outcomes occur. Listed below are some widespread examples:
1. Job Looking
Plan: Construct a resume, analysis firms
Miss: By no means apply or skip interviews out of concern
Consequence: No job, no progress, no cash
2. Health Targets
Plan: Purchase gear, get a coach
Miss: Don’t go persistently
Consequence: No transformation
3. Beginning a Enterprise
Plan: Construct a web site, provide you with an concept
Miss: By no means launch
Consequence: No prospects, no income, no breaking free from from a job you dislike
4. Writing a Guide
Plan: Draft 90%, revise
Miss: By no means attain out to brokers, by no means get printed
Consequence: Zero readers, zero affect, no legacy left
5. Investing
Plan: Do analysis, perceive the dangers and rewards
Miss: By no means make investments
Consequence: Cash stays idle, slowing lagging behind inflation as your friends who took dangers get richer
6. Training
Plan: Move exams, attend class whenever you’re not hungover
Miss: Solely attend for 3 years and drop out to begin a band
Consequence: No diploma and $60,000 of pupil mortgage debt
7. Relationships
Plan: Give you a witty opening line to succeed in out
Miss: By no means name, meet up, or ship the message
Consequence: Missed connection, no pleasure, no love, no household, solely more loneliness
8. Monetary Planning
Plan: Create technique, rent a financial professional, or make the most of my promotion
Miss: Don’t implement
Consequence: Nice plan, no outcomes, and being crammed with remorse whenever you’re 65
The End Line Is The place the Magic Occurs
Everyone knows individuals who begin with unbelievable power however by no means comply with by means of. I’ve been responsible of that extra instances than I’d prefer to admit. However the actual worth, the expansion, the reward—all of it lives within the final mile.
Whether or not you are constructing a enterprise, planning for retirement, or just attempting to maintain your guarantees: end the final mile. The world rewards follow-through.
Readers, are there belongings you’ve began however didn’t full that essential final mile? In that case, what held you again?
Typically, not ending is an indication it’s time to maneuver on—and quitting can truly be the smarter selection if progress has stalled. Do you’ve got any examples the place strolling away turned out to be the higher choice?
A realization after the very fact: After a 10-minute sit-down with my spouse on the eating desk, she helped me understand a few issues. First, the potential shopper I forgot to ship the invite to had by no means truly ordered the 55 books—which is big! That made me really feel quite a bit much less dangerous about forgetting to ship the calendar invite. Second, the potential shopper might have adopted up after a number of days. Communication goes each methods.
Order A Copy Of Millionaire Milestones Right now
Big because of everybody who’s pre-ordered a tough copy of Millionaire Milestones: Simple Steps to Seven Figures to date. From what I see, Amazon presently affords one of the best value with a lowest value assure.
This e-book is my try at writing a modern-day model of the basic The Millionaire Subsequent Door. Instances have modified, and so have the various alternative ways to attain millionaire standing.
Sadly, because of inflation, $3+ million is the new $1 million—and by the tip of this decade, $5 million may take that title. With out correct saving, investing, and calculated risk-taking, constructing outsized wealth is barely getting more durable.
Fortunate for us, we’ve got the information and assets to outperform. I hope you benefit from the learn!
