Big Paper Blog

Earlier, I wrote about the Brain-to-Hand Spectrum of turning your idea into a reality.

In a more nuts-and-bolts description, there are three steps to getting your idea out of your brain, and into a customer’s hands:

Step 1: Define the concept.

Do this by going through a pitch-writing exercise (see Basic Pitch Guidelines and Basic Pitch Worksheet) or if you’re feeling brave, use 4 Levels of Core Business Planning.

Step 2: Figure out the end goal for the next year.

Figuring out everything for the next 5 years will drive you crazy. But figuring out the next year, is about the same as figuring out what classes you need to take during your freshman year of high school or college.

First, decide where you’re at, and where you can feasibly be in 12 months. Then map out basic milestones month by month to get there (see Milestones Planning).

Step 3: Treat all of the info on Step 2 as your to-do list.

Quite simply, get off your couch, and leave your house every day, crossing things off the list from Step 2, one by one until you have made it through the next 12 months. Lather, rinse, repeat.

How to Define 12-Month Milestones

Begin with tangible results in mind-

“In 1 year, I need to be at level Z. Right now, I am at level A. All of the steps in between are B, C, D, E, F, G, H….”

Parcel out specific milestones over the next 12 months that will produce systematic progress in developing the concept from one level to the next.

Keep it simple and basic—see the following sample:

Month 1 Milestones: through October 2008

Time period: 1 month from now
Current level: 5 clients, 1-man team.
Sales: 5 paying customers, 5 potential clients, and 250 on mailing list.
Product Development: We will improve features X, Y, and Z during the next 30 days.
Management team/staff: Currently have CEO running basic operations.
Revenue projected: $1500
Expenses: $300
Funding projected: $0
Debt projected: $0
Funds available: $5,000
Next level: 10 clients, 1 man team

Month 1 should start with exactly where you are right now. Make this planning very incremental, non-optimistic.

Think, “is it realistic to go from month 1’s goals to month 2? Can I do that given the amount of resources I have on hand, or the amount of resources I can pull together during 40-hour workweeks in a 30-day period?”

If the answer is no, then cut your goals back. Always underpromise, overdeliver. Keep it in the land of realistic, achievable, not-too-difficult-to-get-it-done.

Your turn! Go ahead and take a stab at planning basic milestones.