Wudatime

Starting a project from scratch can be a complicated task if you do not have a number of factors clearly defined before starting. Finding out where to start will take you more time than you imagine if you do not know exactly what you want or how you want it. This will also make a negative impact on the scheduling and rhythm of your project if you do not have these factors defined. In continuation, we are going to explain a number of elements that you should keep in mind so that you will be able to start a new project without too much hassle:

1. A new project is like a new life. Forget everything else. While it is important to learn from your errors of the past and use the experience that you’ve acquired, it is crucial to look at a new project with a fresh perspective. Do not obsess over the difficulties or bad experiences that  have happened to you in the past. Learn. You also do not want to copy past experiences, because a new project is a new story.
2. Inform yourself. Look for related projects, parallel literature or examples on the Internet or in libraries. Keep in mind that what you are doing or what you have done in the past will help you think of new ideas or avoid the mistakes of others. However, be careful that you are not plagiarizing.
3. Define, define, and define.
   • Define primary and secondary objectives. Decide on a goal and structure the project according to that goal.
   • Define a work methodology: in groups, individually, mini-projects, tasks, small goals, etc. Whatever is most convenient for you or what you think will work best to bring this new project that you are creating to a successful conclusion.
   • Define an activity and task schedule. This is one of the most important steps. Creating an efficient task schedule is fundamental to managing a project correctly. Above all, be realistic with your use of time and do not skimp on your activities: give yourself more time than necessary to perform the most complex activities and keep in mind that unexpected events can always occur that interfere with the schedule. Once the timetable is created, get down to work and do your best to stay on schedule. Make your team aware of the importance of punctuality regarding their assignments from the beginning and everything will turn out well. Concerning tasks being completed on schedule, do not allow too much leeway or you will regret it.
4. Set the boundaries of the project. Be clear about where you want to go, what you want to accomplish and how you want to accomplish it. Clearly define the theme of the project and structure it according to the theme. Do not simply work on the fly because it will not end well. Keep in mind that is very easy to get off course and "walk around the hills of Úbeda". It is important to focus your all of your attention on the objectives to be able to work on and accomplish the objectives consistently.
5. Choose an efficient work team. As already previously mentioned in this article, an efficient work team is fundamental for projects to keep moving forward. Take your time in choosing the team members that you need and everything will turn out well. Try not to depend on and get caught up with past experiences: if you have had an excellent work team in the past, do not expect that your new team will be exactly equal. On the other hand, if you have had a bad experience with a work team, do not obsess and think that everyone can always work better.
6. Be realistic. When you start a new project it is best not to adopt a pompous attitude. Keep in mind that things do not always go as one wishes and sometimes everything does not go according to plan. Start the castle from the bottom, and bit by bit if you give enough time to improve it, it will get better. If you are in charge of a large project, specify the micro-projects and ensure that your workers do not lose sight of the final objective.

As you can see, starting a project from scratch is not a simple task. If you are clear about what you want and you work to define the goals and the pathway to reach those goals, everything will be simpler. Do not get caught up with past experiences and keep in mind that every new project is a new opportunity that opens itself up to you so that you can  overcome new challenges and surpass yourself.