We've all been here:
1. Get amazing idea
2. Buy sweet new domain
3. Tweet about awesome new project
4. `git init`
5. Um...uh...do some planning?
6. You know what, I'm really busy right now.
8. (Secretly abandons dreams)
Here's a framework to help you finish what you start
1. Get amazing idea
2. Buy sweet new domain
3. Tweet about awesome new project
4. `git init`
5. Um...uh...do some planning?
6. You know what, I'm really busy right now.
8. (Secretly abandons dreams)
Here's a framework to help you finish what you start


1. Drop it: Seemed like a good idea at the time, but isn't.
2. Defer it: Maybe a good idea, but no time/resources right now. Archive for now.
3. Do it: Good idea that has the potential for $$/impact/career growth.
Not all ideas need to be executed!

Can't decide between equally good ideas? Try the JPS method: Just Pick Something. Also known as "Pin the Tail on the Idea"

You'll either:
1. Hate it and move on.
2. Learn from it (whether or not you stick with it).
3. Love it and go deeper.

With an idea in hand, your next task is to reduce your scope to ship something quickly. Scale down to an MVP.


Ship this first version as quickly as possible.


Shipping small MVPs helps you validate your ideas, which may mean:



...but you haven't wasted a bunch of time on something with an unknown ROI.

With the input from yourself, your audience, or your customers, you can iterate and improve on your idea.
Or you can abandon the idea guilt-free knowing that you gave it a shot. It's up to you.
(This works on lots of things btw, not just dev/dev rel projects!)

If you find this kind of thing helpful, I dig deeper into why this framework works and how to implement it on my newsletter Developer Microskills. Sign up here: http://developermicroskills.com