Simple hack to keep focus when bootstrapping

To keep focus when I start new projects, I early on set up a few simple milestones. Sorted, so the first one is the first to strive for, the second the next aim, etc. Until a milestone has been reached, that milestone is the main focus to accomplish.

For example, when I started to build Let’s Do, I wrote down three milestones:

1) 5 beta users
2) 5 active teams
3) 5 paying customers

At the time, they felt far away, the product was just an idea and I was just getting started writing the code that would make the idea come to life.

They are simple milestones, but this method has been working great for me as motivation and helping me keep focus. I keep them on a page in Notion that I am on regularly to be easily reminded. Keeping the milestones top of mind allows them to lead your decisions towards the goal.

It is a great feeling when you finally tick one off, and realize that you made it.

For me, it has been key to keep the milestones tangible and business-oriented. More practical like ”finish MVP” or ”submit for review” doesn’t have the same bang to me. I think that type can get too practical and reaching them is more like completing a task than reaching a goal. When there are effects like money in the bank, accountability, or customer data in the DB, it gets real in another way. And that gets you focused.

I have been using this method for different projects over the years, and it has been a good way to keep focus and be reminded of what is important. Super simple yet effective.