Don't be a process hater

'Process' may sound like a buzzword for the red-tape forces that stand in the way of you and your old city enterprise. But entrepreneurs should not ignore process or project management practices because 'you don't need them yet.' I get that if you're the type of leader that  doesn't slow down long enough to set your DVR, process seems like something unsavory. Something your investors might make you do eventually when the suits come in.

But here's the thing: good process lowers risk. Commercial bakeries have consistent recipes to ensure that their cakes emerge from the oven nearly identically. A planned amount of ingredients, labor, and oven time goes into each. This does not prevent the baker from innovating. But when they do, they have the right information to build the business case for investment.

Examples of right-sized process when you don't have a COO yet? Start with the personal. David Allen's  Getting Things Done is one of the most widely-used personal productivity systems used by entrepreneurs. I use this system to keep both my work and home task chaos to a manageable level. Zen Habits blogger Leo Babauta's The Power of Less is also a useful resource for leaders close to burnout.

I come to this discussion with a project management perspective. In future posts,  I'll be bringing in ways new ventures in old cities have managed projects effectively. Plus, I'll suggest a set of project management hacks that may even help you to beat the bureaucrat across the table at their own game.






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