How to Get a Big Project Done Faster

by Kendall SummerHawk

Published on this site: August 5th, 2006 - See more articles from this month

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 Ihad 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 mater 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!

Actions:-

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!"
   
   
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.
   
   
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.
   
   
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.
   
   
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.