How To Create Deadlines

Being an entrepreneur can either be really great to just go-go-go with the flow or very, very difficult to discipline yourself to stay on task and to get things done.

If you find yourself as more as the latter, you might be someone who struggles with deadlines.

I’ve met some super creative entrepreneurs who can do wonderful work, but can’t seem to be as productive as they’d like because they get distracted and they don’t really have deadlines for themselves. This is especially hard if you report to yourself and don’t have a team that’s counting on you and you’re just start something new so you have no clients or customers or anyone depending on you yet. But…

You have to know you can count on yourself before you can ask others to count on you.

So this is how I create deadlines. And I’ll use an example from a friend who wants to start her own stationary business and asked me to do this video/blog.

1. Start with the end vision in mind.

   I asked her when she wants to launch this into the world? Have something to sell? And let people know she has this business. (Answer: Before the holidays)

2. Work backwards and put it in the calendar.

   I say if it’s not in the calendar, it’s not happening. From your end goal date, break down the things that need to be done prior and put each of them in a block in your calendar based on how much time you have per week. This is what keeps progress moving as you move from block to block, day to day, and week to week and month to month, you’ll keep coming across something that you have to do until you get to that end goal.

   (Rough example of a very ambitious 3 month timeline)

   If it’s August 2nd today and the launch date is November 1st, Let’s work backwards every Wednesday.
   11/1: Launch business to the public.
   10/25: Send press release and media invite.
   10/18: Soft launch website to family and friends to shop and practice shipment.
   10/11: Create a test email campaign for soft launch. Build subscriber list.
   10/4: Load products to website w/ descriptions, but don’t make available yet. Make shipment SOP.
   9/27: Finalize edits to website and edit photos.
   9/20: Take professional photos of products for website.
   9/13: Schedule photographer, purchase props, and send photo shoot list.
   9/6: Build website laying out where text and photos will go. Receive products.
   8/30: Manufacturing time for products.
   8/23: Manufacturing time for products.
   8/16: Send design to manufacturers.
   8/9: Design products.
   8/2: Commit and jot down everything that has to get done. Then put it in the calendar.

3. Have a reward or accountability partner.

   To get started and implement is the hardest part. Set up small rewards for yourself along the way as you get things done (like chocolate :P) to celebrate small wins. Telling a friend your plans can also help keep you accountable. Especially if you pair up with someone who is also trying to get something done and you text or video message each other once a week, your progress and what you’ve done and ask where they’re at.

Hope this helps as you start with the end in mind, list everything you need to do and put it in your calendar, and hold yourself accountable and reward yourself along the way.

erin’s tip: Follow these three steps and then be flexible adjusting as needed based on your business and your life and what matters to you. But you need a plan and you need to start. :)