How Founders Execute Big Ideas Without Losing Focus

Hey Reader,

The biggest lie, after the diamond industry, greeting cards, and the middle choice at the gas pump, is that you can't have it all; fast, cheap, good - you must pick two. It's a phenomenal sales slogan because it sounds reasonable, but..it's complete bullshit.

Turns out, the people most equipped to execute this trifecta are founders, the ones with a to-do list longer than a CVS receipt.

There are two types of founders: those who make things happen, and those who wonder what happened.

TL;DR Think galactic, act atomic. Break down your "thing" into bite-sized, reasonable, feasible, actionable steps so every small task gets you closer to the goal. It's just a matter of practice.

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LETS GET INTO IT:

The startup landscape is shifting back in founders favor, just with a need for a touch more precision than the "move fast and break things" era. Conversations have become hyper-focused on action.

Think Big, Work Small. You're probably already doing this without realizing it. You've got this ridiculous vision, this massive idea, you're nudging it forward. Incrementally. Relentlessly. (especially you marketplace founders).

The trick is to create a cascade of focus, from your vision all the way down to your daily grind.

Early days, this is your model, making sure the daily grind gets you closer to the bigger strategy, As you mature, sure OKR's and all the jazz, but for now, the focus is on action.

This is OPPM - One Page Project Manager. Yes, i just sent you a newsletter asking you to consider a methodology for getting stuff done. Yes, NASA uses it.

Yes, it means admitting you need a plan. But you probably do, your brain is an AWFUL to-do manager.

OPPM is a single, visual page that captures your entire strategy, from the big vision down to the weekly tasks that will move you forward. That simple.

It's hard to be angry at a broadly achievable plan that's flexible enough to change.

Before we dive into the workbook, let's take a moment of silence for the other startup archetypes. Of course, you're none of these:

1. Think Big, Work Big: The "waterfall" approach. Coherent big-picture strategy, but no incremental delivery or experimentation.
2. Think Small, Work Small: Agile newbies. No coherent bigger picture strategy. Small, scattered tasks lead to incremental, but insignificant progress with no real impact.
3. Think Small, Work Big: Over-engineers. No coherent bigger picture strategy. Large, unstructured efforts lead to massive work without a release in sight.
4. Define Big, Work Small (Poorly): They break down big projects but miss the strategic connection. All tactics, no strategy.

Your goal? Think Big, Work Small (Effectively): Maintain a clear, ambitious vision while executing through small, iterative steps.

So, what does this mean for you?

Here's how:

1. Have your north star, your goal of goals.
2. Have a clear goal: Know where you're going. Make it big, make it bold, make it slightly terrifying. But make it within the next 90 days.
3. What 4-5 objectives have to happen for you meet that goal.
4. What 4-x tasks have to happen for you to meet that objective.

Work backwards if you do all the tasks, do you meet the objective, if you meet all the objectives do you meet your goal, if you meet your goal does it move the needle on your goal of goals…. thats it.

As always, if I can be of service, feel free to grab time.

LFG.

-- James