Guest Post: Is it alive?!
By Mike Plunkett
The hardest part about businesses or creative pursuits often isn’t getting the right idea or taking the first steps like getting your EIN or finding an accountant.
It’s when your “project” (to use the term from Seth Godin) starts to take shape and form. It’s no longer a dream or a wish but an entity that’s taken on a life of its own.
Whatever you’re building has a lifecycle. And it falls to you to manage it.
Where is Your Path Taking You?
When we discuss your project as a lifecycle, it’s natural to ask how each phase fits your unique journey.
Who exactly is this for and will they be willing to pay or come see it?
When will I know it’s ready to launch?
How large can this grow and is that growth sustainable?
These are all valid questions and the answer always depends on the path you decide to follow. But there are stages that can help you shape the decisions you make so your project is a success.
At the First Part of the Journey…
When you’re launching, one of the early challenges is figuring out if your idea works.
That's why your first step for your creative project often is creating a sketch or an outline. The same is true for businesses and why we encourage you to do the Lean Canvas. It helps you sketch out your business idea to see if there's market fit.
What’s the key takeaway for this stage? It’s not about the plan but about the planning. In the first stages, the plan for your project will change, maybe a lot. That's the point. Being about planning helps you move to the next stages faster and with more confidence.
When we talk about growth, it's not necessarily about more. Another word for this is development. This is where building your project requires doing a whole lot of things all at the same time. You need to maintain your vision but take on every nitty gritty detail.
The key point in growing and developing? Support. Find the right people who can partner with you who can help you bring your vision to life. (BTW, many folks find the right support for their projects at TENWEST!)
The Nosh and Network is a big part of TENWEST and where attendees get a lot of value.
When Does My Project become an Adult?
Maturity as it relates to projects can be a lot of things. You know how to generate sales and be profitable. You may have a team in place that's bringing your creative vision to life. Or you’ve figured out what your project is and it’s all about getting what you’re building to what you want it to be.
How do you navigate this stage? This is the time to refine. What can be better? Is there any part of your project that's misaligned to your vision? Or, has your original vision evolved and you need to match it to where you are now? Seeking guidance and thinking strategically is important here. In business, they say you need to work both in your business and on your business. That becomes key here.
Because before you know it, you’ll come to…
…the end.
Well, it’s not that dramatic. The decline or rebirth stage means completion or in the case of some creative projects, abandonment. At this stage, it’s time to ship it.
What does that mean for me at this point? For creative projects, it’s about showing your work to your audience. What was your thing is now fully its own thing out in the world. And you’re going to get a response.
For business owners, it can mean several things. You can rejuvenate your business to meet a new need within your market. You can sell (and yes, many small businesses do sell) or you can choose to close the business.
And if you’re so inclined, you can start the cycle all over again with your next project. 🙂
Each step comes with different responsibilities and expectations and there are lots of precedents out there to overcome. It may seem daunting but it's yours to shape.
You got this.
Cheers,
Mike
Welcome to TENWEST Insights!
TENWEST Insights is a place where members of the TENWEST community share insights on how to shape your path: Whether you're building your business, developing your creative pursuit, or just creating something new that will help you and your community.
Our goal is to give you the tools to navigate our changing world …and prepare you for TENWEST 2027!
This month’s Insights were shared by Mike Plunkett. Mike is the TENWEST marketing strategist and teamed up with Max Kabat to speak last year about stepping into the 2.0 version of your brand and business. Learn more about Mike and his work at Good Boy Bentley Creative.