How essential is having a Master Project List for your business?
The answer is: VERY.
Your MPL, short for the master project list, is where you keep all your “to do” items. Whether these tasks are low or high priority, having them on your MPL helps you prioritize what tasks you need to attend to first.
With so many things you need to attend to, knowing what to prioritize is critical if you want your business to succeed.
You need to know which tasks need to (and can) be done in the next few days, weeks, and months.
Your time is limited, so you must be realistic in what you can and cannot accomplish immediately.
In addition to this, your master project list also helps you keep track of what you’ve already been able to accomplish versus what else needs to be done.
This makes it easier for you to know which part of your plans were already fulfilled.
This anonymous quote embodies this: “Making a plan without the right tools is like making spaghetti without a pot.”
Now that you understand the significance of having a master project list for your business, how do you create one?
Creating Your Master Project List
The best way to start creating your master project list is by picking one of the many existing project management platforms out there.
Compared to 20 years ago, it’s a lot easier to create MPLs because of the technology today. Back then it was all manual, you had to use whiteboards, calendars, and all those physical tools to manage your tasks, but today many of these physical tools have been digitized and incorporated into single platforms.
I used to use a platform called Basecamp, which is still active today, but I’ve recently switched to Trello because it suits my needs better.
Once you have selected the platform that works for you, it’s now time to start listing down your tasks.
Prioritize Realistically
When you are writing down your list of tasks, make sure to include everything for your plan to succeed. Whether they can be accomplished right away, or in a few years’ time, you should list them because you’ll need to arrange them later on.
Remember: your MPL is your central task repository, so you need to have everything in this list.
Once you have everything listed, it’s now time to arrange the tasks.
Before you start prioritizing, keep these few things in mind:
- You have limited time versus the seemingly unlimited number of tasks in your list.
- Some tasks are more “desire” than need.
- Certain tasks save you time and money.
- Some tasks, when completed, may actually remove the other tasks on the list.
The key here is being realistic on how you prioritize your tasks.
You may also encounter situations where multiple tasks need to be accomplished on the same deadline, but given the time remaining to complete them, you’ll need to move some tasks’ deadlines further along.
Once you have your priorities set, it’s time to put them on the board.
Maintaining Your Master Project List
When all of your tasks are listed on the board, it’s time to put deadlines on each task. This will arrange their placement on the project management platform.
One of the best ways to keep yourself updated with the tasks you’ve placed on your project management platform is to download a mobile-version of the platform on your phone so you can keep track of your tasks anywhere using your mobile device.
Making use of the platform’s different project views will also help you keep your tasks up to speed. Gantt charts, timeline views and other ways of looking at your scheduled tasks are a good way of observing the progress.
It will take some time, but if you build your Master Project List, you’ll find it much easier to not only remember, but also keep track of your day-to-day business tasks.
You also don’t have to do it alone. We work with real estate professionals and small business owners like you to help you achieve real success by making quantum leaps in your business and personal life.
We want you to reach your fullest potential by helping you keep track and progress in your tasks.
Contact Pro Business and Life Coach and begin your journey to success today!