Occasionally, when working on a project whether it be creative or even a simple math problem you can get wrapped up in the details. Where did I put that hammer? For instance. Scratch hammer and include pen and you will probably see why writing is such a exciting activity. Most of the time there is no need for tools just our creativity and ability. “I was able to do that” is a phrase similar to the “I was meant to do that” mantra of the previous article. The phrase can be in a trivial place at the end of a milestone because that phase is already done. The way a milestone is signified is on the necessities list of a project since “I was able to do that” has a close relationship with deadlines. At one office at a Non-profit a bell is rung when a milestone gets completed. With some planning and a little elbow grease we can be assured 99% of the time we will be able gain some semblance of this term and move forward fluidly through all the stages of the project. At the beginning of the project it would be great to say we are able to do the project. If we do, it’s a great confidence booster. Moral during a project can be greatly affected by how in tune the leaders of the project are with this simple idea. So why push, here are a few simple pointer’s that can help get a creative project on the successful track.
Utilize prior experience. However, don’t just pick up where you left off with something else because sometimes a fresh approach is needed. Utilize your team. Ever heard someone say they have 150 year’s of experience. This might not be an embellishment, more likely it is exponential equation that factor’s in things like team players and work ethic. All measurable by current and past means. Factor in the unknown’s that can actually give you motivation such as how flexible your project is, or how fan’s could bring extra juice to your project. When thinking about how to gauge completion of a creative project it is the good to use metrics. A simple checklist can entail most of the information as to what was done. Not many of these ways to have an unwanted unfinished project can stand up to preparedness so don’t just jump into it. A wise thing to consider is the various project paths and options and if necessary the options of others around you. For example, outline’s are great for stories when there is just the project creator who uses it however an prototype that is not given a usability test is not as good for a web design project where more than one person is the viewer.
In closing, time doesn’t always merit a sign of affection towards a project. If you invest just time and something goes wrong there would be the possibility finding another creative project that could make use of the prior experience. It doesn’t take much time for a project to grow. We would hope for instant success. When put in layman’s terms a classic has many similarities to jargon; something widely recognized as a standard. Similar to the way you might ride a bicycle a creative project can be a balancing act. The “I am able to do this” can easily turn in “I was able to do that” but keep in mind that they are intertwined in the goals of the project
