Finishing Projects-Why Projects Fail

Do you have trouble finishing projects? You are not alone! In fact many small businesses face a 40-75% project failure rate. I would assert the percentages would be very similar for personal projects. To begin, there are a number of questions you need to ask about your projects. (watch first 3 short videos about finishing projects!)

First, you need to ask how important your projects are to you. As it’s easy to let the urgent take over the necessary, defining the reason why you are doing the project even before you start will help you keep mentally focused with a greater chance of finishing.

Projects fail for a number of reasons, but here are some reasons that may apply to you. Identify at least one of these reasons that relate to your situation.

1. Definition of Your Project

Is your project a wish or a dream? Have you really defined everything it would take to accomplish your project? A definition includes an accurate description. After describing your project, is it meeting a need? I have to admit that I’ve produced projects in the past that weren’t really meeting a need. They were fun! The self-gratification was great, but if my whole livelihood depended on a project based on fun, I’d be living in my car!

2. Not Enough Time to Finish Successfully

Have you allowed enough time to finish your project? This is not to discount large projects at all, but allot enough time to finish each step successfully.This is very important. If you have attempted to run a marathon, you understand how important consistent training is right up to the race. If you start a week before, you set yourself up for failure and I don’t want you to fail!

3. Not Enough Resources to Finish

Many projects are abandoned because of lack of resources. It usually always takes a bit more money and time than planned, unless you have a proven track record with a particular venture. Once a project goes over budget, it is put off and you may never get back to it. In many small businesses, there are extra membership expenses in multiple organizations and unless you really watch the cash, you are working harder and harder each month just to pay for connections and associations.

4. You Lose Personal Momentum

Momentum is the energy and thrust to move forward. Without proper planning or enough hands on deck, you become tired, bored or can’t see your way to finishing, ever. If there is not a clearly defined reason WHY you are doing the project, the drive and motivation to finish may dwindle to almost nothing. There are times in my life where I’ve experienced this. I remember one instance years ago where I was taking up knitting and decided I’d knit a dress. I’m not sure I even got part of one panel done. It would have helped to have some guidance or at least a very strong reason for starting such a huge project as a I was a beginner at knitting! Maybe it’s fortunate I didn’t try to wear a dress I knitted-it might have unraveled on the spot!

5. Your Project is not Worth Finishing

Is your project not worth finishing because it’s now outdated? Have you planned your strategy correctly to finish in a reasonable time? There are so many that hop on a wagon of what’s hot and new. Then they find that by the time they’ve developed some new project or program, the market is flooded and they are yet another clone in a sea of look-alikes.

Let me know if any of these apply to you, or if there’s another reason that keeps you from finishing projects. I look forward to hearing about your strategy for finishing projects and your success!

Create Time for Your Strategy

I’m offering a FREE Introductory Phone Call to see if Hero Mountain™ is really a fit for you. There are so many programs out there, but none like Hero Mountain™ that focuses so completely on the alignment of your personal and professional life.

If you are a woman with 10-12 years business experience, open to making significant changes in your life and willing to invest in your development and growth, make an appointment now for an introductory phone conversation. I want to hear about your journey, your concerns and find out where you are on your climb.

Positivity and Positive Thinking only get you so far. Positive ACTION with specific goals and a targeted, focused plan will get you where you want to go! Some companies provide resources for professional development. See if yours qualifies! The next workshop is Sept. 22-23 in Orange County, CA.*

Weakness of Attitude becomes Weakness of Character. Albert Einstein 
*Registration is extremely limited! Don’t delay!