Projects are like boobs.

They need support. And what gives your project support is a framework. But it has to be a framework that fits you, in the same way a bra only works if it’s the right size.

Try to create anything for your business – ebooks, workshops, you name it – without a framework, and it’s a lot like going running without a bra.

1. It’s painful

The elastic nature of boobs only goes so far. Too much bouncing will hurt.

And the amount of pain – let’s face it – is directly proportional to the size of said boobs.

Granted, I don’t know what the projectizing equivalent of “bouncing” is, but if you’re trying to create something, and you don’t have a framework for getting from Idea to Finished Creation, it will be painful.

And the bigger the project, the more painful it will be.

A simple, supportive framework helps you to know you’re focusing on the right idea. And it helps you know where you are in the process.

Knowing where you are is key to getting you unstuck. Because different flavors of stuckness require different kinds of fixes.

2. It’s frustrating

You want to enjoy your run without having to worry about the girls the whole time.

But it doesn’t matter that you want them to stop bouncing, because you haven’t given them what they actually need to stay put. Boobs without a bra bounce when you run. It’s what they do.

Similarly, you want to finish your project. But as important as Desire is, you and your project are still all over the place, because you don’t have the structure you need.

A structure that works for you is what will help you make progress even when you’re busy.

3. It’s anxiety-inducing

The minute you realize your bounce-factor is a bit high for public consumption, it’s all you can think about. You become self-conscious.

And the running-without-bouncing thing totally doesn’t work – you just wind up looking like a bizarre robot. (Come on, surely I’m not the only one who’s tried that technique!)

Creating something that you plan to offer your people is a vulnerable process at the best of times – by definition, you’ll be attracting attention. Without a framework and support for your creative process, though, it can feel like your bra strap broke in the middle of gym class in front of everyone.

A good framework that is designed for all of who you are helps you stay connected with yourself and your project, which helps you stay calm. Or calm-er, at least. (It’s a process, remember?)

4. Chances of finishing are slim

If your planned jog causes pain, anxiety and frustration, it’s understandable that you’d head home without going the full distance.

It’s the same with anything you want to create. Creating something you care about takes lots of energy, and it will trigger resistance. It’s simply part of the transformational process that’s involved in going from Idea to Finished Creation.

So, you need structure and support to ease that process and deal with the resistance.

Project Prowess: The perfect bra for your perky projects

I learned the hard way that a good project framework is not just spreadsheets and deadlines.

Yes, the tools I’ll be sharing include the actual planning, setting of deadlines and scheduling of work.

But Project Prowess goes way beyond that.

The framework will support you by helping you get clear on what you want to create, how you want to create it, and what kind of plan makes sense for the way your life and business work right now, in the real world.

And you’ll have the added support of learning along side a group of like-minded people…we (the other participants and I) will be there to offer support, ideas and advice all along the way.

Project Prowess will help you get your project done, with less bouncing! I’d love for you to join us.

Image credit: RVWithTito

I’m thrilled to announce that Project Prowess is available again and registration is open!

I first launched this program last October with the intention of providing a safe space for you to learn how to create products and services for your people while also learning how to deal with the fear and anxiety that are part of the creative process.

The first group of projectizers made beautiful, amazing progress – much more than I expected.

Here’s some of what they accomplished in just four weeks:

• One woman went from “going in circles” to outlining content and creating a sales page for her very first workshop
• Another woman developed a successful holiday offer
• Another woman thought she had no more than five pages of content for an ebook and wound up creating 20 pages of helpfulness
• Another woman began creating her website, while learning how to honor what her body needs in terms of rest and relaxation

If you’ve been wanting to write an ebook, create a class or e-course, or even build a new web home for your biz, now’s the time.

I’ve gathered the best tools I know for both the inner work of dealing with the emotions that come up when we create something that matters to us, as well as the outer work of laying out a compatible-with-real-life project plan and getting the work done.

What’s different this time

There are two options this time around.

The Core Program

The Core Program includes four weeks of interactive calls together. (With recordings and a workbook, of course!)

Each week I’ll share a bit of theory and a practical tool or two (along with how-tos and examples), and then the rest of the time will be spent digging into your projects.

If you’ve got too many ideas, I’ll help you figure out which will be the best project for you and your biz right now – and you’ll feel confident that you’ve made the right choice.

If you’re having trouble getting started, I’ll get in there with you so you can see what needs to happen first, second and third.

If the project isn’t going as you expected, we can work on transforming it into something energizing and nourishing.

There’s also a private Facebook group page, just for you, me and the rest of the folks in the program. That way, you’ll have lots of support, even between our calls.

The Premium Option

The Premium Option is designed to help you integrate and implement. I didn’t want this to be another teleclass where you sit back and watch.

The Premium Option includes four Lab Sessions (where you and the rest of the group can work on your projects while I stand at the ready in case you get stuck – just like experiments in science class). It also includes a project plan review by me so that you will know your plan is manageable and doable.

To make sure I’m available to give plenty of additional attention, there are only 15 premium spots available.

This option is priced ridiculously low right now (several people told me it was too low), because I wanted it to be an absolute No-Brainer for you to say yes to extra support, and to have the experience of getting a project DONE.

Going from Idea to Finished Creation might feel mysterious to you. Or maybe it even feels as though there’s no rhyme nor reason as to why some projects go well and others don’t.

What I’ve learned after struggling with creating my own products and services is that completing projects successfully is a set of skills that can be learned. And the best way to learn is by practicing your skills with a real project.

Let’s take your idea and turn it into something amazing to offer your people. I know you can do it!

You can get all the details for Project Prowess right here. I hope to see you there!

A few weeks ago, I was experiencing a serious lack of motivation.

There was a lot that contributed to it…health stuff (which showed up as fatigue, depression and anxiety), family stuff and financial stuff.

I was trying to gear up to open registration for the next group of projectizers in Project Prowess (my program to help you choose, start and finish projects), but the work just wasn’t getting done. It felt as if I was trying to swim through molasses.

I started and deleted upwards of ten posts. Even if I was lucky enough to experience that initial burst of inspiration about an idea, somewhere between brain and fingers-on-keyboard it would all go horribly wrong.

I did my best to be kind to my body, because I know that pushing doesn’t always work. And having a hidden agenda behind the self-care often cancels out the benefit.

I’d do okay for a day, sometime three, but then I’d start freaking out about how long it had been since I’d done any real work. (And getting to the bottom of what constitutes “real work” is a whole ‘nother blog post.)

After a couple of weeks? I was convinced my motivation was gone forever.

On some level, it felt as though this not-working was becoming a pattern. Or maybe a habit.

But what to do about it?

If I looked at my to-do list and started thinking about all the work I hadn’t been doing and could have been doing over the last couple of weeks, it was an instant panic-fest. So that’s definitely what not to do.

I had to cut myself a lot of slack. But this was a different kind of slack – not the “poor thing, why don’t you go lie on the fainting couch for a while” kind.

I had to let go of any attachment to how much output I would have. Over and over again. Yet I needed to push myself (gently) to start working more.

If I only got as far as opening the admin panel of my site (which is where I write my posts) before I got distracted by Twitter or Facebook, that was okay.

And if I only wrote a sentence or two before I hit refresh on my inbox. Or *cough* played a game of solitaire, that was okay, too.

Every time I lost focus, I had a choice to make:

Would I collapse into the distraction, subsequent frustration and sense of having failed, or would I bring myself back to my work and try to take one more step?

I couldn’t expect to just crank out hundreds of words (or to plow through my task list) all at once, because it had been weeks since I’d done that.

Success is what YOU say it is

I get to decide what counts at success.

So do you.

We all hear tons of messages, day in and day out, about how our productivity should look. And often the message is that we should be kicking ass and taking names. Or just doing it or getting over it.

But in the end, it’s up to us.

The Rub

If you’ve been hanging out here for a while, you know I’m not a fan of pushing yourself to the point where it essentially becomes a violent act. Our bodies and souls need nourishment, and often lack of motivation and fatigue are messages that we need to replenish.

But there’s this other element of commitment that’s absolutely necessary in the creation process.

Sometimes commitment means not working, even when it feels like you’ll fall behind.
But sometimes it looks an awful lot like “forcing” yourself to work.

And therein lies the rub.

Only you can know whether you need to flex your commitment muscles by working when you don’t feel like it or by resting when you have lots to do.

That’s the dance we have to do as entrepreneurs…what works for us today may not be what we need tomorrow or next week.

There’s no formula to follow other than know thyself.

And that, as with so many other things, is a process.

How about you?

How do you define success? And is your definition truly yours, or did it come from someone else?

I designed Project Prowess to teach you the foundational skills that will allow you to get shit done while customizing the creation process for YOU.

I know first-hand that cookie cutter-solutions almost never work. We’re all unique, so what are the chances that someone else’s formula will work for you?

Project Prowess will teach you how to get more projects done in ways that fit who you are and how you work. The program starts February 23, so I hope you’ll check it out!

Image credit: edvvc

How many ideas do you have in your “idea file” that you’ve either never started, or started but never finished?

I’ve got well over 15, and that’s just the ideas that wound up in my designated idea folder on my computer. Who knows how many ideas are buried in the pages of various journals or even on scraps of paper that are in one of the piles laying around my office.

Of course, sometimes the idea turns out to be not-so-wonderful once you spend a little time with it (before or even after it turns into a project). And lord knows, if you don’t really, really want to do a project, you should either turn it into something you do want to do or scrap it.

But for those ideas that you truly want to create, here are three ways you might be suffocating the project before you can finish it (or even start it):

1. You’re worrying about how you’ll complete it before you’re completely clear on what it is

A client of mine wanted to create a new service for her business. She was excited about it, but almost immediately, it became clear this project would require lots of stuff she’d either need to learn or hire help to do.

I heard the enthusiasm drain from her voice in the span of three minutes.

It’s understandable…projects take a lot of energy to complete under the best of circumstances, so when you realize there’s some aspect of it that you’ve never done before, it can feel like you just hit a wall.

But when you’re in those very early stages of exploring an idea, your project needs nurturing and protecting.

Worrying too early about how to make a project happen is a surefire way to talk yourself out of it.

What to do instead:

Give yourself permission to explore the idea without worrying about the parts you don’t know how to do. Try to create a safe space from which to explore, where you simply note the hard parts of a project and come back to them later.

Not easy to do, but once you’re clear about the essence of your idea, you may find that there are less scary ways to make it happen.

2. You keep asking, “Will anyone even want this thing?”

This is another one I hear all the time (from clients and from myself).

If you truly want to create something, that desire is there for a reason. Even if nobody buys it or tweets about it or says yes.

By obsessing about what will happen after you complete your creation, you stifle the flow of your creative energy.

And there are so many reasons to create something that have nothing to do with what other people think or how they respond to what you’ve made. (Creating is inherently valuable, remember?)

What to do instead:

Shift your focus from “what others will think” to “what you’re learning and experiencing.” Brainstorm a list of what you’ll gain through the process of completing this project…all the stuff that doesn’t have to do with those outcomes we can’t control.

Work on building trust that you wanted to create this thing for a reason.

Believe me, I know this one is frakking difficult to do. I’ve put several things out there to hear only crickets, and it’s painful. Yet now, looking back, it’s easier to see what I learned through the process.

3. You’re focusing solely on what’s in it for you

It’s easy to get caught up in what a project will do for your internet fame or your bottom line.

And then what you’re creating becomes a transaction. I sell you this thing and you pay me.

If you’re anything like me, it won’t be long before that icky “internet marketer” feeling sets in. And don’t forget the bonus benefit of setting yourself up for a lot of disappointment by being attached to a particular outcome (see #2 above).

What to do instead:

Shift your focus to the people whose lives you want to improve by creating this thing.

Again, not always easy. Here’s a question that helps me:

If I didn’t need the money, what would I want this project to do for people, and how would I want it to change the world?

When you focus on how your project will improve the lives of your people, the creation process is about service.

How about you?

What are the ways you tend to sabotage your projects? Is there a particular stage in the process the sabotaging happens?

Psst! Project Prowess is almost here…

Creating stuff for your business is a set of skills you can learn, and the best way to learn is by doing.

Next month, I’ll be leading a small group coaching program to help you choose, plan and get to work on a project for your biz (and showing you how to enjoy the process along the way). Be the first to hear when registration opens by signing up for my advance discount list.

Image credit: LizMarie_AK

Often when I start working with a new client, they have a lot on their plate, and they’re feeling scattered and overwhelmed.

And one of the first things they ask is, “What should I be focusing on?”

Usually what they’re really asking is:

Here’s a bunch of stuff I could work on…which option is going to work out the best?

That’s the wrong question.

For one thing, outcomes aren’t within our control. So even if I dig out my Magic 8 Ball, I can’t predict what will work out the best (and neither can you).

For another thing, you’ll always have options. There will always be more opportunities than there is time available to work on them.

But even more important than those two things is this:

Remember why you’re asking the question to begin with.

Presumably, you’re asking because you want to create a work life that’s fulfilling to you. You want work that you enjoy doing. (Imagine that!)

Yet if you start by comparing available options, the chances of winding up with fulfilling, enjoyable work are slim.

It’s like getting in the car, getting on the nearest highway and just driving.

How do you know you’re going the right way? You don’t, because you didn’t choose your destination before you started.

Starting with the end in mind

That’s where working backwards comes in, starting with the right question:

What do I want in my life and business?

(Or some variation thereof.)

You have to know the end-result you want before you can know which steps to take to get you there.

I first learned this during my database design days.

I had to make sure the client was telling me all the information they would want to get out of the database, so that I would make sure to include a way for that information to get entered into the database.

If they wanted to know which zip codes had the most repeat customers, I had to design the database to track customers’ zip codes as well as who ordered what. If either of those bits of data were missing, they couldn’t find out which zip codes were the most profitable for them.

A tiny example

Maybe you’re considering partnering with someone to do in-person workshops, and it means you’ll have to go out of town once every couple of months.

And maybe you’re also considering investing in equipment that would allow you to offer a new kind of service in your business, which would mean more late evening appointments.

If you’re just comparing those two options, most likely neither will feel like a No-Brainer to you, but it might not be clear why.

How does the answer change when you ask, “What do I want for my life and business?”

Maybe, if you’re being honest with yourself, you want more time at home, and your evenings free.

If that’s the case, it doesn’t make much sense to invest money into equipment that will increase your evening appointments. Nor does it make a lot of sense to commit to a partnership that will mean more travel than you want.

Once you know what you actually want, you can work backwards to build your life and business around those desires.

It’s still a process

Might there be missteps along the way? Of course.

Sometimes the step you take will seem like a great choice, but it won’t work out. (We don’t control the outcome, remember?)

Maybe you’ll commit to teaching an online course and discover that you prefer face-to-face communication. Or maybe you’ll hire a web designer who doesn’t work out (and then disappears after promising a refund).

The steps that feel like mistakes still contain valuable learning you can use when you get back on track. (Even though they feel like a kick in the nuts.)

Step or misstep, you’re a hell of a lot more likely to head in the right direction if you know where you want to go.

Not just for big-picture stuff

This same process of working backwards applies to projects, too.

You have to know what you want to create – what end-result you want – before you can make good choices about how to get there.

It’s one of the things I’ll be teaching in Project Prowess in February. If you want to learn how to choose, start and finish projects that will grow your biz, sign up for my advance notice list to receive an email when registration is open. During the program, you’ll get clear on what you want to create, and then we’ll develop a manageable, enjoyable plan to make it happen.

Image credit: PinkMoose

Did you catch the Woody Allen documentary that’s been playing on PBS recently?

Whatever you might think about his movies or his personal life, he is an amazing example of creativity and getting out of one’s own way.

He’s made (and written) a movie every year for forty years. That’s a shitload of films. And writing.

I’ve only seen a handful of his movies, but here’s what struck me about his career:

He’s not afraid to fail.

When making Annie Hall, people who read the script were concerned because it was so different from his previous films. He chose to sacrifice some of the laughs to be able to create a richer story, knowing that the worst that would happen is that he’d make a fool out of himself.

(Funny, but I’ve always been really frightened of making a fool of myself.)

Then, after the success of Annie Hall, he chose to work at the very edge of his comfort zone again, by making Interiors, which wasn’t a comedy at all. He took a lot of flak for that movie, but here’s what he had to say about it:

I get more pleasure out of failing in a project I’m enthused over than succeeding in a project I know I can do well.

He made that movie because that’s what he wanted to make, and he made it knowing that he wouldn’t have control over the reception.

Notice that being unafraid to fail doesn’t guarantee you success. There will be failures, but “failure” itself is subjective.

Although nobody said it explicitly, I didn’t get the impression that Woody Allen actually sees Interiors as a failure, even though it got panned.

But the opposite is true when it comes to Manhattan.

He hated how that film turned out so much that he offered to make another film for free if United Artists would agree not to release it.

But here’s the thing: People loved that movie. Critics loved it, too.

The point

We each have our own personal flavors of fear and resistance toward certain projects.

But here are two of the really big reasons most of us avoid getting down to the business of creating.

1. We worry about how our creation will be received by others.

2. We worry that the finished product won’t match up with with the perfect, beautiful vision we had for it in the beginning.

We definitely don’t have control over the first. Once we release something into the world, it’s up to the audience (in whatever form applies to your business) to decide how they’ll respond.

And though it seems like we really ought to have control over the second, I don’t think we do. Not fully, anyway.

Our vision for a project is born of a different world. A world without the challenges of the one we live in.

Yet the world we live in – the world of form – is where we have to go from idea to finished creation.

So of course the end product will rarely match our vision 100%.

The problem comes in when we project ourselves into the future, and try to guess how our creation will turn out.

It’s a waste of time and energy, because we don’t control the outcome.

This projecting-into-the-future crap is not an easy thing to stop doing, but we can’t create from that place.

Where to start

Focus on the process. If you’re a writer, write. If you’re a painter, paint. If you’re a teacher, teach.

Try to count the time you spend doing your work as a win, regardless of the amount of progress you make (or don’t).

Remind yourself why you’re creating what you’re creating. What are you learning? How are you making your people’s lives better?

If you notice that you’ve scampered off to the future, worrying about the outcome of your project, gently bring yourself back to your Why.

Know that creating is inherently valuable regardless of the outcome. And that with practice, it will get easier.

I heard from quite a few folks who said they missed the early-bird deadline for Project Prowess, and they asked (very nicely) if I’d bring it back…and I’m saying YES, because I really want as many of you as possible to benefit from this material!

I want you to join the absolutely amazing group that’s gathering, and learn how to choose, start and finish your projects with more ease and enjoyment.

So I’m making it super easy. All you need to do is go to the Project Prowess page, and then use the secret discount code of SAVE100 to get in for $99.

Ms. Prowess insisted I mention that that works out to less than $25 per session, and it means you are getting my project smarts for less than $15 per hour. (Isn’t that what movie tickets cost these days?)

Oh…and now she wants me to answer a couple of questions that we got.

Do I have to know what project I want to work on?

Nope! As long as you have a couple of ideas, our very first session will be about how to choose the idea that’s best for you and your business right now.

Do I have to have a business already?

Not exactly, however you should have some decent clarity about how you want to help people. Your project could be something that will help you set the business up, like creating the website, or creating something helpful for your future email list subscribers.

How do I know if this is right for me?

Well, let me answer by explaining who this class isn’t for.

If you’re just looking for a way to fill in a spreadsheet and wind up with the perfect project plan, this isn’t for you.

It’s also not for you if you’d rather burn yourself out by pushing through on a project than to stop and explore what you really want and need from your creative process.

And if you’re looking for something that will eliminate 100% of your fear and stuckness around projects, please look elsewhere. (Fear is a normal part of the creative process. The key is being able to process and manage the fear, not eliminate it.)

Who Project Prowess is really for

You want to look forward to spending time with your business. And you understand that both which projects you work on and how you work on them are a big part of enjoying your work.

It’s a process. And the way that you shift your relationship with projects is by practicing. What do I mean by practicing? I mean learning the tools you need, and then using them to work on a real project.

How much is it worth to you to have the support and accountability you need to get a project you care about done?

There are some utterly fabulous people who’ve signed up. I hope you’ll consider joining us.

Ms. Prowess and I are thrilled to announce the winners of the Project Prowess giveaway!

Our electronic pull-names-from-a-hat machine drew the two lucky winners: Kerry and Rose!

They’ve both won a spot in the group coaching program that starts next week!

We (that’s Ms. Prowess and I) are sooo excited to get to work with these two lovely ladies.

I just know they’re going to become expert projectizers and create all sorts of amazing stuff for their people, while keeping the creation process fun and energizing for themselves.

Big, squishy congratulations to Kerry and Rose!

Want to learn to finish your projects with more ease and enjoyment? There’s still an early-bird price available through Thursday, October 6.

And Ms. Prowess told me I need to remind you that if you join the Shmorian Society, there’s a secret discount code that’ll get you $50 off!

Which means you could get six hours of group coaching to make serious progress on a real-life project that will grow your business for only $99.

(To put that in perspective, 6 hours’ worth of sessions with me would normally cost nearly 10 times as much. Hell, even at the regular price, you’d still be saving over 80%.)

Just think how great it would feel to get that one project you really care about done.

Join the party and let’s start creating together!

I was having a little chat with my beloved Project Prowess Group Coaching program, asking how to bring a little more celebration and confetti to her arrival.

I asked about a giveaway of some sort and she responded with a very enthusiastic yes, which she signaled by hugging the idea like a teddy bear. (You’ll just have to trust me on that.)

So here’s what we came up with.

Who can enter

You, of course!

The prizes

We’re giving away two seats in the Project Prowess Group Coaching program. And this isn’t a watered down version – this is the full deal.

The two winners will each receive:

• Four 90-minute group coaching calls (where you’ll learn how to projectize with more ease and enjoyment while making serious progress on your project)
• The recordings, so you don’t have to worry about missing something we discuss because you’re taking notes
• Access to the private Facebook page where you can get support and input from me and the other wonderful people in the program
• The worksheets and workbook which will help you with your current project AND your future projects

But what if I’ve already registered for the program? Can I still enter?

Yes! Absolutely!

If you enter the contest and win, but you’ve already joined the program, you’ll get TWO 30 minute one-on-one project check-in calls with me! (30-minute project check-ins aren’t currently for sale, but if they were, I’d price them at at least $95 apiece.)

Zee rules

I’m guessing you’ve already checked out the group coaching program here and know you want to win a spot. Yes? Good.

1. (This one’s required) If you want to enter the giveaway, leave a comment on this post and tell me (in a short-ish paragraph) why you’d like to win a seat in the program.

You can talk about what you’re trying to create, or where you get stuck, or how you hope this program will change your relationship with projectizing. Or a combination of all three!

There are no wrong answers, and this isn’t an essay competition! I just want to hear a little bit about who you are and what you’re working on business- and project-wise.

That’ll get your name into the metaphorical hat.

2. (Optional) To get a second entry, make sure you’ve joined my newsletter list (aka the Shmorian Society) by signing up here.

If you’re already a member, that counts, too, but you need to comment here so I know you want to enter the giveaway. Your join date needs to be prior to the official close of the contest (2pm Pacific on October 4, 2011).

Whether you win or not, signing up will get you a secret discount code worth quite a few fancy coffee drinks.

3. (Also optional) To get a third entry, help me spread the word about the giveaway!

On Twitter: Tweet a link to this contest page. Be sure to use “@victoriashmoria” in the tweet so I know you shared the link with your followers.

I’ll make it super easy by giving you a couple tweets you can copy and paste, but you’re free to make up your own, too!

• Oooh! @victoriashmoria’s giving away spots in her projectizing group coaching program! http://bit.ly/nWzwcx
• Win a spot to work w/ @victoriashmoria & finish a project that will grow your biz! http://bit.ly/nWzwcx
• Learn how to bring some *prowess* (rowr!) to your projectizing w/ @victoriashmoria – her treat! http://bit.ly/nWzwcx

On Facebook and Google +: Share this page and tag me in the post so I know you shared there! (You might need to friend me/circle me – I promise to reciprocate!)

On your blog, link back to this post (http://www.victoriabrouhard.com/woohoo-its-a-project-prowess-giveaway/).

The regular-sized print

- You can share as many times as you’d like, but you can only win once
- Current and past clients are welcome to enter, as are the folks who are already registered for the program
- Contest ends Tuesday, October 4, at 2pm Pacific/5pm Eastern time
- Winners will be selected via electronic pulling-names-from-a hat
- I’ll notify the winners via email by Wednesday, October 5, and announce them here on the blog by October 6

That’s all there is to it!

Ms. Prowess (that’s my project, but you probably guessed that) and I can’t wait to see who wins, so leave a comment and then start spreading the word about it!

We both thank you muchly for celebrating with us! Best of luck to all who enter!

{Image credits: Confetti by ADoseofShipBoy; Party Balloons by D Sharon Pruitt}

That’s right. You heard me. You don’t need a project plan.

It’s easy to think that a good project plan is what will keep a project flowing and keep you from getting stuck, right? I mean, all that information about what needs to be done and when it should be done by…how can it not be the cure for all project ills?

But I’ve seen lots of people create new products and services and get them launched without anything remotely resembling a traditional project plan.

And I’ve gotten stuck (and witnessed clients getting stuck) on a project that had a plan with the exact right amount of detail.

So what gives?

I hinted at the answer in my last post, when I mentioned that beyond the project plan, you need stuff like Desire, Alignment, Commitment, Safety, and Capacity.

Stuckness tends to show up when one or more of those qualities is missing.

(And in case you’re new around here, what I mean by “stuckness” when it comes to a project is anything that causes your progress to slow or stop. Stuff like wanting to chase after a new shiny idea instead of working on the project you already started.

Or preferring to scoop out the litter box rather than work on your project.)

Today I want to talk about the most important ingredient to keep your projects moving.

The #1 Thing You Need for a Successful Project

Desire.

Without Desire, you’ll either never complete the project, or you’ll need to force yourself to keep going.

And if you have to force yourself, you’ll probably wind up so drained afterward that you won’t be able to muster any excitement to tell people about your creation.

(If an ebook gets published in the forest but nobody reads it, does it make a sound?)

Why Desire is so important

You have to want to create the thing you’re about to create.

Sounds ridiculously obvious, right? But I mean you have to really want to create it.

When you get an idea for something – such as an ebook that you just know will blow people’s minds – in order for it to become more than an idea, you have to bring it out of the world of ideas, and into the world of form.

It takes a tremendous amount of energy to do that, so your desire to create the thing needs to be up at 10 (if not 11).

Anything below that and you risk not finishing the work you started.

Think back to some of your past projects. How many of them did you feel so excited about creating that your Desire was at 10 or 11?

Or did some of those projects actually have a hint of Should in them?

Or maybe your desire to do the project was actually more for a particular outcome – like selling a certain number of copies?

Does that mean that every day you need to be completely on fire to keep making progress?

No.

But that original Desire needs to be there, someplace within you, so you can connect with it to keep going when the project gets hard.

I’ll be the first to say that even when you do everything “right,” projects are still challenging (I’ll share why that is in my next post). But with the right tools in your toolbox, you can finish a difficult project rather than shelving it.

That’s why I created Project Prowess. So you can learn how to choose, start, and complete projects that will grow your business and help your people. While you get to love your work.

Want to…