Break Your Masterpiece Down.

Large projects require breaking down things that need to be done into the smallest possible actions. The initial commission of the Sistine Chapel was supposed to consist of 12 massive paintings of the apostles. Michelangelo instead decided to create a scheme consisting of 300 smaller works, making the ceiling project much more complex.

But looking closer, we see that Michelangelo might have been breaking the project into smaller, more interesting pieces for his own sake. He knew that simply finishing the chapel would be a challenge, so anything to make the project more granular, interesting, and executable was welcomed.

Breaking projects down into smaller pieces can be tedious, but it helps us understand the scope, and more accurately plan how long the project will take.

Find Accountability.

A bit of social pressure and accountability can go a long way toward achieving your goals. People around you are more than willing to help keep you motivated, if you ask. Share your plans with family, friends, and/or like-minded colleagues, and encourage them to frequently ask you about them. They’re probably just as excited as you are about your lofty goals, and including them in the process will be an added honor.

Some might remember Tim Tebow, a college quarterback from Florida University, apologizing in a post-game loss for a dismal personal performance. But he didn’t stop there. Tebow went on to say that there wouldn’t be another player in college football that would play harder, or push his team more the rest of the season than he would. He finished the press conference by proclaiming that those watching would never see a team play harder the rest of the season than his team. The Florida Gators went undefeated for the rest of the season, winning the 2009 BCS National Championship. Tebow’s speech was later named “The Promise”, and can be seen on a plaque outside Florida’s stadium. There’s something powerful that happens when people proclaim their goals publicly. It adds positive pressure and an incentive to finish.

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Masterpieces become easier when we know exactly what we need to do, and deliberately work every day towards finishing them. There’s a fantastic energy in knowing that we’re deliberately on track with our projects. It helps us create at our full potential, producing a motivator that’s stronger than any external pat on the back.

https://99u.com/articles/6753/finish-your-masterpiece-with-deliberate-goal-planning