Soar to Success May 2018

SOAR TO SUCCESS / May 2018 / Business Acceleration Strategies The Five Stages of a Successful Project By Joan Washburn I ZDV UHPLQGHG UHFHQWO\ RI WKH ĆYH VWDJHV RI a successful project when I began one of my own that is moving very slowly in Stage 2. But I’m getting ahead of myself. Let’s start at the beginning. Whether you’re remodeling an empty fruit stand into a thriving training center, like me, or starting a new business like my client, Tim, there are 5 distinct stages youmust go through to turn it into a success. Each one has its own opportunities and pitfalls. Stage One: Creation. This stage is all about imagination and vision. The possibilities are endless. This is where you put all your ideas GRZQ RQ SDSHU %H VSHFLĆF VR LPSRUWDQW WKLQJV don’t fall through the cracks. The pitfall for Stage One is that it can be easy to linger here – planning and dreaming! Once your plans are complete, start taking action! Stage Two: Lift-off. This is where the rubber PHHWV WKH URDG <RXZLOO ĆQG WKDW LW WDNHV DERXW ten times more energy that you thought it would to produce results in stage two. (I feel like I’vebeenhere forever.) It’seasyat this stage to give up. You tell yourself “If this was meant to be, it wouldn’t be this hard.” “This was a big mistake!” The best antidote to these internal conversations is stay focused on the end game. Make smaller promises and keep them!