| Project management techniques play an important role | | | | but it is enough to give you a idea of how to get |
| in the world around you. Many of the most visually | | | | started. There are many methods of project |
| imposing features of your life would not be there | | | | management, which are mostly designed for big |
| without effective project management. | | | | projects, but you could also include the following in your |
| Let us just consider one example: the aircraft you fly | | | | "Project Success" plan: |
| away on for your vacation. That aircraft is an end | | | | Consider the Risks |
| result of a highly complex project, probably covering | | | | Risk assessment is a normal part of large project, but |
| several different locations and even countries. Design, | | | | it can be just as critical for you, especially when it |
| engineering, manufacturing; all these could be spread | | | | comes to assessing the financial implications and |
| around in different offices and buildings. Each of those | | | | affect on close family. Discuss with your spouse and |
| elements is complex and may involve several | | | | older children if possible; their support and |
| professional disciplines, with safety and comfort a | | | | understanding could be critical later. |
| feature at all times. | | | | Assessing Resources Required |
| Take away the management of that aircraft project, | | | | The resources you will need will be a mix of time, free |
| and then try to imagine how the resulting aircraft may | | | | information, free software, paid for software, paid for |
| have looked. Without the co-ordination provided by | | | | services and other items of expenditure that are |
| good management, what you would end up with, if | | | | essential to your success. That is based only on your |
| anything, may not even look like an airplane at all. | | | | first assessment of what you need to have and to do. |
| Components may not fit, or may not arrive; the wings | | | | Always bear in mind that your personal success |
| may have been designed, but their manufacture not | | | | project will need to be flexible, as you will learn much |
| ordered; the wheels may be designed for the wrong | | | | as you go along and have to adjust your plan |
| size of aircraft. All sorts of bizarre things could occur, | | | | accordingly. |
| and the aircraft would not get off the ground, probably | | | | Assigning and Managing Project Tasks |
| never even be half assembled. | | | | This may sound very simple: assign all tasks to |
| When you get on an aircraft, you are boarding the | | | | yourself and carry them out yourself. But you are not |
| successful result of a project well and professionally | | | | that simple, and managing yourself is not that simple. In |
| managed. But what if you changed the project from | | | | fact, you are are probably about the worse person |
| an aircraft to your own future success; and then | | | | you could wish to manage, until you train yourself not |
| applied some basic project management techniques to | | | | to be. |
| achieve a successful outcome to "Project Success"? | | | | While it is possible to contract out tasks, a golden rule |
| Your chances of achieving success would be greatly | | | | of outsourcing is to first understand in detail what it is |
| enhanced. | | | | you are outsourcing. Leave that for later when you |
| You may be thinking that your success is so personal | | | | are accomplished in your new success role and fully |
| that it is simple, with nobody else involved, and | | | | understand the business you are in. |
| therefore needs no management at all. You may | | | | So, to begin with, assign yourself all the tasks, having |
| argue that success, if it is going to happen, is just going | | | | first listed them all down. You will not have all the |
| to happen. The reality of achievement, though, is never | | | | resources you need, as you will inevitably be lacking in |
| that simple. An element of self management will | | | | certain areas of knowledge. Note down what those |
| always be needed to be successful, so why not | | | | knowledge gaps are, as filling them will need to be built |
| increase your chances of the perfect outcome to | | | | into a more detailed plan. |
| "Project Success" and manage it effectively? After all, | | | | Create Detailed Project Plan - Task by Task |
| you are more complex than that sleek, hi-tech aircraft | | | | By now you should have enough information to build a |
| transporting you to your holiday destination. | | | | more detailed plan. Now we are not talking about |
| In practice, though, how can you take the project | | | | building a rocket here. Despite your own complexities, |
| management approach of building an aircraft, and | | | | this should still be a relatively simple plan for each task, |
| apply those techniques to "Project Success?" | | | | and you should be prepared to change it later if |
| Applying Project Management Techniques to Personal | | | | necessary. Your plan is intended as an aid to your |
| Success. | | | | success, not a ball and chain dragging you down. You |
| In a short article, I can only touch upon a few headings | | | | will learn fast as you go along, and need to adapt |
| which may help guide you to guide yourself. These are | | | | quickly. |
| important components of managing a project of any | | | | Prioritize Project Tasks |
| sort, and could be applied to "Project Success". Here | | | | In complex projects, progress can be curtailed by bad |
| are some ideas which may help put yourself in control | | | | priority management. I have seen this in practice, when |
| of your own success destiny. | | | | called in to take over the key, time critical, part of a |
| "Project Success - The Vision" | | | | large project installing a new computerised accounting |
| Until you have a definite end in mind, you have no | | | | system. I soon realised why it had fallen so far behind. |
| project. There would be no point having a project to | | | | Project team members were, against their own better |
| build an aircraft, only to find in the end that what was | | | | judgement, being forced into spending time on trivia |
| needed was a submarine. As an individual, it is just as | | | | that the project leader liked doing, rather than driving |
| important to have a clear idea of the end aim; what | | | | the key areas of the project forward. |
| really is the success you are seeking? Once fully | | | | Beware of your own inclination to do the same. In |
| identified, you can plan "Project Success". | | | | "Project Success" you will have to manage yourself, |
| As an individual, though, this stage can help to pave the | | | | according to priorities, but not according to your |
| way for a smooth project. If you take your time to | | | | comfort zone. It is how you respond to this challenge |
| visualize in some detail what success for you would | | | | that will dictate whether you will be a successful online |
| entail, then you can harvest the benefits of | | | | businessman, or someone who is just playing with it for |
| visualization, which can be a useful personal tool in | | | | fun. |
| carving an opening to reach where you want to go. | | | | Controlling and Monitoring Progress of "Project |
| One idea is to sit quietly and alone, and visualize your | | | | Success". |
| perfect life in 5 years' time. Then, carefully write down | | | | This is where you will be tested in your own self |
| the main components of that future life. You could then | | | | discipline and management ability. You need to |
| take that as your end product of "Project Success". | | | | establish points in the plan where you will review |
| Outline Plan For "Project Success" | | | | progress. In a normal project situation, the project |
| Once you have a clear vision of your overall success | | | | management team would probably have regular |
| objective, then it is worth forming an outline plan of | | | | management meetings, where those heading each |
| how you are going to achieve that success. At this | | | | key task have to report progress and co-ordinate with |
| stage, you may not have much idea of the detail | | | | others. |
| anyway. Even for an outline plan, you may need to do | | | | You need to do the same, as yourself, and perhaps |
| some research first. | | | | review progress once a week or, at minimum, once a |
| For the sake of this illustration, let us assume your | | | | month. If you can get a mentor in your chosen |
| vision of success is to have your own business for the | | | | business, then that would be a great help; or you may |
| first time, based at home and on the internet. This is an | | | | like to get your spouse or a friend to add a critical input |
| ambition shared by millions of people across the world. | | | | to your progress. The important thing is that you must |
| Your initial research may show you that, in outline, you | | | | make an unemotional assessment of how you are |
| need to:a. choose the type of online business that you | | | | progressing, where things are going right or wrong, and |
| want and in what market;b. learn about website design | | | | what, if any, changes to the plan need to be made. A |
| and building;c. learn about internet marketing and offline | | | | plan is a plan is a plan; change it if you have to, and do |
| marketing if not already known;d. study people who | | | | not think of changing it as an admittance of defeat, it is |
| have already succeeded in an online business;e. work | | | | a triumph of actual knowledge over guesswork. |
| out a financial budget;f. formulate a business plan | | | | By using some of the disciplines mentioned above, you |
| based on the outcome of a, b, and c above, taking into | | | | can help guide yourself to a successful conclusion to |
| account e. You conclude d. will be ongoing. | | | | "Project Success. |
| The above are just examples, and not comprehensive, | | | | |