Slayin' Your Side Hustle: Project Planning for Millennial Bosses
Hey Boo! Erica Monique here, your bestie in the biz. We all know millennials are crushing the game with our side hustles and small businesses, but sometimes staying organized can feel like wrangling those little cousins (adorable, but oh-so-chaotic). That's where project planning comes in, my friend! It's like having a secret weapon to keep your hustle on track and, more importantly, keepin' that coin flowin'.
Define Your Dream: What's the Project All About?
This is where you get crystal clear on your goals. Ask yourself:
What are you trying to achieve with this project? Launching a new product line? Revamping your social media strategy?
What are the specific, measurable outcomes you want? Increase website traffic by 20%? Sell out your first batch of handmade candles?
What are the deliverables you need to make it happen? A new product description, a social media content calendar, a batch of beautifully scented candles?
Identify Your Crew: Who's on This Project Ride with You?
Knowing who's involved is key. Consider:
Who will be using the project's results? Is it your target audience, a collaborator, or maybe even an investor?
Who's responsible for getting things done? Are you flying solo, or do you have a team of virtual assistants or friends helping out?
Who will be impacted by the project's success (or, you know, not-so-success)? This could be your customers, your suppliers, or even your sanity!
Map Out Your Master Plan: From To-Do's to Deadlines
This is where the magic happens! Here's what you need to nail down:
Major milestones: Launching your product, hitting a sales target, going viral on TikTok (because, let's be honest, that's the dream).
Tasks that get you there: Writing product descriptions, creating social media posts, filming those epic candle-making TikToks.
Timeline for each task: Be realistic! Don't underestimate the power of a good Netflix binge break, but also hold yourself accountable.
Budget: How much can you realistically spend on this project? Knowing your limits helps avoid a financial meltdown later.
Boss Moves: Keeping Your Project on Track
Here's how you stay ahead of the curve:
Track your progress: Use a project management tool (we'll get to those in a sec!), a simple spreadsheet, or even colorful sticky notes (because millennial).
Be flexible: Things don't always go according to plan, boo. Be prepared to adjust your approach if needed.
Feeling Empowered? Let's Get Planning!
Project planning might sound intimidating, but trust me, it's the ultimate time-saver and stress-buster. You'll be amazed at how much more you can achieve when you're organized.
Bonus Tip: Feeling overwhelmed by all the project management options out there? Here are some resources to get you started:
Free Project Management Tools: Trello, Asana, Monday.com (all have free tiers with great features)
Project Planning Templates: Check out my FREE downloadable project planning template – it's basically a roadmap to project planning success.
The Organized Hustle Activity:
Ready to put your planning skills to the test? Grab a pen and paper (or your favorite digital note-taking app) and answer these questions for your next side hustle project:
Project Name: What are you calling this awesome endeavor?
Goals & Deliverables: Briefly list your overall goals and the specific outputs you need to achieve them.
Stakeholders: Who's involved, and how will they be impacted?
Milestone Mania: Identify 3 major milestones for your project.
Task Time: List 3 key tasks you need to complete for each milestone.
Remember, Boo, you've got this! With a little planning and these awesome resources, you'll be conquering your project goals in no time. Now go forth and slay that side hustle!
