10 Benefits of Setting Deadlines
Posted on 29 June, 2009 at 17:41 PM
There are already 15 Comments
About the Show
Marc and I used to have a knack for not getting things done. We would get to 90% of creating an app and then for some reason (client work etc.) we would stop and barely look back.
In fact, we would look back.... in regret. The famous 'what if'.
At the beginning of this year I said to Marc that that had to change and the only we would could do that was if we put ourselves out there. The reason we were not completing personal projects was because we lacked consequence, we didn't have deadlines and we didn't have someone calling us out on it.
So when we created Hash One, I blurted out a launch date on From the Couch without Marc knowing the date. All of a sudden we had purpose and we had consequence.
Motivation
- We find it is always better to set goals and the deadline is just another goal. By having that goal you have something to aim for.
- You will be more motivated to finish your project if you know that something is going to happen, you can look forward to the day after (Did / Didn't it work?). I think if we didn't set a deadline for Hash One we would still be thinking about it.
- If you miss that deadline there is a threat of consequence, someone may call you out with a #fail tag next to your name... and that is never a nice feeling.
Marketing
By setting that deadline you can:
- Brand the launch date and use that number as a marketing tool.
- Collaborate with other bloggers and plan your launch to coincide with guest / launch posts on their blogs.
- Create hype by using that launch date as deadline, doing things such as the Obox Launch Diary give you the power to spread the word that something big is happening on the day.
- Plan posts with sneak peaks and count down the days with a sneak-peak-a-day-before launch.
- If you do miss the deadline there is bound to be someone who will call you out, you can use that as an opportunity too. At least they are talking about you and you can discuss the 'controversy' around missing it. So even though its horrible to have a #fail next to your twitter name there is always a chance to turn it around. You wouldn't have had that opportunity if there was no set date.
Features
Setting a launch date avoids feature bloat:
- You prioritize what can be done now and what is most important before launch.
- You minimize the amount of bugs that may creep in because you are focusing too much on creating features instead of what needs to be done now.
Related Shows
- (2) Episode 190 - Develop without an Ego
- (3) Episode 188 - Get Featured, Then Advertise
- (5) Episode 187 - Design with the Lights On
- (25) Episode 184 - Murdoch vs. Google
- (7) Episode 181 - Social Media Etiquette and Making Money Offline
User Comments
David Perel 29 Jun, 2009 18:08:39 PM
@Steven - I am with you on that buddy, I also love that quote. The problem is that we got to comfortable with that sound of that 'woooooshh'.
Rob MacKay 29 Jun, 2009 18:47:00 PM
yea deadlines are good for the focus... but what I think really helps me is a good old list. Stuff I can tick off.
Steven Ray 29 Jun, 2009 19:15:25 PM
@Rob Yeah I love lists. Checking things off also help keep me motivated.
Another aspect to deadlines I think is helpful are *milestones*. Setting milestones helps break up a project into smaller pieces and can help you set a realistic and/or achievable deadline.
brik de maeyer 29 Jun, 2009 20:07:11 PM
I also love that quote www.flickr.com/photos/spacedust/3093124000/ ;-)
Kimberly Beaven 29 Jun, 2009 21:20:41 PM
I have to admit unless I use a check-off list, such as Anxiety that I use on the MAC, I have a hard time keeping all fo the to-dos in order. The gratification of setting an actual date ( a realistic one) and meeting or exceeding it is amazing. It is like a designer high and you need your next fix so you do it all over again. Of course there are a lot of distractions and things to come up, but setting a deadline goal helps you prioritize as well as gives you a date/time that the next project can start. Being in a perpetual holding pattern with no clear "it's done" signpost can be the most numbing part of the work we do. Love the vid post guys, very well put!
@bluewavemedia
Charles Williams 29 Jun, 2009 23:02:15 PM
Talk about ÜBER an deadline fail, how about "Duke Nukem Forever"? More like "Duke Nukem Never".
Charles Williams 29 Jun, 2009 23:07:04 PM
Also, I can't type. The end. Wish there were a way to edit comments.
Sigurdur Armannsson 30 Jun, 2009 02:53:48 AM
I know this problem all too well. The problem with setting deadlines in design is that they are usually too unrealistic. One trick I found out myself when I am asked "how long will this or that take?" I then say about twice as much time as I at the time really think it will take. Which usually turns out to be a more realistic one. Much less stress I can tell you and I am not talking about the Law of Parkinson.
Anyway, check out my little system to keep track of the things you have to do. It's really simple and many have started to use it.
font.is/?p=790
Regards,
@sigurarm
Lauren Fowler 30 Jun, 2009 21:21:22 PM
I really enjoyed this video on deadlines. I used to have the same issue when I started freelancing, I would kinda start something, then float off and do something else.
It's good to have deadlines that keep you motivated and driven, also such a great feeling when you've achieved something of quality in a designated amount of time that you as well as your client satisfied with.
I also find that as a freelancer it's hard to get "all your ducks in a row" when you get multiple projects at once and deciding which job is more important and why...
I'm waffling. Good job boys, I love watching your videos!
Marc Perel 30 Jun, 2009 21:31:36 PM
@Kimberly - We also use an amazing app for our lists, the pen and paper app. Dev'd my mankind literally thousand of years ago. I'm sure it's on version 26.3.0.1 now and it works great!
Seriously though, as yourself and @Lauren say, it feels so cool checking off a list! It's kinda like a self-highfive moment (and then its back to work...) and it gives you a much clearer vision in terms of planning work. I'm sure especially as a freenlancer!
@Lauren - Thanks for dropping by!
@Sigurdur - I quite like that system and since I'm still on the pen and paper model, I think I may just give it a shot some time soon. Thanks for the share.
Carl - Web Courses Bangkok 01 Jul, 2009 08:07:06 AM
A nice thing of getting it out there is that you get a LOAD of user testing!
Carl - Web Courses Bangkok 01 Jul, 2009 08:20:16 AM
Totally agree with your saying guys, when we do CMS managed pages we need to limit what the client can do so that they can only use standard HTML.
We make sure we have set styles for all the generic and normally used HTML.
Too much choice can be dangerous with CMSssss
Thanks,
C
Raphael Rauwolf 08 Jul, 2009 10:58:40 AM
The "I love deadlines. I like the whooshing sound ..." quote reminds me a bit on Pirates of the Caribbean ;)
I agree with you but deadlines can be with or against you! Don't forget that :D
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Steven Ray 29 Jun, 2009 18:05:20 PM
"I love deadlines. I like the whooshing sound they make as they fly by." -Douglas Adams
I agree completely with you guys. But I do love that quote.