Warning: This page is for the chronically over-achieving and the perpetually over-enthusiastic. Proceed with caution.
Overrunning is the art of taking a perfectly good idea and turning it into a catastrophe. It's like a firehose of creativity, spraying forth in every direction, but mostly onto the carpet.
We have a few tips on how to avoid this pitfall, or rather, how to embrace it and become a legend in your own mind:
Tip 1: Over-Plan
Create a 17-page plan, with 23-point bullet points, and a 4-color chart. The more pages, the better.
- Page 1: Executive Summary (3 pages)
- Page 2-5: Background Research (5 pages)
- Page 6-12: Theoretical Framework (7 pages)
- Page 13-17: Implementation Schedule (5 pages)
Tip 2: Over-Communicate
CC: CC everyone. Yes, everyone. Including the mailman, the dog, and the neighbor's cat. They might just need to know.
Send out a group email with a 5-page attachment, and a 2-page addendum. The more attachments, the merrier.
See also: Overplanning for more on this topic.