Source: Rework by Jason Fried and David Heinemeier Hansson
Reason to read: To get the unfiltered opinion of how two successful entrepreneurs think about management and leadership.
Jason and David are the co-founders of Basecamp—a project management and team communication software company. Both men are well known in tech-entrepreneurship circles for sharing their ideas on business leadership.
The opening chapters of Rework address the psychology of getting started.
Maybe you’re excited about pursuing a promising business plan. Or perhaps you’re geeked about a new personal side-project.
Whatever it is, the authors have specific advice for getting a new initiative successfully off the ground.
- Don’t delay. The most important thing is to begin. What’s one small step that you can take today?
- Pull the big levers. Remember the 80/20 rule. What are the 20% of activities that will drive 80% of your results?
- What you have is good enough. People use equipment as a crutch. They’re looking for a shortcut. How can you be resourceful with what you have today?
- Make it a priority. When you want something bad enough, you make the time regardless of your other obligations. What are you going to stop doing to free up more time?
- Focus on quick wins. Long projects zap morale. Momentum is built with small iterations and frequent feedback. What do you plan to accomplish this week?
I’ve certainly had my fair share of new projects flame out before they took off.
But sometimes I stick with it.
For instance, I recently started road cycling. In the last six months, I’ve gone from riding with the slowest group in my club to winning a handful of virtual races on Zwift.
As I reflect on what has made my new hobby successful, I can’t help but notice that my actions mirrored much of the above advice.
I made riding my bike every day a priority. I didn’t worry about having the best gear. I set out to accomplish small weekly mileage goals.
The upgrades eventually came (lighter bike, more comfortable clothing, heartrate training monitors), but I didn’t let those things distract my focus from pulling the one lever that mattered most: Time on the bike.
Your goals are achieved one day at a time. Keep a long-term perspective and a short-term focus.
If you make things too complicated in the beginning you’ll smother any spark of ambition before it has a chance to catch fire. Your best strategy is to keep it simple. Do what you can today to move the needle.
Apply it today: Prioritize one activity that will generate 80% of your early results. Recognize the quick win and carry your momentum into tomorrow.
Now think back to the last project you completed. What did you do at the beginning that set you up for success?