How to Tackle Tough Projects
- Posted by Alaia Williams
- On July 29, 2013
- Business, Evernote, Project management
Like many multi-passionate entrepreneurs out there, I often find myself working on a few different projects at once. Some projects are a breeze, but others are a challenge. As I’m sure you know – sometimes the things that challenges us most are the ones that have the greatest impact on others or bring us the greatest amount of satisfaction when they are complete.
I’m often asked what my top methods are for tackling tough projects, so I wanted to share a few of them with you, Dear Reader. Click the video above or read on for my quick take on the topic.
- Pick a place to start. Chart out what you have to do and get started. It is often said that the hardest part of a project is starting. I agree. Avoid getting trapped in analysis paralysis and stop keeping all your ideas in your head. Jot your ideas down on paper, or in an online system like Evernote or Google Keep. There are also ton of great project management tools you can use if you’re looking for more features and a specific PM focus.
- Tackle the most difficult part of the project first. Once you get over the hard parts, the rest is gravy, baby.
- Take small steps. Don’t bite off more than you can chew. Many people bite off more than they can chew and this is something I see in entrepreneurs regularly. I’ve been guilty of it myself! The bigger the project, the more you need to spend time breaking it down. Don’t get frustrated and overwhelmed – you’ll end up stuck. Break down your project into manageable steps and take them one at a time. Small steps add up to big victories.
- Bribe yourself. Who doesn’t like being rewarded?!? Your reward doesn’t have to be big or expensive and should be something you really want. For me, that might be a new book, a pedicure or a mid-day nap (yes, please!). What would your reward be?
There are a lot of psychological games we play with ourselves that block us from getting things done – fear of failure, fear of rejection, believing we don’t have the skills and resources to get it done…I could go on. I urge you to step outside these things and take concrete action. This often helps the fears start to melt away.
Hopefully you found these tips helpful – now, go do the work!
Do you have any special method for tackling your projects?
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- Five Actionable Ways to Use Evernote to Kickstart a Project (manageriality.com)
- The Power of Mornings (8weeksofawesome.wordpress.com)
