Getting Started on Your First Project

Abstract

Starting projects can be overwhelming. Where do you start, what exactly do you do first, and who the heck do you need to talk to now versus later? These are just a few of the questions racing through your mind when you get assigned your first project, and it can be pretty overwhelming. You’re in the storm path and those swirling, gale-force winds are tugging at your hair but you know that you’re just at the edge and that it’s gonna get a lot worse before you figure out what the heck you’re doing. Welcome to the Initiating Phase of project management! This is real life, where starting a new and complicated endeavor can psych you out. The good news is that most of the time all you’ve got to do is take that first step and get started. That’s what this chapter is all about; getting started.