Stick the Landing Part 1: The Art of Making an Impact (Peak-End Rule)

Here’s a truth that stings: people rarely remember what you built along the way if your ending falters. The final act often overshadows all the brilliance that preceded it. A gymnast nails a dozen flips but stumbles on the dismount—what do we talk about? The stumble. A symphony crescendos beautifully but fizzles out before the last note. A marketing campaign wows until the product launch feels flat. It’s the ending that makes or breaks how we judge success.

And it’s not just me saying it. As David Sedaris wisely observed, "The danger is writing something that just stops, instead of something that ends." In writing, as in life, a weak finish undermines the entire narrative. So, why is sticking the landing so hard, and what can we learn from both the triumphs and blunders of others?

The Anatomy of a Great Ending

Why do we gravitate toward polished finishes? Perhaps it’s because the end crystallizes the experience—it’s the taste left in your mouth after a great meal or the last image that lingers after a movie fades to black. Psychologists call this the peak-end rule, the idea that people judge an experience based on its most intense moments (the peaks) and how it concludes (the end).

Think about:

• "I Have a Dream" by Martin Luther King Jr.: That speech is iconic not just because of its content but because King concluded with an unforgettable crescendo of hope and vision. Imagine if it had ended abruptly with, “Well, that’s about it for today.”
• The Apollo 11 Moon Landing: Buzz Aldrin and Neil Armstrong stuck humanity’s greatest dismount in 1969. A global audience watched as they ended their journey with a message that resonated across time: “One small step for man, one giant leap for mankind.”

Now compare that with:

• Game of Thrones (Final Season): After years of meticulous storytelling, the show collapsed under the weight of its rushed, inconsistent finale. Fans still talk about how its ending soured the entire experience.
• WeWork IPO Blunder: What started as a meteoric rise in the world of coworking spaces ended in catastrophe when its overhyped IPO was pulled. The mess overshadowed years of growth and innovation.

What’s the lesson here? Endings are what make the work resonate—or ruin it.

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Why We Struggle to Stick the Landing

You’d think with all the effort poured into a project, performance, or idea, finishing strong would be natural. But it often isn’t. Why?

1. Fatigue
   After months or years of effort, I’ve seen creators lose steam. The ending becomes an afterthought instead of a priority.
   Case in point: The infamous “no ending” of The Sopranos. Fans are still debating that ambiguous fade to black.
2. Overcomplication
   In an effort to wow the audience, some endings overreach and miss the mark.
   Example: The movie Interstellar dazzled until its convoluted ending confused more than inspired.
3. Fearing Criticism
   Perfectionism can paralyze even the best of us. Rather than crafting an ending that fits, some waffle or delay, hoping it’ll “just work.”
   Consider: George R.R. Martin still hasn’t finished The Winds of Winter. Fans worry it might never see the light of day.
4. Misjudging the Audience
   A conclusion that satisfies the creator but alienates the audience falls flat.
   See: The 2020 Oscars Best Picture debacle when La La Land was incorrectly announced as the winner instead of Moonlight. The mishandled ending stole the spotlight from an otherwise remarkable moment.

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How I End with Impact

If endings matter this much, how do I make sure they land well? I look to success stories for inspiration.

1. Circle Back to the Beginning
   Great endings feel earned—they connect back to the start in a way that feels inevitable yet surprising.
   Success Story: Pixar’s Toy Story 3 ends with a heart-wrenching but satisfying handoff of Andy’s toys. It’s a callback to the franchise’s central theme of growth and letting go.
2. Keep It Simple, Keep It Clear
   Complexity doesn’t always impress; clarity does.
   Success Story: Breaking Bad concluded Walter White’s story with poetic justice, tying up every thread while staying true to its moral complexities.
3. Evoke Emotion
   The best endings don’t just wrap up—they leave you feeling something profound.
   Success Story: The Beatles’ final studio album, Abbey Road, closes with the lyric, “And in the end, the love you take is equal to the love you make.” A perfect bow on an unparalleled career.
4. Plan the Landing Early
   The key to a seamless finish? Start planning it at the beginning.
   Success Story: J.K. Rowling wrote the epilogue for Harry Potter long before finishing the series. Love it or hate it, it provided closure.

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Stick the Landing or Stick Out?

Sticking the landing isn’t just about wowing the crowd. It’s about respect—for my audience, my work, and myself. To finish strong is to honor the time, effort, and care I’ve put into the process.

So, what will I do next time? Will I fizzle out, leaving my story unfinished? Or will I land with power and purpose, leaving people clapping for more?

Because in the end—whether in writing, business, or life—it’s not just about how I start or how high I soar. It’s about how I come back down and make it unforgettable. I don’t want to let it

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