It is important to know when to put an end to something.
You are judged in the world by how well you bring things to an end. An incomplete conclusion can resonate for years to come, ruining your reputation in the process. The art of ending things well is knowing when to stop, never going so far that you exhaust yourself or create bitter enemies that embroil you in conflict in the future. It also entails ending on the right note, with energy and flair.
Some years back after I was done with college, work was difficult to secure, and I was tired of sleeping and waking up in my parents house without work. I dropped my CV in different companies, but I wasn’t called for work. I was getting depressed before I thought of contacting one of my uncles for work. I reached out to him, fortunately for me he told me he was in need of a manager for his bottle water company, I asked if he didn’t have a manager before? and he told me he sacked the manager already because he wasn’t competent for the Job. I was so happy about it and I informed my parents about the new development, they were also happy for me. I traveled the third day, because we don’t stay in the same city to resume work with him. He was happy to welcome me and we discussed on how he wants me to run the company like it was my own, and I assured him I was going to do my best to help the company grow. We also discussed about my pay for every month, which i wasn’t impressed with, because it was small, but I didn’t complain because I felt I was just starting and as times goes on if I prove myself he will definitely increase my monthly salary, besides I live in his house and it as helped to cut cost of renting an apartment. After a year of dedication and hard work, the profit I realized for the company was more than what they made in three years, he was so impressed with my level of competency, and I thought he was going to increase my salary, but he didn’t. It went on for another 2years making a lot of profit for him and I was still been paid with the same amount. I wasn’t happy, because I wasn’t seeing any difference in my life, I had nothing to show for my hard work, it was hard to get things for myself, I had no savings because the money I was earning wasn’t even enough to get new things for myself it was just as if I was working with nothing to show for it.
After 3years of working tirelessly for him, I told him I wanted to have a discussion with him concerning my salary, I told him I wanted an increase, because it as been difficult living with the small salary. I was surprised when he told me to my face that I was been ungrateful, he said I’ve been living in his house for free, eating his food for free with no stress of paying house rent. I was short of words and the only things I could say was that I was sorry for bringing it up. That night I couldn’t sleep I thought of the whole situation, how I’ve worked effortlessly to help the business and company grow, how he as been able to acquire more cars for the business, how he as been able to send all his children abroad to school through my help. I cried that night and I decided it was time to leave, and start a new life for myself. So I decided I was going to tell him I was leaving. After a week of our discussion I thought of good reason to leave, because I didn’t want it to end in a bad note, so I decided to tell him I wanted to leave to pursue my masters degree, he was so reluctant to let me go, but he knew I made my decision already and there was nothing he could do about it.
The height of strategic wisdom is to avoid all conflicts and entanglements from which there are no realistic exits. You can become the victim of your own success, letting victory seduce you into going too far, creating hard-bitten enemies, winning the battle but losing the game after it. What you need is a strategic third eye: the ability to stay focused on the future while operating in the present and ending your actions in a way that will serve your interests for the next round of life.
Finally, since an ending is a beginning of the next phase, it is often wise strategy to end on an ambivalent note. Even if you are reconciling with a person after a fall out , subtly hint that you still have a residue of doubt , that the other side must still prove itself to you.
When a work, or project comes to an end, leave people feeling that they cannot foresee what you will become or do next, keep them in suspense, toying with their attention. By ending on a note of mystery and ambiguity, a mixed signal, an insinuating comment, a touch of doubt, you gain the upper hand for the next round or phase in a most subtle and insidious fashion.
The Sun, when it finishes it course and sets below the horizon, it leaves behind a brilliant and memorable afterglow. Its return is always desired.
