Common Sense in Getting Started

One of the hardest things I found on a new project, creating a new program or even writing a new script was getting started. Various thoughts starts running through my mind; what needs to be done, what should be done first, how complex does it need to be. To help sort things out I go back to my grammar school days where my teacher taught us about creating indexes.

I start writing key points on a piece of paper or electronically in a spreadsheet. Important thing is only list the key points not the details of what will be done. I then rearrange them in a sequence that make sense.

Once I get my key points then I go back over the list and make notes on what is needed for each key point. I also indicate at this point the level of skill that I believe is needed. Remember you are just identifying what you think will be done to do this key point. You're still only identifying the high level concept of what will be done.

Now I make another pass at the index and add an estimate of the effort that will be needed to finish each key point based on my level of skill. For the key points I am weak in, I either gain the knowledge (by adding a new key point in the index) or get someone else with the skills to handle it.

Now I have a good idea (project plan) of what needs to be done and most importantly I now have a place to start; at the top of my index. I also have a sense of the complexity and amount of effort the tasks involve as well as where I need assistance or where I might have some problems.

The most important thing is not to get bogged down in the details while you are building your index. The details will be addressed once you start actually working on your project. If one of your key points need a complex widget developed then you would have a new key point; for example:

• Design widget
  widget will need to get input from the user, access an outside company web service and then perform a calculation to determine availability and output a success or failure.
  -Skill needed to use a web service.
• Develop program that will place a item on back order if not in stock.
  will run items ordered through the various drop ship companies to determine if the items are currently in stock. If not in stock will need to place a back order if customer accepts back orders. (Need to have a widget developed)
  

Hope this helps you when you start up something new (computer related or not)...