[Coaching] A step-by-step walkthrough of the project creation tool that will help you stop putting off your needle movers and big ideas

Topics discussed:

Book recommendation: The Art of Possibility by Rosamund Stone Zander and Benjamin Zander

Project Creation Tool:

1. Get specific about the what, when and why

• What do you want to accomplish?
• What is the timeframe that you want to get this done by?
• Why is this important to you?
• Is this a small, medium or large project?
• What does done look like? I.e. how will you know when this project is complete - what are the signs?

2. Anticipate and account for what might stop you 

• What might stop you from getting it done within your desired timeframe?
• Is there a portion of this project that might be best left for later so that you can get the most important pieces done sooner or focus on what matters most? If so, what will you do now vs what will you leave for later?
• Do you need to adjust the timeframe or your expectations so that getting the project done within this timeframe is achievable considering what else you have on your plate? If so, how?
• What do you need to put on your not-to-do-list for this project? Think of activities you like doing that aren’t particularly needle moving or could be streamlined. 

3. Break the project down into milestones and tasks

• Keeping in mind what done looks like, what are the milestones that will tell you that you’re on the way to completing your project? Be sure to make these as concrete and measurable as possible.
• Write a to-do list for each milestone - i.e. think of the outcomes you need to create along the way to completion. Is there anything that you might have missed? Update your milestones and to-do list accordingly.
• What is the timeframe that you want to complete each milestone by? Keep in mind that we tend to underestimate how long this will take and that you have likely planned out your timeframe without considering what else you have on your plate or how quickly you will get things back from other people.

4. Review for workability

• Do these milestones feel achievable, even if something unexpected comes up? If not, adjust the milestones or make a specific plan for how you will adjust things if something unexpected does come up (e.g. I will alter all deadlines by one week)
• If you were consulting someone else on getting this project complete, what else might you have them think about or explore - if anything?

5. Add the project to your project management tool and Power Planning

• Now you’re ready to put this in your project management tool if you use one (e.g. Asana) and then it’s ready for your Power Planning each week