According to Basecamp, I have 13 projects right now, in various stages of completion. Everything from blogging work to setting up my long delayed personal website at http://rightrightnow.com (I’ve had more fun connecting with people here). I have two ebooks I plan on getting out, and about 6 blogs do deliver for clients by the EOY. It’s all manageable stuff, most of the work is waiting on feedback, and I have plausible reasons (people not calling me back) for most of the issues.
Problem is, some of the stuff has been going on for weeks, and it is a momentum killer. We only have some limited amount of bandwidth and we can’t have umpteen half done projects waiting for us. David Allen aptly puts out the notion that each unprocessed loop consumes some amount of psychic RAM that keeps us from doing things more effectively. And this is true (though I’ve taken in a ton of work lately). So–in addition to the planning that I do, I have to have an action plan for when a project loses momentum–what to do.
I don’t really know the answer for this. Sometimes the client absorbs the energy and is the obstacle, sometimes it’s circumstances (and sometimes, it’s simply my fault). A conscientious freelancer needs to have a plan in place for this stuff though. It’s not really about ‘causing’ or ‘manifesting,’ the loss of momentum. It’s about having a plan in place to ensure it never happens. So…instead of phrasing it ‘planning for the loss of momentum.’ Let’s say ‘ensuring that projects go fast and well,’ and accounting for normality.
Here are thoughts on how to do it–none of them are exhaustive–or even complete. This is more or less a brainstorm:
- Acknowledge the issue proactively at the beginning of projects. “We’re going to plan–in advance–for the BS that happens on projects…and do something about it.”
- Financial Incentives: Clients can be motivated by money, and having an understanding that if we have to chase down documents, etc, etc, we charge more than if we don’t. Making this explicit can help everyone get the deadline done faster.
- Check in: Schedule Check ins on your calendar periodically, and don’t accept reschedules. Have a mutual commitment to one another.
- Stay far far ahead of deadlines: This is way more important than you think–really. If you stay out in front, then there no issues in that regard.
This is preventive. When momentum is lost, what then:
- Regroup ASAP. Reschedule milestones and deadlines ASAP.
- Try to abbreviate the remaining workdays till project delivery & focus on the ‘lost sheep.’
- Have a ‘back on track’ plan written in advance for the major stuff you do frequently.
- Deliver SOMETHING the day you recognize momentum is gone, daddy, gone…a milestone, anything. Stop other projects till the last sheep is in the fold.
I think that’s it for now.
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This is all so true. My only thought – if and when you get off track and for whatever reason you cannot stay ahead of deadlines – regroup and re-prioritize. Sometimes the things that were most important at the onset of a project are less important and your critical path may have shifted.
I have been here numerous times. When it is your client dragging their feet, I have found that creating an “inactive” status works well. You talk with them up front about what that means and proceed with the project. As soon as they don’t reply to you on critical decision points that need to be made, you just send out a form email that their project is going to be set to an inactive status unless you hear from them by XX date. Works like a charm. You will get them moving again.
Funny how human nature is…
Troy Malone