July 11, 2019

[197] How to Plan your Next Project… Properly! With Kate Hutcheson.

50 minutes

Do you have big ideas… but struggle to make them happen?

I can’t count the number of projects I’ve never started, or not done properly, or been up at all hours trying to finish by a deadline!

Why does this happen?!

Because we don’t project manage properly, that’s why.

Today’s guest is here to save us from all of that! Kate Hutcheson of the Efficient/Creative has turned her years of project management experience to helping creatives like you and me work out how to get big things done.

She outlines a super-simple method for you to follow in order to plan and execute your next project… properly!

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Quotes and highlights from this episode:

It is possible to be creative and organised by using project planning.

When working on a project, you can reach a point of resistance when a task becomes challenging or you don’t know what to do next.

Project management assists in combatting resistance.

To begin, write down the tasks that have to be done to reach your goal.

Making decisions are actions so include these in your brain dump of tasks. Not making decisions halts your project and creates resistance.

“You see the decisions you have to make as actions you have to take” {Kate}

Making a decision that is good enough for now is better than waiting to make a perfect decision. You can always change your mind or refine your decision later.

After completing your brain dump, take all of your tasks and shuffle them around to create a rough chronological order.

As you order tasks it is likely you will identify other tasks that are missing. Add these in.

After you have all your tasks ordered, estimate time for each task.

“People have a tendency to under estimate the amount of time tasks will take them” {Kate}

Be realistic with your time and include a buffer. This is especially relevant if it is something you have never done before, something you are not very familiar with or something you hate doing.

Now you have your plan keep it somewhere handy where you can see it all the time.

“Mark your progress as you go so you get those little wins” {Kate}

If you get stuck on a step, break it down even further until there is a small enough task that you are confident you can complete.

“If you are creative and scatter brained all is not lost. You can be organised and creative!” {Kate}

Jess and Kate recommend the book The War of Art by Steven Pressfield

Find Kate at The Efficient/Creative.

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By Jess Van Den

4.9

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