How To Plan
Plan for reality
Well, what does that mean?Here's a list to get straight to the point:
- Define “done”
- Prioritize the work based on value to the project
- The map is not the terrain
- The plan is always wrong, A.K.A. your Gantt Chart
- Don’t plan years in advance, just enough to keep your teams at capacity
- Size things relative to what you know
- Get serious about logical fallacies to avoid groupthink, etc.
- Stop using "I think how much time this will take" and start using a point system to estimate tasks
- Humans think in narratives. Think of who, then why, then what
- Religiously measure project velocity
- Shoot first, measure results second, adjust third
When you get more in touch with what's real, you get more in touch with what works.
2 Minute Action:
Congrats on having a project.Now make a list of everything that will go wrong.Now estimate the likelihood of the 3 biggest risks.What might you do to mitigate?Now you're more ready for reality.
Stop Telling People To Dream Big
How many times have you heard “feel good” quotes and sayings about dreaming big?It feels helpful, but is it?For a small percentage of people, it might help.For MOST people, it adds no value or hurts.Most people don’t know what to do with their regular sized dreams. It’s incapacitating to dream any bigger.Mans what about all those people without any dreams at all??
No one has taught you to take action on the basics.
School didn’t teach you to manage expectations, convince your boss that your idea was actually their idea, or handle difficult personalities without losing enthusiasm.School didn’t teach you to prioritize, sacrifice, or know when to put yourself first instead of others or vice versa.Until we fix the education system, it’s up to you.
It’s up to you to break big scary dreams down into smaller pieces.
So instead of blindly advising to expand people’s visions, let’s get some clarity on what’s already in front of us.
2 Minute Action:
What’s something small you’ve been meaning to finish?Could you start right now? What part of this could you finish today? In 7 days? In 30 days?
Who could help hold you accountable?
Text them right now and let them know your plan.Ask them the favor of checking in with you weekly.Write them a check for $100 and let them cash it if you fall back on your commitment.Buy them tickets to the Drake concert if you don’t finish in time.You have everything you need to trick yourself into making things happen.
It's Easier To Stand Out Than You Think. Here's How . . .
I had just come back from a career fair where I was recruiting for a project.I had a stack of fresh resumes in hand. Looking at all of them it was quickly clear that they all looked the same.But when I talked to my colleague, he said "Look! That one! I want that one!"There was one resume in the tall stack that was bright red around the edges and stood out from the pile.As soon as I heard my colleague say this, I laughed.I pulled out the bright red resume to reveal that it wasn't a resume at all . . .It was a parking pass for the university!All of these students were doing their best to fit in. They used the same paper, the same font, the same format. They wore the same suits, said the same things, and asked the same questions.They were trying so hard to fit in because they'd been told that fitting in meant they'd be picked.
The moral of the story:
It's important and easy to stand out.Actually, it's so easy, a parking pass beat out all of my job candidates.The bar is low. Whether you're working on your marketing, your book cover, or the subject line for the email you're writing to your boss . . . it's your job to make sure your message is seen/heard/read/etc.
2 Minute Action:
Make a quick list of the top 5 things EVERYONE else does in your field.If you were to make a parody of your project or work or of the experts in your field, what might it look like?Congratulations.You now have a list of things NOT do to.You've also got a list of places in which you can be more unique.Your turn. Let's go.