Never Been There, Never Done That
The first . . . the first time we do anything from talk to walk to write our name, it’s a challenge. Hopefully, we bring to it the skillset that put us smack dab in the middle between the easy (bored) and difficult (anxious). Then we’ll be in flow, in the zone, moving forward through time and space without sefl-consciousness.
Even so, it helps to keep a few things in mind when we do something we’ve never done before.
5 Things to Consider Before Doing Something Totally New
Whenever I take a new task, yes there are still a few, I try to remind myself that I should look for what might be hiding inside the project.
- Everything is easier than it looks.
- Everything takes longer than I think it will.
- Planning the path at the beginning is worth every agonizing minute. No matter how much I want to run.
- Every project that I’ve never done holds a problem I’ve not foreseen, a decision I’ve never faced, a crisis that is totally new as well.
- It’s always better to consult the experienced folks before the problems start.
I know. I’m putting this one on my wall too. I would have told you the stories, but there are too many. Why don’t you tell me yours instead?
–ME “Liz” Strauss
Check out the Work with Liz!! page in the sidebar.
Thanks “Yedda” for the redirect here. 🙂
Liz,
There’s a reason they coined that old saw: “Ignorance is bliss”!
I’ve got too many welts from the School of Hard Knocks to know which one to pick. One that illustrates point #2 is from my days working in the Loop. I was working in a startup firm that was building software for law firms and corporate legal departments. We talked to what seemed like every firm over 10 people in the Loop for 2 years, always with enthusiastic reaction, until we got our first order. It seemed like 20 years during those last few months of almost getting an order. You can see the detrimental effects that had. 😉
Mike
Hi Mike,
I thought of you, as promised, as SOBCon.
Oh yeah, Mike, I’ve met that client. He changes industries often, doesn’t he? 🙂
Liz,
Me, too!
And I believe that client’s name is Murphy!
Get well now, my friend!
Mike
P.S Yes, I’m Catholic, so I CAN invoke BeadNet!
Hey Mike,
Murphy! I should have figured it was that notorious clan. Hmmmm. Yep.
I’ll be thinking of our friend. He’s been to visit far too often. 🙂
Ohhh and, one more… everything is more expensive than I think it will be! 😉
Jennifer
Oh Jennifer,
You are soooo right. Nore expensiver by a mile. 🙂
One of my favorite sayings of my Pop that applies to this situation and many others
“hind site is better than fore site”
Yep, Adam,
It sure does — especially since foresight is woefully lacking. 🙂
or… “it’s easier to ride the horse the direction it’s going in “….
GP in Montana
Hi GP!
You know, I really should be smart enough to figure that one out. How come I never do? 🙂