Don The Idea Guy
Ideas that mean business... and MORE business!
  • Home
  • Brainstorming
  • Speaking
  • About DTIG
    • Interviews
  • Contact
    • Privacy Policy
    • Disclosures and Disclaimers
  • Get Free Ideas
starting line, finishing line

Your Starting Line and Finishing Line

Don The Idea Guy March 2, 2020

Whether you’re running a sprint, running a marathon, or running a project — you take off from a starting line with the goal of winding up on a finishing line. With the majority of projects, your starting line is your kick-off date. Your finishing line is your deadline.

The more I consider this metaphor it seems less like a marathon and more like track meet, especially when you think about all the hurdles that will be put in your way. You may even need to pass the baton to another partner during your project development, and where deadlines are involved there is usually a mad dash (a 20 yard dash at least) for the finish line in order to meet your completion date.

It is vital that you know where your Starting Line is in advance of your race

You need a firm fix on where you’ll begin. You need to know what resources you’ll have available during your run. Who your teammates are (who your competition is) and the criteria on how you’ll be rated and judged. Most importantly when the starting gun is scheduled to go off.

You also need to know where the Finish Line is before your race begins

You need to know the project goals and expectations. What will be considered a Gold Medal big win, what is a Silver Medal second place, and what results will only merit a certificate of participation.

Most importantly, if you don’t know where the Finish Line is — how will you know when you’re done?

Care to share?

  • Click to email a link to a friend (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window)
Hard Work Hacks Do You Think You’re Creative?

Related Posts

lion tapestry

Insight, Inspiration

The Ugly Back

Everyone goes to the museum to admire the pretty fronts of artistic tapestries, but the ugly backs face the wall and are rarely on display. My wife decided she wanted to host a big family Thanksgiving this year. While we were in the process of cleaning up the house and putting our (my) clutter. Hapy […]

Care to share?

  • Click to email a link to a friend (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window)
awaken broadcast campaign

Insight, Inspiration

My Three Words for 2022

Several years ago I started choosing an annual trio of words to help me stay on track with my goals, focus my actions, and guide my decision making. I copied the practice from Chris Brogan and you can click on that link in his name to visit Chris’ page to read about how he chooses […]

Care to share?

  • Click to email a link to a friend (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window)
letting hot ideas flow

Ideas, Insight

Want hot ideas? Let the tap run.

I’ve written in the past about how I come up with some many good ideas (spoiler alert: it’s because I also come up with so many bad ideas). I’ve also shared how important it is to throw away the first dozen or so ideas you come up with because they’re not going to be especially […]

Care to share?

  • Click to email a link to a friend (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window)


What kinds of ideas are you looking for?

Better Questions = Better Ideas

BUY 100-Whats of Creativity

Cool Stuff For You

free podcast websites

best appointment booking tool

Recent Articles

  • The Ugly Back
  • My Three Words for 2022
  • Want hot ideas? Let the tap run.
  • Back from the grave!
  • The End.

Categories

  • Featured
  • Ideas
  • Innovation
  • Insight
  • Inspiration
  • Rant
  • ThinkLinks
  • Uncategorized

Archives

Tags

action advertising attitude book brainstorming business creativity curiosity customer customer loyalty customers DTIG gitomer goals Ideas Innovation Insight Inspiration kickstart leadership links loyalty marketing media money motivation networking persuasion podcast productivity products projects Rant revenue sales selling service social media speaking success trends web work writing zombies

Idea Guy Projects

  • Big Yellow Sticky
  • Find Your Fries
  • SalesToys
  • Stop Selling At Me!
  • Super Action League

Let’s Connect

Another unusually creative project from Don The Idea Guy
© 2020 - All rights reserved. Do not use content without permission.