How do I improve stick-to-itiveness?

In my opinion you can not. I always only stick to the projects that I am genuinely excited about. So maybe you should take on more projects that excite you?

For me all it takes is rain and classical music and I’m set for as long as it’s raining.

Don’t look at the whole hugeness of the project-just do a little at a time. I have sometimes felt overwhelmed but if I just pick away soon whatever it is is done. Or beer.

welcome to fluther. see you in a year.

1) Bite off what you can chew. Don’t try to take on the whole project at once. Break it up into small pieces that you know you can manage. Just think about the chunk you’re working on at that time. Don’t think about the hugeness of it.
2) While using the technique suggested in part 1, think about the benefits of having the project completed. If it’s a sweater you’re knitting, think about how awesome you’ll look in it. If it’s a bookshelf you’re building, think about where you could put it in the house.
Good luck!

I think think I know the problem is. I seem to have trouble figuring out and staying focused on exactly what the next step is. So if I wanted to break a project into chunks my problem would be that I don’t know how to start breaking it into chunks. What do I do in this case?

Well…..it depends on what the project is. If you have step-by-step instructions, take about 3 steps a day. If one step takes a long time, just do that one that day. Just choose a number of steps. You don’t have to stick to your number like it matters a whole ton, though, because it doesn’t. Just make sure you don’t get tired of the project! If it’s getting stressful, stop for that day.
If you don’t have a step-by-step, then make one! Plan out the project on paper or on the computer. This will help you to get your thoughts in order and give you a sense of “I can finish this!”

Get paid more. Or rather, get paid more if you finish the project on time.

In addition to what others have mentioned (a.choose something you´re motivated at b) cut down the tasks into small tasks c) think of the benefits, and/or use a visualization technique which is very important) I would add:

a) be convinced that it´s necessary to stick to what you´re doing (just by asking the question on fluther, it sounds like you’re starting to believe it’s necessary)- you brush your teeth every day (rhetorical question/statement) because you´re convinced your teeth will fall out if you don´t. People finally stick to eliminating the habit of drinking or smoking because they´re convinced.
b) Self Confidence (find ways to believe that you really can do the task, and that what you´re doing is good enough. Emphasize the importance of doing something rather than only the results (that´s the opposite of what we´re usually told, but you won´t do things if you think that you might make a mistake). Even if things don´t turn out too well, sometimes it´s important that you kept the ball rolling. Think of the things you are good at sticking to…
In addition to that, there are some good books on procrastination that might help: a.Procrastination by Jane Burka and Lenora Yuen. b.Awaken your Stronger Self.

In response to your latest comment, is the topic something you need to learn more about? Do you have a lot of things on your plate? Maybe you can use something like Zoho Projects? People need to plan projects once they either have too many projects going on at once, with too many important deadlines, or they have too many people involved in them.
I´ve heard it´s useful to start with the end result you want and then work backwards.
Maybe you´re so impressed about how huge the project is that you think you can´t break it into chunks,but if you start brainstorming, you might think of things you know you have to do. Later on you can get better at identifying the tasks, but maybe you already know that for example a) you need to take a course or read a book on the topic b) you need to call someone over the phone to ask them for something c) you need to purchase something, like materials etc.etc.