In our world of creating an online experience for users of our apps, it’s important to realise the difference between something being “done” and being “finished”.

When I think about something being done, I think about all the building blocks being produced and put in the right places. Sure, all the components might be completed and your to-do list for the project might be done, but the question remains, is it finished?

When I think of something being finished, I think of a craftsman making a table. It has a top, and legs, it stands up and structurally, it’s done… but it’s certainly not finished. It might take the craftsman weeks to sand, varnish, re-sand, re-varnish over and over until the FINISH is perfect… until it feels just right and how it should feel. He might even use it a few times to see if it is really finished. Only then will it finally be finished.

The thing people often miss, is the difference between something being done, and being finished can be weeks, if not months. I would say if you can get the “finish” right, then you have a great product. What about a firework display, an Apple product, a main event wrestling match, a piece of software, the decking at the end of the garden. All these can be “done” and it’ll be functional and decent but when the finish is right, it becomes spectacular and a wonderful memory.

How do you finish your work?