How to Finally Get That Project Done

As a business owner you’ve probably got several projects that you’re dying to get started or some you desperately want to finish.  But something always gets in the way and it seems like you never get to it.  

It’s time to change that.  Think of a project you’d love to complete.  If you don’t have a project in mind, here are some ideas to get you thinking:

- Starting an ezine

- Creating a new product or service

- Being more active with social media and/or blogging

- Making videos for your business

- Creating a structured referral plan

Keep your project in mind as you read through the reasons you might be stuck and what you can do about it.

1. Not sure how to do get it done, lack of skills

Whenever you do something for the first time there is always a learning curve.  And you’re probably not the first person who has done this type of project.  So ask around, see how others do it.  You can also post a question on Facebook, LinkedIn, or Twitter.  Learn it yourself or outsource it.

2. Don’t know what the content could be

You know heaps more than you think you do. Take a look at all of the information you’ve created, talks you’ve given, assessments you have, articles you’ve written, and questions from your clients.  Think about the biggest problem your clients face and address it.

3. Lack of time

Start monitoring how you are spending your time and see if your activities match your priorities for your business.  Maybe it’s time to let something go that isn’t bringing you the results you expected.  And if you really can’t free up any time, you can always outsource.

4. Lack of resources

If it’s an important project that will increase the bottom line of your business, and your budget is limited, consider finding someone to trade services with.

5. You want to wait until you figure it out completely

This is a biggie for a lot of people.  Trust me; perfectionism does not necessarily deliver better results.  You will learn by doing and improve as you go.  Now I’m not advocating being sloppy or having a half-hearted strategy.  But if you wait until everything is perfect you’ll be waiting forever.

This quote by Anne Lamott captures the essence of this, “Perfectionism is the voice of the oppressor, the enemy of the people. It will keep you cramped and insane your whole life.”

If you’re still not sure what the block is, try writing down all of your thoughts about the project.  Don’t worry about structure, just do a brain dump and get everything out.  Then go back and read it and see if you can identify the cause or a thread of reasons that point to the cause.

I hope you’re feeling an urgency to dive in and tackle that project that’s been hanging over your head.  You’ll be amazed at how good you feel once it’s done and you start attracting more clients. 

And you may wonder why it took you so long and wish you had done it sooner.  But don’t let that be a negative, take it as the lesson that it is and remember it for your next project.

Action creates momentum, so get started and keep going!

© Stephanie Ward 2010

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Tagged as: action, attract, clients, content, finish, lack of time, now, project, resources, skills