I’m going to guess you’re something of an idea machine. Am I right?
Fabulous! Now tell me: What happens after you’ve been inspired to do something great?
If you’re like most business owners, you have a notebook full of ideas you haven’t had the time or energy to implement.
Maybe your excitement fizzles out before you have the chance bring your idea to life. Or you push yourself too hard until you feel creatively zapped. Or you’re simply overworked and overwhelmed.
But fresh ideas are vital to your business. They keep you creatively inspired and they keep your clients engaged.
That’s why I’ve honed a series of steps that are guaranteed to give those amazing ideas a fighting chance.
You can use these steps for something small, like write a free opt-in ebook, or you can use it for something big, like creating a multi-media digital program. (I’ve even had someone use these steps to plan a retirement party!)
If you’re ready to bring one of your ideas to life, here’s how, in my famous, Steal This!, step-by-step fashion.
Step 1: Get Crystal Clear
I’m sure you’ve started down the path of executing an idea only to realize much later that it hadn’t been the best one to work on. Learning how to pick the best idea to work on can save you a ton of time and mistakes in the long run.
Start by asking yourself this question to sort the so-so ideas from the spectacular:
Where did this idea come from?
When it popped into your brain, how were you feeling? Anxious? Afraid? In nervous flurry while watching someone else pull off a great launch?
If so, it was likely inspired by fear, not clarity, and those aren’t the best ideas to act on.
However, if you were in a clear frame of mind, pay attention. That’s probably an idea with serious staying power.
After you’ve found a shining star, get out a pen and paper and write down your answers to these questions.
What do I want to do?
Why do I want to do it?
Who is this for?
How is it going to work?
When and where is it going to happen?
When you answer those questions, you can see the full potential of your inspired idea.
If you have multiple ideas and can’t pick between them, answer the above questions for each one and see which one makes you most excited. Then follow-through with that one before you start working on another one.
Step 2: Figure Out the Steps
Now that you’ve clarified which idea you want to make happen, it’s time to outline the steps it’ll take to bring your idea to life.
This may sound a bit much, but I promise this tip is work gold:
Grab a big stack of index cards. (Yes, like the ones you used for flash cards back in school.)
On each card, write down one step required to make your idea happen. Only put one step on a card. This may sound excessive or silly, but I promise you that it will make idea execution 357 times easier if you do it.
Once you’ve brainstormed all of the steps, revisit each card and jot down the answers to these questions (if they apply):
What kind?
How many or how much?
Which one?
Where?
This way, you can uncover all the tiny, in-between tasks that need doing. This will save you TONS of time at later phases in the project, so it’s not a mad scramble to tie up loose ends.
You may end up generating a dozen or more new task cards as a result. That’s actually a good thing! Every new task card is a potentially stressful OMG-I-forgot-that! situation you’ve avoided.
Step 3: Put Them in Order
Now you know all of the steps you’ll have to take, it’s time to put them in order. I think this is the most fun part!!
Give yourself time and grant yourself some patience, and you’ll figure it out. It may also help to work through it over a few days.
Also know that there isn’t always one single correct order. Do your best to work through this puzzle, and in the end, you’ll have a big ‘ol plan, clear as day!
Step 4: Get Help Where You Need It
Now that you see every step that needs to happen and in what order, you may look at a few index cards hoping you could skip that step altogether. Well, you can’t skip it, but you can outsource it.
This isn’t the time to be shy about asking for help. If you have a big idea you want to make happen, reach out where you need to.
Which of these tasks do you not know how to do or would rather not do at risk of repeatedly slamming your head against a wall? Great. Put a little star by that task. Keep putting stars on your index cards, and after you run through them all, you’ll have your “must delegate” list.
Next, it’s time to start the hunt for help.
Ask for referrals on social media. Phone a friend. Scour the web. Don’t stop looking until you find the right person to help.
Short on cash? Ask friends and colleagues with the skills you need if they’d be open to trade. For example, your badass life coaching skills could be traded for their website coding wizardry.
Step 5: Take Action
Proper planning arms you for action and helps you avoid surprises, so you can make your ideas actually happen.
Click to TweetProper planning arms you for action and helps you avoid surprises, so you can make your ideas actually happen.With all of that planning under your belt, it’s now time to take action! (I love this part, too!) Start working through your steps, one at a time, and make your idea actually happen!
(Quick question: Now that you’ve seen all that goes into proper planning to prevent potential problems, is it possible you’ve jumped a little too quickly into taking action in the past? Just curious…)
Keep the Momentum Going
For some, it can be difficult to work through the bajillion steps required to see a huge project through to execution. When that happens, here’s how you can stay motivated.
First, I like to display my index card list somewhere visible and accessible, so I can check off each task I complete. The more tasks I knock off the list, the more momentum I get! It’s also a great reminder of how far I’ve come and a great motivator to keep going.
Second, I’m not afraid to bribe myself. Seriously.
If you’re dragging your feet on a particular task, give yourself something you’ll enjoy while you tackle it or after it’s complete. Struggling to write that sales page? Give yourself two hours to make headway on that sales page, then treat yourself to a mocha latte at your favorite coffee shop. Or reward yourself with a long-overdue massage once you’ve completed that ebook.
Do whatever you need to do to FINISH that great idea and bring it to life. We will have no half-finished works of greatness around here!
It’s Your Turn
Now it’s your turn to bring your ideas to life. But first, tell me…
What idea do you have in the hopper that needs a good ‘ol plan to make it actually happen?
Where do you get stalled on the road to making your ideas actually happen? What tips in this article are you going to implement to get you moving?
Declare your genius in the comments below. I can’t wait to see you get your big ideas out into the world!
Hello Jenny, you hit me spot on today with this article. I am currently in Serbia, and are playing with the idea of business here. I do not have a stack of cards at the moment, but will buy one when I go out later, and write it all down.
So thank you, for making me do the brainstorming in other places than my head 🙂
Even ripped up pieces of paper will do the trick, Cecilie! And yes, it’s way better to brainstorm outside of your head on the big ideas. Good luck!
Jenny,
What a great idea! I LOVE hands-on stuff so your idea is right up my alley. Of course, I DO have several ideas right now that I want to accomplish and I am going to use your process for completing them. Thanks so much!
Excellent, Kelly! Be sure to let me know how it goes for you!
Jenny – as always, a great process! I’ve done something similar with sticky notes before but I love the idea of using the cards to jot down questions and generate additional steps. I tend to straddle a line between left-brained “step following” and right-brained creative inspiration. I think the index cards are a great way to satisfy both sides while actually getting somewhere on a project!
I totally agree — the index cards marry right and left brains and work well for anyone wherever they are on that spectrum. Have fun with it!
Great article, Jenny! I love how you’ve articulated this sequence in detail. When I use index cards, I like to transfer the action steps into a project management tool like Basecamp. And sometimes I use post-it notes and stick them on a board in the order I’ll take action so I can see the whole thing laid out.
You can totally then transfer the steps to Basecamp (or even a spreadsheet). That definitely works! Post-its are good too, especially for smaller projects.
Thanks Jenny – excellent tips! I’m from the “too-many-ideas-not-enough-time” tribe. I have various tools to keep me focused, but I’m going to add your questions to my time management strategy. Having a visual “reminder” has been the best motivator for me.
I know that tribe well, Brenda! Next week’s post is all about how to deal with idea overwhelm, so I’ve got you covered. Stay tuned…
Jenny, as always — your advice is so spot on and refreshing. Keep the super-helpful posts coming! I can’t get enough!
Thanks, Nikki!!
I love the idea of index cards for steps! Thanks.
Yes! That little thing has changed many lives 🙂 And it’s fun to do!
Great post! After reading this I think I’m finally going to start writing the ebook I’ve been meaning to make for years. 🙂
Awesome, Katie!! Go for it!
Go Katie!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
This is exactly how I teach my clients to get through those pesky tasks! Love that we both do this with a non-techie approach. Sometimes the techie stuff gets in the way, doesn’t it?
Thanks for all you do!
Love that you teach it this way too, MamaRed! This is a simplified version of the project management approach I used in corporate to manage mega projects. I love how the same approach works for our micro businesses!
Definitely helps those for whom techie stuff drives them around the bend! I just started using Asana because I’m doing a collaborative project for my Tame the FollowUp Beastie project. Already finding some stuff I miss from Mindjet and since she is familiar with it, I’m learning it!
I use index cards for so many client projects (less for my own since I tend toward yellow pads, mind maps and flow diagrams) that I buy them in bulk and recommend my clients do the same!
By gum, it doesn’t get to get just mega corps that succeed, eh?
As always, your tips are spot on. You seem to always be in my head!! I am going to work on being better at outsourcing some of the steps
Cheers!
It’s always my pleasure to help, Ilesha! Yes – outsource where you need to so you can put your next big thing out into the world!
Hi Jenny,
I am stuck with figuring out the proper business model for my business and it is driving me crazy. Any pointers on how to deal with that. My current business model is not scalable at the rate that I am charging. If I was to charge according to the value I deliver it would become a high end product thus pricing most people the need it out of the market. I have thought about creating an online product but not sure what to do with the hands on part that is so crucial to the overall success for the client. I guide women and children to kick their sugar and fatty foods cravings through personal coaching and hands on cooking instructions. Thank in advance for your help. Sophie
I have so much to say about this and possibly more than can fit in a comment. I’ll do my best!
Simply put: you’re overthinking it. I know that sounds crazy because you’re being really smart to say “will this add up and really help me make a good living.”
What I’ve found in my 5 years in the online world working with heart-centered entrepreneurs is that we can’t see the whole plan. It’s a big joke on us, especially big planners like myself!
Instead, our job is to take the step that’s right in front of us, begging for our attention. Do the work right here and right know and KNOW that it will lead you to your big thing eventually.
For myself, I could have NEVER got to the place where I am now if I hadn’t just followed the steps. Each step put in front of us leads us to where we need to go in the long run. But the only way to get to our big picture goal is to look right in front of us.
For you, you see that your model doesn’t work. I get that. Set it aside just for a moment and ask yourself: What’s the next thing I need to do to serve my target audience even better than I am now? If the answer is something that excites you, follow it. Take that step.
If you do these two things, look at the next thing and make sure it excites you then follow through, you will get where you want to go and make the income you want to.
I hope this helps!!!
I’m so glad I read this today! Yesterday, I wrote down everything I need/want to do on individual mini post-it notes and put them in different sections based on priority…..from the small tasks to the huge, multi-step projects. And then I got stuck. And felt silly for using something as old fashioned as paper to do project planning. But now I’m going to whip out my huge stack of index cards with pride and break those big projects down into their individual tasks. Thanks for writing another great article!
Yay!! There is NO shame in using pen and paper in this digital age. In fact, I personally find that connecting to our ideas and tasks with pen and paper makes them feel more tangible and doable. Something about pen and paper for planning makes the doing easier. So go grab your notes with pride and plan the old fashioned way!
Bam! So helpful. I’ve heard you mention the index card method before and I’ve never used it, but it intrigued me. Now that you’ve reminded me I think I really should implement. I’m such a tactile learner that a simple list of to-dos really doesn’t work for me as well as I’d like. I think touching an index card and being able to write notes on it and stack it with other completed tasks and the like would be much more helpful to me than simply hitting the checkbox in my task management software.
That is one of the reasons I use index cards for most clients Laura…that “touch” thing helps a bunch! Whether for processes or getting clear on the who, the combination of writing (not just typing) and touching the cards makes a big difference, even if you transfer stuff to some tool later. The other nice thing is you can take that stack of cards anywhere, no electricity or wifi needed, eh?
I like the idea of bribing myself! We do it with kids when we want them to do something, so should be able to apply this to us too. I’ve got several big “ideas” sitting in my list and making me find excuses why I can’t just make them happen today. Will apply your tips and see if it makes a difference – with a nice bribe at the end!
One step at a time on index cards or post-its plus a little bribery… you’ll find yourself making those ideas happen much faster!
Fabulous idea Jenny and this is the first thing I’ll do tomorrow morning. Instead of using index cards, I’ll use Trello. I’m addicted to Trello! I can create cards there in the same way you’ve described and can drag and drop them around the board into different orders. And drag each one into a “done” section as I complete each step.
I’m fired up! Thank you xx
Yay for being fired up!! I’ve heard people who love Trello. The key is to find something you like and actually use! Sounds like you’ve got that. Thank you for sharing that resource here!