Do it anyway...Set a deadline...

Alright, so I know this post won't make Digg, Reddit or even the ultra-fab Netscape. It won't make Del.icio.us and I am ok with that. Because sometimes we all need a kick in the butt and a positive message and that's what I am packin' today. In this time when one bad move means a post on Gawker or Valleywag and a worry that we will end up in the Deadpool, I wanted to give you some things to think about on the positive tip.

Item 1: Set a deadline

While watching a show about millionaires on CNBC over the past weekend, one of the speakers said that when she changed one thing in her process, she went from mediocre to a star (earning in the millions). Her change was to "set a deadline" on everything she did and does. The show ended and I went for a walk and thought about the show and that stood out more than anything. And I thought about times in my life when I set deadlines and how everything seemed to work out by that date.

Otherwise things just linger. "Oh I will do it on xyz day" seems to keep creeping up. There are times that deadlines are put on me as well from clients. And when clients just tell me "do it whenever", I always push them for a deadline. So the basic message here is that when you do something or plan to do something for your startup, set a deadline. And yes, make it realistic. Not one that gives you months when you need weeks, not hours when you need months. But set a deadline.

Item 2: Do it anyway

Nike's tagline is "Just do it." I am creating a spin on that with the following: Just do it anyway. What do I mean by this. There is a popular song by U.S. country singer Martina McBride called "Anyway." and there are two sections of the lyrics which I think are pretty meaningful... here they are:

You can spend your whole life building something from nothing
One storm can come and blow it all away
Build it anyway

You can chase a dream that seems so out of reach and you know it might not ever come your way
Dream it anyway

Just something for you to think about when you get frustrated. I know for me sometimes relying on other's opinions and not my own has not provided me with the outcome that I desired. So even when others might tell you not to build it, it has been done 1000x, it can't work, it won't succeed, maybe you should just "do it anyway."

That's what I have for this evening. I know this is probably cheesy but that's ok. Please let me know your thoughts either in comments or privately. I want to help you succeed. There is no reason we can't.