Stop Stalling and Start Finishing: How OSCAR Helps You Finally Get Things Done
Consistency. Motivation. Finishing.
If you’re a creative, you’ve probably wrestled with all three. Maybe you’ve got a graveyard of half-finished drafts, abandoned canvases, or projects that were this close to being done… and then you ghosted them.
Here’s the thing. You don’t suck. Finishing is a skill, and like any skill, it needs structure, not just inspiration.
That’s where the OS(C/K)AR coaching model comes in. Whether you prefer OSCAR or OSKAR (they’re cousins with slightly different letters), this framework is a practical, no-BS way to cut through the fog and actually move forward.
Let’s break it down.
O = Outcome
Ask yourself: What do I actually want here?
Not the vague, Pinterest-board version (“I want to be a better artist”), but the concrete version. What’s the finish line for this project? “Complete my short story draft by September 30.” Boom. That’s an outcome. Think SMART goals.
Without a clear outcome, you’re basically wandering in a creative IKEA without a map. You’ll waste hours staring at shiny distractions.
Define the outcome, and suddenly you’ve got a destination.
S = Situation
(or Scale, if you’re on Team OSKAR)
Where are you now?
This is where honesty matters. You might want to finish a painting, but right now you’ve only got a sketch and a messy desk. That’s the reality check.
In OSKAR, this step often includes a scale: On a scale of 1–10, how close am I to finishing? If you’re at a 3, what would a 4 look like? Small moves matter more than big, unrealistic leaps.
You want clarity about your situation. Not shame. But you can’t bridge the gap if you don’t even know where the gap starts, or how big it is.
C = Choices / K = Know-how
Here’s where the fun begins. What are your options?
Perfect choices don’t exist. This is the point you’re brainstorming possibilities. You could…
Set aside 20 minutes a day.
Join a writing sprint group.
Bribe yourself with snacks. (Highly effective.)
If you’re on the OSKAR track, this is also about “know-how”: identifying the skills or resources you already have (or need to learn) to keep moving.
Don’t overthink. Pick a few doable options. Progress is the goal, and perfection is the enemy.
A = Action
Now it’s time to stop planning and start moving.
This is the part creatives resist most, because action means risk. But honestly? Sitting in the land of “someday” is way riskier.
Pick one choice. Make it specific. Instead of “I’ll write more,” try “I’ll write 500 words before lunch tomorrow.” Back to SMART goals, again.
Small, consistent actions beat giant, heroic bursts. Every. Single. Time. So focus on systems instead of setting aside time to do big sprints.
R = Review
This is the step you probably skip, and it’s why you get stuck on repeat.
Look back and ask: Did you move closer to your outcome? What worked? What didn’t?
If you don’t review, you will keep reinventing the wheel. But if you do, you get smarter every time you sit down to create. Review is how you build consistency instead of chasing motivation like it’s a rare Pokémon.
Why This Works for Creatives
Both OSCAR and OSKAR are solution-focused. Instead of obsessing over why you’re stuck, they nudge you into clarity, options, and action. And that’s exactly what finishing demands.
Creativity is messy. That’s normal.
But if you’re tired of circling the same projects and never crossing the finish line, a framework like OS(C/K)AR gives you something rare: traction.
Your Next Step
If you’re reading this and thinking, Yeah, I need this kind of structure, but I know I won’t actually do it alone, that’s where I come in.
I help creatives like you go from “stuck forever” to “finished at last.” Let’s test-drive it together. Book a free sample session here: finishit.art/work-with-me
No fluff. No judgment. Just support, clarity, and a gentle-but-firm shove toward actually finishing what you start.
