Things to consider before starting ANY project
As I was tackling some projects around the loft this weekend, (with about 20 other prospective projects going through my mind) I wanted to develop a framework for approaching each loft-related project that I consider and undertake in the future. Ounce of prevention is a pound of cure, right? I want to ensure that I am responsibly planning these projects out, whether big or small. I hope that the development and implementation of an appropriate framework will speed up the time it takes to plan and decide which projects are more important than others.
I tried to keep it simple and have boiled it down to four main points:
Budget
Define your budget for the project and make sure you stick to it. Do research on the front end and determine all the potential costs. Plan for the worst. Project costs can start to add up pretty quickly. It can be easy to get carried away, leaving you with an empty wallet.
ROI
Make sure the project is worthwhile and you can get a decent return on your investment. Projects with higher ROI should be examined and potentially implemented before others with lower return on investment.
No tangible return? Try to quantify the value you will derive from the project. I understand it can be a bit of a gray area, but it would be unwise to look only at financial return.
Your Purpose
Why would you want to undertake the project? Are you adding something new? Simply improving something that already exists? Define your purpose and make sure that everything you do will contribute to your goal. You could end up arriving in a very different place than you expected if you have no purpose.
Your Skills
Do you have the skills to complete the project yourself? What areas can you handle personally? Assess your skills first before you start the project. Don’t lie to yourself during the assessment either; small mistakes can end up costing you more time and money. Handle tasks that you know you can do. For complicated tasks, seek out someone who can help. The internet has a vast wealth of knowledge, growing by the second and is a wonderful place to start.
Take the time to consider these 4 things first before you start your project. Good luck with those upcoming projects! As always, let me know if you have other ideas or want to chime in via the Comments section below.
