{"id":14472,"date":"2012-02-16T04:00:37","date_gmt":"2012-02-16T10:00:37","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/michaelhyatt.com\/?p=14472"},"modified":"2012-02-16T04:00:37","modified_gmt":"2012-02-16T10:00:37","slug":"7-steps-to-launching-your-next-big-project","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/fullfocus.co\/7-steps-to-launching-your-next-big-project\/","title":{"rendered":"7 Steps to Launching Your Next Big Project"},"content":{"rendered":"

Launching anything new is tough. If you're like me, you have more on your plate now than you can say grace over. How in the world could you make time for one more thing?<\/p>\n

\"Space<\/p>\n

Photo courtesy of ©iStockphoto.com\/japrz<\/div>\n

That's what I thought back in December when I first started thinking about launching a new podcast<\/a>. I had already been doing a podcast based on an adult Sunday school class I teach. But, after 83 episodes, I stopped in May of 2011.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

My friend, Robert Smith, was the first to suggest I start a new podcast. Andy Andrews, his client and also a good friend of mine, had just launched a podcast called In the Loop with Andy Andrews<\/a><\/em>. Robert introduced me to Andy Traub<\/a>, the producer, who also encouraged me.<\/p>\n

In early January, Brian Scheer, my manager, and I met with Dan Miller<\/a>, author of 48 Days to the Work You Love<\/a><\/em>. He is also host of the 48 Days<\/a><\/em> podcast, one of the most popular business podcasts on iTunes. He told us that his podcast was the foundation of his entire business.<\/p>\n

A few days later, I stumbled onto the website of Cliff Ravenscraft<\/a>, also known as the Podcast Answer Man<\/a> and host of the podcast<\/a> by the same title. He was invaluable in shaping my vision for what my own podcast could be and providing the education and training I needed to get up and running.<\/p>\n

I officially launched my podcast<\/a> on Tuesday, exactly two months after Robert first gave me the idea. In the first 24 hours, I had more than 5,000 downloads and more than 700 subscriptions.<\/p>\n

Though every project is unique, I have learned that every new initiative presents a predictable set of challenges. I don't care if you are starting a business, writing a book, or launching a podcast, you have to take at least seven steps to succeed.<\/p>\n

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  1. Write down a goal and a due date.<\/strong> Many people skip this step. Don't. There is something that happens when you write down a goal<\/a>. It's a way of focusing your intention and clarifying what you want to accomplish. And be sure to attach a date—no goal is complete without it.\n

    For example, in the case of the podcast, I wrote this down as one of my ten goals for 2012:<\/p>\n

    Launch a podcast by February 15, 2012 and acquire 50,000 subscribers by December 31, 2012.<\/div>\n

    When I wanted to quit, that February 15th date pulled me forward. It kept me laser-focused. It motivated me!<\/li>\n

  2. Confront your biggest fears.<\/strong> If your goals don't scare you, you aren't thinking big enough<\/a>. Most of the value in goal-setting is the growth that must take place in you to achieve them. Often, this is frightening.\n

    In the case of my podcast, I had to confront these fears:<\/p>\n