Though we’ve created more productivity tools and strategies than ever, many people are frustrated that they’re not making progress on what’s most important to them. We’re to-do list ninjas, knocking off task after task but doing less of what really matters.

“The problem with most approaches to productivity is that they focus on superficial fixes without teaching you the deeper skills you need to succeed. To do meaningful work requires courage, setting good boundaries, being disciplined, and knowing what matters to you,” writes Charlie Gilkey. “The payoff is that you’re on the way to thriving and becoming the person you want to be in the world.”

With Start Finishing, Gilkey presents a systematic, root-cause approach for overcoming the real pitfalls to productivity and turning your ideas into finished projects. He outlines a powerful seven-step method for success—including identifying your genius, building a success pack of supporters, navigating multiple projects, and using each completed step to create momentum that propels you toward your larger goals. With deep insight and clarity—and contributions from Seth Godin, Susan Piver, Jonathan Fields, and more—Gilkey provides an invaluable set of tools to help you stop being bogged down with task lists and start finishing your best work.

Charlie Gilkey is the founder of Productive Flourishing, a company that helps professional creatives, leaders, and changemakers take meaningful action on work that matters. He is the author of The Small Business Life Cycle, and is widely cited in outlets such as Inc., Time, Forbes, the Guardian, Lifehacker, and more. He’s also an Army veteran and near-PhD in philosophy. He lives in Portland, Oregon. For more, visit productiveflourshing.com.