One thing I've learned over many years [of discarded projects] is that if you don't put effort into completing it, it'll never get finished. The problem isn't a lack of talent or vision. It's not an inability to finish a project. It's a problem of discipline and focus. Discipline is the ability to do what needs to be done, regardless of your want to do it. The further I go through life, the more I understand is achieved in life because of relentless self discipline and focus than because of raw talent. Talent and vision are only 2/3 of the equation... without discipline, nothing gets done.<p>This is why most real entrepreneurs aren't afraid to share their ideas and get it in front of people, while most developers go into "stealth mode" afraid someone will steal their idea. Entrepreneurs know that without execution, your idea is worthless... and execution is equal parts talent, vision and discipline. Take any one of those 3 pieces away and just like the fire triangle, your idea dies.
>Brag until you Fail<p>>Share your idea, it’ll validate (or invalidate it), shape it and most importantly, commit you to it. We don’t want to let people down and we do want to save face, so tell people what you’re working on.<p>I'm not sure if I agree with this last point. Studies have consistently shown that discussing a goal with others reduces your motivation to actually meet the goal[0]. I've found this to be true in my own experience with side projects. I'll spend a few days excitedly discussing the details of some idea with my friends online, and then never end up finishing the project.<p>Social pressure does work, but it's likely better for more definite goals. You could tell your friend "You know, I think I'll run that marathon with you next month," and be obligated to prepare for it. However, side projects are mostly self-motivated and there's no use sharing all your excitement with friends instead of working on something tangible to show.<p>[0]: <a href="http://www.newsweek.com/does-announcing-your-goals-help-you-succeed-79645" rel="nofollow">http://www.newsweek.com/does-announcing-your-goals-help-you-...</a>
I used to have incomplete projects, but now I set goals and work on the project until that goal is met.<p>I've worked with many other programmers on side projects and many times, unless someone is getting paid, they get bored and lose interest when they have to start working on something that's not cool or interesting.<p>I learned the hard way that these are also the same types of developers I don't want to start a company with.
I've got quite a few projects that aren't "finished" because there are additional features I'd like to add some day. However, they are "done" in that they currently work for me. For these applications I just use them as-is, adding a feature whenever inspiration strikes.<p>I had one open source library that gained some traction, which I lost interest in. Luckily for me, another took over to finish it.
Because programming gives us very easy means of getting <i>something</i> on the screen (just write a line of text and computer will execute it; magic!) but makes it very hard to accomplish <i>anything</i> (due to extreme indirection AKA „Yak Shaving“ and archaic computer-centered text-based „tools“).
Also because we generally lack culture of Developing things (i.e. understanding that production and polishing of things takes 95% of effort which takes enormous amounts of perseverance, focus and discipline).
For me, the reason is that things are never done, they're just "done".<p>Once I got past that mental obstacle and started releasing things that were <i>done enough</i>, then I got a bit addicted to it.