Episode 56. Four Ways To Manage Projects Better

 

What is a project? A project is an individual or collaborative enterprise that is carefully planned and designed to achieve a particular aim.

Examples of projects:

• Home Improvement 
• Construction
• Vacation
• Event Planning
• Wedding
• Course Launch
• Podcast Launch
• Business launch 

Anything with lots of moving parts and tasks

SO WHAT IS PROJECT MANAGEMENT? 

Project management is the way a person organizes and manages resources that are necessary to complete a project. People that manage projects are known as Project Managers. A project is a piece of work that is not a process or an operation. It has a start, an end, and measurable goals.

Why do we need Project Management and Project Managers??

We need a tool and/or person to manage all the moving parts of our projects. To help us stay on track, be more efficient, and follow through to completion. 

There are tools for you to do this on your own, like Asana/Trello

I have a business management course called Talk Trello To Me – all of the boards can be moved to Asana, ClickUp, Monday.com, etc

Go to www.talktrellotome.com to view all of our business management organization templates. 

So how can you manage projects better on your own?

1 – Think Bigger Picture

Does this fit into your business model?

Does this fit into long term plans?

Do we need to do this now or put it on the back burner for later? 

We all take on TOO many projects at one time, and we are juggling too many balls. 

2 – Planning Makes Perfect (or as close as possible)

Failing to plan is planning to fail. 

You have to see how all the puzzle pieces fit together

You have to map out all parts of the project and create a plan before you just dive in. 

Plans WILL shift. But making small changes and deadline updates will be easier than adding missed or forgotten tasks.

Launch New Paid Four-Week Workshop

• Conduct Market Research
• Determine Workshop Goals
• Create Workshop Plan and Timeline
• Create Workshop Structure
• Decide On Materials Provided
• Create Lesson Outlines
• Create Workbook
• Create Product/Payment Processing
• Create A Welcome Email
• Create A Landing Sales Page
• Create A Thank You Page
• Create Bonuses
• Create A Marketing Calendar
• Create Marketing Content
• Schedule Marketing Content

3 – Use Tools – But, Remember They Are Not Magic Wands

Asana, Trello, ClickUp, Monday.com, Basecamp, Airtable – just to name a few

You CANNOT keep everything in your head – Things WILL fall through the cracks

I know you think you can. But be honest with yourself – things are being forgotten and falling through the cracks

Every project – even the smallest one, comes with many subtasks, information and potentially other people helping

Example:

Batch Record Monthly Podcast Content

• Write Four Outlines
• Schedule 4 Times On The Calendar
• Record 4 Episodes
• Add Recordings To Google Drive
• Notify Podcast Manager
• Create 4 Emails

4 – Project And Task Management Is ALWAYS A Moving Target

Just when you think things are in place and working well, the plan gets thrown off course. 

Things come up; deadlines change, something was missed in the planning stage, something changed. 

The job of a Project Manager or Project/Task Management tool is to help you see everything big picture and shift your plans as needed. 

New tasks, challenges, and situations will always come up. As a business owner, you are a Project Manager. Even if you have never thought of yourself as a Project Manager.  You are managing your business, which is comprised on many projects. 

Project Management is messy—the more projects you take on, the more problems will come up. 

If you are still a solopreneur or very small business owner – you have to realize that you CANNOT take on 15 projects and effectively get them all done.  No matter how hard you try and think you can. 

Always go back to the big picture plans. Does this project fit into your goals, and does it move your business or life forward? 

I am a massive advocate for reverse engineering things. 

What is the end goal? What projects & tasks will get you there? Have we planned out those projects and tasks?

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