What’s the most important part of a house? The foundation. You can build the most beautiful house in the world, but if the foundation sucks, it will eventually sink, tip, or fall apart. A poor foundation will always result in problems down the line. No matter how nice the paint looks. The same goes for your projects.
Here’s what happens when you execute without first taking the time to create a solid plan:
- You move fast but in the wrong direction
- You waste time fixing structural issues later
- Your final product solves the wrong problem
- Small issues compound into bigger ones which can cause the project to ultimately fail
I learned this lesson the hard way in programming. Writing code without taking the time to align on a clear plan may feel productive, you’re making things happen, but inevitably, you hit a wall. Your productivity quickly turns into technical debt that ends up taking twice as long to fix. Or you create features that seem great while you’re coding but don’t actually add to the product while missing key features that should’ve been included originally.
Think of outlines like that awesome friend on a car trip who always sets the GPS, nudges you if you start to get off track, and brings lots of snacks and anything else that would make the car ride more comfortable and enjoyable.
Your outline should do the same thing for your project. It should ensure you:
- Know your destination/end result
- Map out major checkpoints (ideally minor checkpoints as well for better clarity and alignment)
- Identify potential roadblocks
- Plan alternate routes
Simple steps for better planning:
- Write down your end goal
- Break it into main components
- List dependencies and requirements
- Identify what could go wrong
- Get feedback early
- Start by ensuring alignment and verifying that your dependencies can and will be met
The time you spend planning isn’t wasted, it’s invested. A strong outline helps you move faster when it matters and avoid costly detours. The clearer and more detailed your outline, the more prepared you’ll be when it comes time to implement.
You can share the outline with stakeholders and partners to ensure everyone is aligned before moving forward. This is a great way to save time later, you won’t have to make changes due to lack of alignment once you start implementing.
Remember, moving quickly in the wrong direction just means you’ll have farther to walk to get back on track.
What’s your next project? Take some time to create a strong outline for it before diving in. Your future self will thank you.
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