Are We There Yet?

You remember that question, don’t you?  We’ve all asked it on long road trips when it seems like we should have already arrived. 

I’m asking this question now, not because I expect you’ll have finished your goals already, but because it’s important to estimate how long it’s going to take you to complete your goals so you can calculate a completion date. 

In my last post I asked you to break down your goals into manageable parts and define how you implement each step.

Today, I want you to determine how much time you can dedicate to your goals on a regular basis and at that steady rate estimate how long you need to continue working on them to complete them.  Then, set a completion date.  If you’re working on a spread sheet, the last three columns should read:

• Time I can dedicate to this step & amount of time I need to complete this step.
• Date to be completed
• Reward:   I’ll write more about rewards in another post.  In the meantime, start thinking about what motivates you!

Now, to continue my example from my last post: 

Goal:  Finish importing Chaplin source citations into my database:

Step 1: Learn how to import citations into the database.

• Implementation: Watch how to webinar for source citations provided by my software.
• I will dedicate two hours on Wednesday.   I need about two hours to watch the webinars.
• Date for completion:  Wednesday, January 4, 2012
• Reward: 

Step 2: Make a style sheet for types of Master Sources.

• Implementation: Use Master Source templates and EE to decide how I want my sources to look.
• I will dedicate one hour on Thursday.  I need about one hour to make my style sheet.
• Date for completion:  Thursday, January 5, 2012.
• Reward: 

Step 3: Practice importing various sources.

• Implementation: Birth, Marriage, Death, Census, etc.
• I will dedicate thirty minutes on Thursday to practice.
• Date for completion:  Thursday, January 5, 2012.
• Reward: 

Step 4: Start with the first generation (way back) and work my way down 1^st child line.

• Implementation: Import vital information first, then as time permits add other sources.
• I will begin on Friday, January 6, 2012, and will dedicate one hour each weekday for a week for importing sources.  If I discover the 1st child line is taking longer than I expect, I will reassess the time I can dedicate to this goal and/or readjust the completion date.
• Date for completion of the 1st child line will be Friday, January 13, 2012. 
• Reward: 

Step 5, 6, 7, 8: Work my way down each child line, same as #4.  I would estimate a week for each child line at the same rate as Step 4. 

Step 9: Check for any missing information. 

Note:  This schedule is for the days I’m actually available to work on the goals.  Days spent out of the office attending conferences, institutes, travel, or researching at the library are not factored in here.   Thus, I’ve added some time to my deadline goals.

When finished on March 1, 2012, all descendants of my 1^st generation Chaplin parents will be named and properly sourced.   Reward: 

If you will do this, the next time you’re thinking, “Are We There Yet?” you’ll know exactly where you are and how much more time (and work) you need before you arrive!