DOCUMENT

Write down processes, lesson learned, anything that will help you make future decisions

Paper doesn't forget...we do :/

When creating something new, it's inevitable that you'll encounter unexpected situations and challenges. In such cases, you may need to make decisions on the fly that seem reasonable at the time, but might not be fully apparent down the road. To ensure you capture valuable insights and avoid costly mistakes down the road, take a moment to jot down these observations and thoughts for future reflection. Write down the why, who, etc...

Easily Repeatable Steps

At times you'll need to create something over and over, just understand this basic premise:

1. Easily repeatable process
2. Creates a consistent outcome
3. Enables measured adjustments
4. Creates a measurable response

1. Written down steps to create a specific cup of coffee, to where the outcome always tastes the same regarlesss of who makes it → the easy repeatable process
2. The coffee, regardless of who makes it, is consistent...consistently bad per feedback and low sales → the consistent outcome
3. You update the laminated card used to create that specific cup of coffee; increasing the sweetner by a tablespoon → the measured adjustments
4. The feedback from the new formula is different than it was before, people don't hate it and sales for this specific item increase. → measureable response

Write down your key performance indicators to ensure your idea is on track to meet your vision statement.

When tracking key performance indicators (KPIs) and data points related to your product, having a clear understanding of what matters most can significantly accelerate progress. By capturing and analyzing these metrics, you'll be able to identify trends, spot opportunities for improvement, and make informed decisions that align with your goals towards your overall vision.

For instance, let's say you've set a revenue goal of $100,000 per month. To measure your progress and identify areas for improvement, you can track website analytics using tools like Google Analytics. By monitoring metrics such as conversion rates, average order value, and user engagement, you'll be able to gauge whether your product is meeting its potential. If you notice that sales are lagging, you can analyze the data to pinpoint pain points in the customer journey – perhaps a clunky checkout process or slow loading speeds. By making targeted adjustments to enhance the user experience, you can create an environment that natively 'moves the needle' towards your goal.

The thing you thought you were prepared for

You've poured your heart and soul into bringing your idea to life, only to see it fall on its face in the market. Despite your best efforts, it failed, leaving financial losses, wasted time, and perhaps even shaken confidence in its wake. While it may seem like a devastating setback, the real loss would be not writing down the lessons learned from this experience. Those lessons are worth their weight in gold. Taking away what you learned from that experience could catapult you in the future.

Document the disruptions

This happens every now and then but it can be detrimental if it happens often. This is what we call "scope creep" in the biz. You have your set amount of work and then all of the sudden, someone (sometimes its the big boss) thinks inluding this other "thing" should be done. Now all of the sudden dates are moved (hopefully), stress increases, because you have to include time to add this new thing. If you write these occurences down it can help you identify where the disruptions come from and how often.