I have been so anti-proceedure in the past, check lists yes to help me remember all the areas to consider, but step by step instructions? No way too constricting. And… I hear this from my clients as well.

Many of my clients are highly creative, go with the inspiration of the moment, my like me! The thought of being forced to follow a set of procedures will curb the flow of creativity. I was in the same boat.

However what I have found is that by having a step by step written proceedure for common tasks and projects are great benefits:

• No steps are forgotten or have to be repeated
• It is easy to delegate the task knowing it will be handled the way you would
• It is freeing and can actually help the creative process

Freedom? This may seem to be completely off-base but think about it. You have a brilliant idea pop into your head on how to improve or make changes to a project, breath new life into it. But the question comes up,  how do you initiate the change.

You go back to the steps and procedures, this way you simply (okay sometimes not so simply) integrate the new changes into the steps. This way you have the freedom to take your brilliant ideas and actually use them, implement and tweak them in a much more efficient and effective way.

You will probably find that the ideas may start coming faster now that you have a way to take a project, add new ideas and make it happen so much quicker then you ever have before. You will have it done, finished, ready and have time to move on to the next one.

Lesson #1: Take it one step at a time

If you look at the process as a whole – writing, editing, proofing, launching and promoting an eBook can seem to be a huge project and it is. It was such a relief to look at the entire process from beginning to end and break it out into smaller more manageable chunks and assigning target completion dates to each step. Once I went through that process with my coach it seemed very doable and I began to look forward to the process.

Lesson #2: Have 2nd & 3rd sets of eyes proof for you

After writing and editing both my ebook and my website I got to the point where I felt cross eyed and realized I needed a break. So I stepped away for a few days so I could come back fresh and also enlisted the help of several people to critique my ebook and website. It is amazing what a different perspective can do for you in a project like this.

Lesson #3: Have fun and learn lots!

This really can be a fun process and an incredible opportunity to learn lots of new things. Take your time, enjoy the process and use the opportunity to create a product you can be proud of and are excited to promote and talk about. I learned a lot about me, even more about my chosen topic and had the opportunity to interact with friends and acquaintances as they helped me proof and critique to make my eBook the best it could be.

Lesson #4: Keep it simple – Don’t over analyze

Here is that simple theme again! Don’t over analyze, don’t over criticize and don’t over complicate things. The process is actually quite simple but does not always feel that way so keep it simple, work with a mentor or a friend who will hold you accountable and keep you on track and will remind you to

Keep it Simple!