# Charts & Checklists for Serious Dreamers

[^note]: Related pages: [Are You Serious?](/are-you-serious)

Here's my general method for completing large projects:

1. commit to a completion date with an external party
2. do _essential_ work
3. do busywork

Most people attempt to do these steps in reverse order; they never pass the
busywork phase.

To avoid real work, people pretend ridiculous rituals are "essential". Album art
and book covers and formatting and business plans and logos and flashcards and
merch and analytics are _not_ essential. Do real work and measure real progress.

Avoid
[vanity metrics](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lean_startup#Actionable_metrics).
Define a number and date that determine the success/failure of your project.

## Publish Writings

<img class="dark-invert" src="serious-chart-1.jpg" alt="chart"/>

1. ☑ find an agent and an editor; set a date for your first draft
2. ☑ finish an awful first draft
3. ☑ do what your agent and editor tell you to do

## Release Music

<img class="dark-invert" src="serious-chart-2.jpg" alt="chart"/>

1. ☑ book a recording studio date
2. ☑ write your music
3. ☑ record a demo of your dumb music at home
4. ☑ record your dumb music in the studio
5. ☑ do everything else

## Start a Profitable Business

<img class="dark-invert" src="serious-chart-3.jpg" alt="chart"/>

1. ☑ commit to a "cut your losses" date
2. ☑ open a business bank account
3. ☑ sell stuff
4. ☑ do everything else

## Speak a Foreign Language

<img class="dark-invert" src="serious-chart-4.jpg" alt="chart"/>

1. ☑ schedule a series of fluency tests at your closest testing center
2. ☑ do everything else

## Organize a Conference

<img class="dark-invert" src="serious-chart-5.jpg" alt="chart"/>

1. ☑ pick a conference date
2. ☑ sign a contract with a venue
3. ☑ find speakers, sell all tickets, and sign sponsors
4. ☑ do everything else