Last weekend we all went on a trail ride at Bobby’s Ranch in Westford, MA. My 13-year-old daughter Emily loves everything about horses: riding them, taking care of them and just being close to them.
Greg and I, on the other hand, do not. We went along and we definitely had fun, but neither of us has the same level of confidence or comfort as Emily when it comes to being around these gigantic animals. And they are gigantic! I’m never quite sure how to approach them or how close to get, and I always need help getting on.
The good news is that, once in the saddle, and after a brief “reminder” lesson, we both relaxed and enjoyed a leisurely ride through the woods.
As I meandered along that morning, it occurred to me that my approach to horses is very similar to the way some small business owners approach equally gigantic projects in their work. Whether it’s rolling out a new email program, launching a new website, starting a newsletter or something else, they often experience a lack of comfort and confidence, with some fear mixed in as well.
It doesn’t need to be that way. Big projects, only seem scary at first. As with approaching a horse, the trick is to take your time and understand what’s going on.
With that in mind, here are a few tips for making your next big undertaking more manageable:
- Declare the desired result. Before beginning any project, it’s important to be clear about what you’re shooting for and what problems you’re trying to solve. For example, before starting an email migration to a new hosting company or application, you’ll want to list such requirements as being able to access email on a smart phone and tablet, having the ability to show images in an email signature, and being able to reply from multiple addresses. By listing the results ahead of time, you’re more likely to get where you want to go.
- Think ahead. Collecting all of your contact names into one Excel spreadsheet might not seem like part of designing a newsletter, but as soon as you’re finished with the design you’ll need the names ready to go. So take time to think of next steps as early in the process as possible.
- Set deadlines. Make sure completion dates are a part of your plan; that will help you keep the momentum going. Projects without deadlines frequently stall because the work isn’t met with the same urgency as client work. Even if you need to work slowly, set a timeline and keep to the schedule.
So there you have it. Whether riding HUGE beasts through the woods or managing HUGE projects in your office, both can be satisfactorily handled by keeping a few fundamentals in mind.
Giddy up!