Monday, August 9, 2010

How to Get a Big Project Done Faster




I'm patient with people and animals but one thing I am NOT patient with is the time it takes to get stuff done. So when I had to get my new website written I knew I had to do something to make the project fast, fun, and simple.

Writing an entire website from scratch in just 6 working days (and no, I didn't work over the weekend) is no mean feat to accomplish. And it's not like I had all day, every day to do it either. I had coaching clients, teleclasses, email to take care of. You know, the usual demands any business likes to make of us.

What I didn't do is put it off, tell myself I couldn't do it, or lose sight of my goal. My new website was going live NO MATTER WHAT!

Before I share with you the five actions I took to get a big project done quickly and easily, let me ask you a question:

What is a project you have on your desk right now? 

How great would it feel to have it finished?

So, here are the 5 actions I took to make starting--and finishing--my project possible. They'll work for your project too if you just say "yes" and don't let any excuse stand in your way!

Action #1 Decide
I'm not talking about the wimpy kind of decision that sounds something like, "Sure, I'd like to get three speaking gigs lined up soon." That isn't a decision. It's just wishful thinking. The kind of decision I'm talking about sounds like, "I have three new speaking gigs at the end of the week!"

Action #2 Attention
Since this project is a priority you give it attention. What amazes me is that it doesn't take much time, it just takes attention to get what you want accomplished. I gave my website project attention every day. No slacking, no excuses. I just did it. I didn't work on it full time because I didn't have full time. It still got done.

Action #3 Aim
Being a perfectionist, I embraced this project as the perfect opportunity to aim for a different goal. Completion, not perfection. What a relief! I knew if I fiddled with each page until it was perfect I would never meet my goal. So up those pages went. Perfectly, wonderfully, imperfect. Now that the project is done I can fiddle with the pages all I want. Or not.

Action #4 Focus
Big projects have lots of little steps. I was not about to let overwhelm sneak in and sabotage my progress. So I made a list of each step, down to the last nitty-gritty detail. Then I worked the list. It kept me on track and made it easy to celebrate success as each item was checked off.

Action #5 Team
I started my project last Thursday. By Monday (about half way) I said, "Why am I doing this all alone?" and promptly emailed a long list of items to my trusty virtual assistant, Kathy. She plunged in and had a blast blazing her way through her assignment.

I felt relieved. She was cheering me on. And her help ensured my success.

Now it's your turn! Pick a project that's been hanging around too long and follow the same simple steps I use. Then let me know about your success and I'll send you a personalized congratulations email!

Kendall SummerHawk, the "Horse Whisperer for Business" delivers smart, savvy ways entrepreneurs can turn their hectic business into a smooth-running, fun, 6-figure money-making dream. To learn more about her book, Brilliance Unbridled, and sign up for more FREE tips like these, visit her site at http://www.kendallsummerhawk.com

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