--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I am not a finisher, I am a starter. And…" description: "\"I am not a finisher, I am a starter. And I am always thinking, what is the next project.\" — Peter Eisenman" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1b7/peter-eisenman-18892_always-thinking_i-am-not-a-finisher-i-am-a-starter-and-i_143496.jpg" --- # I am not a finisher, I am a starter. And I am always… ![“I am not a finisher, I am a starter. And I am always thinking, what is the next project.” quote by Peter Eisenman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1b7/peter-eisenman-18892_always-thinking_i-am-not-a-finisher-i-am-a-starter-and-i_143496.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1b7/peter-eisenman-18892_always-thinking_i-am-not-a-finisher-i-am-a-starter-and-i_143496.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1b7/peter-eisenman-18892_always-thinking_i-am-not-a-finisher-i-am-a-starter-and-i_143496.jpg) > “I am not a finisher, I am a starter. And I am always thinking, what is the next project.” [Peter Eisenman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-eisenman/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Identifies as a perpetual starter, constantly seeking new projects rather than completing them. **In simple terms:** He starts many projects but rarely finishes them. Key Takeaway Balance initiation with follow‑through for impact. Themes creativity productivity focus Mood motivational analytical Type career self‑development When to use this quote - career development - entrepreneurship - artistic pursuits - personal goals - team leadership Key Concepts project management innovation psychology Questions to Reflect On - How can one transition from starter to finisher? - What systems support project completion? A Different Perspective May lead to unfinished work and burnout. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Always thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/always-thinking/) [Finishers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/finishers/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) ## Related quotes > [Nobody is guaranteed to be a starter; thinking that would be a mistake.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thibaut-courtois/nobody-is-guaranteed-to-be-a-starter-thinking-that-would-be-a-mistake/) [Thibaut Courtois](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thibaut-courtois/) > [How you start is important, very important, but in the end it is how you finish that counts. It is easier to be a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/b-c-forbes/how-you-start-is-important-very-important-but-in-the-end-it-is-how/) [B. C. Forbes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/b-c-forbes/) > [I hired finishers because I'm a good starter and a poor finisher.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-kay/i-hired-finishers-because-i-m-a-good-starter-and-a-poor-finisher/) [Alan Kay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-kay/) > [I'm not looking for starters, I'm looking for finishers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-townsend/i-m-not-looking-for-starters-i-m-looking-for-finishers/) [John Townsend](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-townsend/) > [I shouldn't have to come out and say, 'Hey, I should be a starter again.' There's a lot of guys that say that, that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-foles/i-shouldn-t-have-to-come-out-and-say-hey-i-should-be-a-starter-again/) [Nick Foles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-foles/) > [I want to be the horse in the rotation that everybody can really rely on and is going to get that consistent starter.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-strasburg/i-want-to-be-the-horse-in-the-rotation-that-everybody-can-really-rely/) [Stephen Strasburg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-strasburg/) > [I don't ever want to be an average fourth starter. I want to be the big guy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeremy-bonderman/i-don-t-ever-want-to-be-an-average-fourth-starter-i-want-to-be-the/) [Jeremy Bonderman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeremy-bonderman/) > [Once it's in you to being a starter, you always want to be that. But you understand the circumstances and you understand what you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marshall-faulk/once-it-s-in-you-to-being-a-starter-you-always-want-to-be-that-but/) [Marshall Faulk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marshall-faulk/) > [You do not have to be The fastest starter. Just be a starter! You will, without fail, Reach your destination-sun.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sri-chinmoy/you-do-not-have-to-be-the-fastest-starter-just-be-a-starter-you-will/) [Sri Chinmoy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sri-chinmoy/) > [I'm like a slow starter. Everything I've done has built, or has taken a while.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greg-daniels/i-m-like-a-slow-starter-everything-i-ve-done-has-built-or-has-taken-a/) [Greg Daniels](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/greg-daniels/) > [Then i starter krompy kromp with Kroomp Krompp and the i kromped all over the Krommmmp!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/busta-rhymes/then-i-starter-krompy-kromp-with-kroomp-krompp-and-the-i-kromped-all/) [Busta Rhymes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/busta-rhymes/) > [“The more time you invest in thinking about the project—where to begin and how to pull it all together—the more original, successful, and enjoyable…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-more-time-you-invest-in-thinking-about-the-project-where-to-begin/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I try to just be open to what the next experience is and how it makes me feel, just reading a project, or trying…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chiwetel-ejiofor/i-try-to-just-be-open-to-what-the-next-experience-is-and-how-it-makes/) [Chiwetel Ejiofor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chiwetel-ejiofor/) > [I came out of the womb reading books and thinking about my next project. I'm a born nerd.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rashida-jones/i-came-out-of-the-womb-reading-books-and-thinking-about-my-next/) [Rashida Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rashida-jones/) > [I welcome opposing viewpoints, but I should warn you that you'll be facing off against the 2nd-place finisher at the 1981 Charleston County High-School…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-colbert/i-welcome-opposing-viewpoints-but-i-should-warn-you-that-you-ll-be/) [Stephen Colbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-colbert/) ## More by Peter Eisenman > [Conservation destroys the present. If we are only busy preserving the past, we are not living in the present and unable to look forward.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-eisenman/conservation-destroys-the-present-if-we-are-only-busy-preserving-the/) [Peter Eisenman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-eisenman/) > [There's no such thing as an absolute openness. Openness is relative, I think, in all societies.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-eisenman/there-s-no-such-thing-as-an-absolute-openness-openness-is-relative-i/) [Peter Eisenman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-eisenman/) > [I don't know how to use appliances. I mean, I use the coffee maker. But that's it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-eisenman/i-don-t-know-how-to-use-appliances-i-mean-i-use-the-coffee-maker-but/) [Peter Eisenman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-eisenman/) > [Architecture is definitely a political act.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-eisenman/architecture-is-definitely-a-political-act/) [Peter Eisenman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-eisenman/) > [The world is too full of information.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-eisenman/the-world-is-too-full-of-information/) [Peter Eisenman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-eisenman/) > [In New York, a Jew is a Jew, an Italian is an Italian, a Muslim is a Muslim: Nobody's going out of his way…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-eisenman/in-new-york-a-jew-is-a-jew-an-italian-is-an-italian-a-muslim-is-a/) [Peter Eisenman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-eisenman/) > [I am immersed in architecture all day, working in my office or teaching.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-eisenman/i-am-immersed-in-architecture-all-day-working-in-my-office-or-teaching/) [Peter Eisenman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-eisenman/) > [I use the NordicTrack every other day for 20 minutes. I don't listen to music or watch TV while I do it. I count…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-eisenman/i-use-the-nordictrack-every-other-day-for-20-minutes-i-don-t-listen/) [Peter Eisenman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-eisenman/) > [The problem with digital architecture is that an algorithm can produce endless variations, so an architect has many choices.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-eisenman/the-problem-with-digital-architecture-is-that-an-algorithm-can/) [Peter Eisenman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-eisenman/) > [I don't design houses with the nuclear family idea because I don't believe in it as a concept.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-eisenman/i-don-t-design-houses-with-the-nuclear-family-idea-because-i-don-t/) [Peter Eisenman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-eisenman/) > [The architecture we remember is that which never consoles or comforts us.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-eisenman/the-architecture-we-remember-is-that-which-never-consoles-or-comforts/) [Peter Eisenman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-eisenman/) > [The more centralized the power, the less compromises need to be made in architecture.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-eisenman/the-more-centralized-the-power-the-less-compromises-need-to-be-made/) [Peter Eisenman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-eisenman/) > [I was in Jungian analysis for 20 years, 1976-96.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-eisenman/i-was-in-jungian-analysis-for-20-years-1976-96/) [Peter Eisenman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-eisenman/) > [If you want to show a picture, just show it - don't spend too much time arranging it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-eisenman/if-you-want-to-show-a-picture-just-show-it-don-t-spend-too-much-time/) [Peter Eisenman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-eisenman/) > [My wife has her stuff and her taste, and I have my stuff and my taste.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-eisenman/my-wife-has-her-stuff-and-her-taste-and-i-have-my-stuff-and-my-taste/) [Peter Eisenman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-eisenman/) [Explore all 34 Peter Eisenman quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-eisenman/) ## More Always thinking quotes > [You're always thinking, "What does that add up to?" You can't really get a handle on it. I was curious. I felt like it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-hell/you-re-always-thinking-what-does-that-add-up-to-you-can-t-really-get/) [Richard Hell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-hell/) > [I think it's important to know what you're going to do with the ball before it comes to you. So you're always thinking before…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rafael-van-der-vaart/i-think-it-s-important-to-know-what-you-re-going-to-do-with-the-ball/) [Rafael van der Vaart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rafael-van-der-vaart/) > [People who are always thinking of the feelings of others can be very destructive because they are hiding so much from themselves.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/may-sarton/people-who-are-always-thinking-of-the-feelings-of-others-can-be-very/) [May Sarton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/may-sarton/) > [I am always thinking 'What am I doing here? Is this the way I am supposed to feel?'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-kerouac/i-am-always-thinking-what-am-i-doing-here-is-this-the-way-i-am/) [Jack Kerouac](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-kerouac/) > [I'm always thinking about that young girl or young boy who doesn't quite know if their music, their messaging, their imaging, their voice is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janelle-monae/i-m-always-thinking-about-that-young-girl-or-young-boy-who-doesn-t/) [Janelle Monae](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janelle-monae/) > [We're trying, despite having done research and having obviously preconceived ideas, we try our best to be as open-hearted as possible, and try to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ellen-page/we-re-trying-despite-having-done-research-and-having-obviously/) [Ellen Page](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ellen-page/) > [I'm always thinking of ideas and sounds. I am waiting on something new and dope to inspire me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kid-ink/i-m-always-thinking-of-ideas-and-sounds-i-am-waiting-on-something-new/) [Kid Ink](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kid-ink/) > [I want to feel like the things I did made a difference. That's one of the reasons I spend time greeting people on rope…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michelle-obama/i-want-to-feel-like-the-things-i-did-made-a-difference-that-s-one-of/) [Michelle Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michelle-obama/) > [Successful people are always thinking about what they can do to move to the next level. Initiative is the drive to do it -…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maria-bartiromo/successful-people-are-always-thinking-about-what-they-can-do-to-move/) [Maria Bartiromo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maria-bartiromo/) > [Meditation is one of the rare occasions when we're not doing anything. Otherwise, we're always doing something, we're always thinking something, we're always occupied.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dzongsar-jamyang-khyentse-rinpoche/meditation-is-one-of-the-rare-occasions-when-we-re-not-doing-anything/) [Dzongsar Jamyang Khyentse Rinpoche](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dzongsar-jamyang-khyentse-rinpoche/) > [The only reason why we are always thinking of our own ego is that we have to live with it more continuously than with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cesare-pavese/the-only-reason-why-we-are-always-thinking-of-our-own-ego-is-that-we/) [Cesare Pavese](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cesare-pavese/) > [I'm not a nosy person, but I'm always thinking 'I wonder why he did that? I wonder why this week he was this much…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jill-douglas/i-m-not-a-nosy-person-but-i-m-always-thinking-i-wonder-why-he-did/) [Jill Douglas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jill-douglas/) > [Fiction writing is a twenty-four-hou r-a-day occupation. You never leave your work behind. It is always with you, and to some extent, you are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-brooks/fiction-writing-is-a-twenty-four-hou-r-a-day-occupation-you-never/) [Terry Brooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-brooks/) > [I tend to write about love because I'm always thinking about it. I think a lot though and struggle with overanalyzing. Way over. That's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jillian-hervey/i-tend-to-write-about-love-because-i-m-always-thinking-about-it-i/) [Jillian Hervey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jillian-hervey/) > [Life will always change, and I'm always thinking about how to have a good-enough attitude to roll with the changes of life, of an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-feldmann/life-will-always-change-and-i-m-always-thinking-about-how-to-have-a/) [John Feldmann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-feldmann/) [Browse all 94 Always thinking quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/always-thinking/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I am not a finisher, I am a starter. 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