World domination, get healthy and clean the garage all sound like good ideas to work on.

Whenever I clear my head or work with an organization to get everything out of the mind and out on the table, there tends to be an abundance of game changing big ideas like the ones I listed above. Maybe because they are motivating, inspiring and get us all hot and bothered (in a creative spark sort of way).

With a whiteboard full of world beating ideas, we run back to our dwellings high on the rush of accomplishing something bigger than ourselves (or at least bigger than we previously thought doable). However, that delightful buzz seems to putter into a sandpaper-like drag after a few days or weeks.

This happens for a variety of reason. Often, it’s life’s commitments such as deadlines, the boss’s agenda or kids figuring back into the picture. However, the main reason I see the lose of excitement lead to an aborted project is the lack of breaking big ideas into smaller, easily digested pieces. Most great ideas worth chasing can appear too grand to act upon. They can cause us to get lost in “where do I startland” or “what to do nextville”. The smaller and more granular one can get with these big ideas and tasks, the easier it is to stay committed to their path. Moreover, the more likely the original idea will be realized.

Let me explain further.

Let’s say while looking at the white board of new potential projects, you’ve determined the one that reads: “Become an Interactive Designer” is the idea that sparks the most excitement. Before skipping off to check the Facebook feed, while the excitement is still with you, take that goal and break it into smaller actionable tasks.

It could look like this:

Goal: Become an Interactive Designer

• Tasks List
• Take a user experience design course
• Revise portfolio to feature more interactive projects
• Learn HTML & CSS
• Volunteer to design a non-profits web site

Continue on until you run out of ideas or actions. However, don’t stop there. Again, while you’ve got momentum on your side, take that new list of actions and prioritize them in an order you feel best accomplishes the end goal.

Example numero dos:

Goal: Become an Interactive Designer

• Tasks (prioritized):
• 1. Volunteer to design a non-profits web site
• 2. Learn HTML & CSS
• 3. Revise portfolio to showcase more “interactive” work
• 4. Take User Experience Design courses

Now, here is key. Take those priorities and get granular with them.

Example numero tres:

Task (parent): Volunteer to Design Non-Profits website

• Granular (child) tasks:
• a. Research local arts-based non-profits in my area
• b. Make list of 5 contacts
• c. Contact 2 non-profits a day to inquire about donating my services
• d. Email Jennifer to inquire about the non-profit she works with

or

Task (parent): 2. Learn HTML and CSS

• Granular (child) tasks:
• a. Research 5 html/css books on Amazon
• b. Looking into sample course online (lynda.com or teamtreahouse.com)
• c. Buy one book or service by Friday.

List as many as you feel accomplishes the action or task. It should be items and actions one could accomplish in a day or an hour if possible. The smaller, the better. Remember, these big ideas are usually projects that need to fit into an already full schedule, so it is critical that they squeak in the few small cracks of free time we have. It may feel small at first but if done each day, you will begin to build momentum.

Lastly, try to be very specific with these granular tasks. Instead of saying “research books”, it says “research 5 html and css books on Amazon”. Get specific with the time of day to complete the task if you like. Apply some pressure in the form of a deadline while giving yourself a clear map to victory can be a potent mix.

Conquering Mount Everest-like plans always seem to set off a round of high fives in the office and a celebratory round of high balls at the pub. However, it’s at your own peril if you adjourn to happy hour before you break your big goals into small granular bits that can be acted upon and achieved on a daily basis. So, sharpen the saw and start chopping up them goals up.