What makes some ideas take off and others remain duds that are difficult to get off the ground? Well, it’s true there’s a lot to be said for timing (Is it something others want to hear right now? Has it’s time passed? Is it too ahead of it’s time?) But there are other important points to cover that make the difference between a hit and a flop, here are a few of those:
1. Don’t do it in a vacuum. Whether your project is really a one-person operation or involving many, you still need others to help you get the job done or at least encourage your best efforts. In solo projects, let others learn your good ideas and support you. If you’re expected to interface with others or get feedback from them, don’t put it off, it could save you fix-it time later. How you communicate your project lead and launch strategy is important to garner their input or simply their vote, not to mention their respect. In bigger projects your smooth planning and approach can allow you to be more transparent, fulfilling on a team machine that runs smoothly and with cooperation.
2. Have a clear idea of what you want the end result to be. Even if you’re making some of it up as you go along, you have a well-reasoned direction based on some track record of experience and research, that has others want to follow you. You don’t have all the answers, yet enough of the map is there combined with your firm belief in your goal, that you’re able to rally a united spirit in others where they’ll want to solve any new problems with you.
3. Express a confident attitude that is open-hearted, generous and enthusiastic. Your passion in general and specifically for your idea, helps you and others want to find ways to correct whatever is necessary along the way. You not only inspire leadership, but you’re able to ask for it easily and others will want to assume leadership roles to support your great idea.
4. With your big picture vision, don’t miss the details. However, do as few of these details yourself as possible. Instead, manage others to become engaged and each be an important cog in the wheel turning. Hire a Virtual Assistant to do some of the details you don’t want you or your participants distracted by.
(more…)
There’s nothing wrong with quantifying your goal - setting a very specific goal that has numbers attached to it, i.e. three projects completed by the end of the day, $$ met by the end of the month, fifteen responses to your special offer by the end of two weeks, etc. Setting an aim for the numbers you really want can be motivating and help guide your actions to complete benchmark steps along the way to meet your final goal. Sometimes this approach works very well for me or my clients.
