Your projects plans, especially for launches are a like a strawberry trifle. Layers upon layers. You have to have the graham cracker crust, the cream, the macerated berries, and finish with flair. Just like a project, you have to have the foundation, the development, the real time launch, and the follow up. It’s never just a simple as it looks.
Many times we jump right in and then scatter off to complete each layer, but its so chaotic that your trifle ends up being a big layered mess.
To keep your team on point there are certain questions that help you (and your team or project manager) frame out the plan. Once you have answered these and have a firm grasp of what’s in front of you, the planning aspect and coordination (let’s face it, all hands on deck) is much easier.
IDEAL DATE OF COMPLETION.
In an ideal world, when would you like this completed? Please be realistic, Rome wasn’t built in a day and this project needs room to breathe. Just like that cab!
DOES THE CALENDAR MATCH?
Consult your calendar! The most important part of the ENTIRE PLANNING PROCESS is to look at not only your business calendar, but also your personal calendar. You need a good sense of how much time you have in between family happenings, busy work season, and other important dates. This also gives you a sense of how hard you have to push or helps put in perspective how hard you are willing to push to complete it. (EXAMPLE: I’m ok with putting in 10-20 extra hours this month, because next month we have visitors, out of town, etc).
WHAT OTHER MOVING OR ACTIVE PROJECTS OVERLAP?
I typically don’t like to have more than 2 or 3 active projects, or 1 depending on how involved it is. If you are running a live course, hitting the pavement with speaking or podcasts, or overhauling your website (which requires all new copy) you may not have the bandwidth to incorporate another active project. You may have to remove or pause another project to make room. Or start the project after other projects are further along.
TEAM AVAILABILITY
While you may be planning to put this into development and marketing within 6 weeks, if key team players have scheduling conflicts then your dates may need to be shifted or stages extended to absorb some of the conflicts. Bring your team into your initial framework so they can give you more perspective on ideal dates (AND priority).
IS THERE A LIVE OR IN REAL TIME ELEMENT TO THIS?
One thing I apply in absolute-ness is if there is a live element to this project (live QA, calls, live marketing, 1-1 feedback, application review, webinar/masterclass, etc.) that is the only thing happening during that sprint. Everything else must be done before or able to wait until after the live or real-time element is completed.
Combining a live or real-time element means you probably need to add at least 1 week or 1 sprint to each phase to make sure it is “situated” or completed before the live or real-time thing happens. If you are continuing to write copy for sales pages WHILE doing 3 live webinars with personal outreach or reviewing applications and giving feedback. . . ultimately something will break and you will end up doing too many things at once.
Having these 5 answers will help you frame out the project with better clarity. You’ll see the dates, have some perspective if items need shifting, and be able to make the decision with a full picture.
If you want to learn more about to designate the right projects at the right time along with your regular stuff, then you need to meet Your Progress Gameplan: 30-60-90 day planning so you never have to ask what do I do next again!
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