The Market Your Message Show
The Market Your Message Show
Ch. 5: Select Your Rapid Validation Timeline
Rapid Validation: Master the Art of Short Timelines
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In this episode of 'Market Your Message' hosted by Jonathan Milligan, listeners are guided through Chapter 5 of the book 'Validate Your Offer'. The focus is on utilizing Parkinson's Law to embrace tight deadlines for rapid offer validation. Jonathan discusses the pitfalls of extended timelines like procrastination and paralysis, and introduces three rapid validation timelines: the Weekend Warrior (14 days), the Weekly Sprinter (21 days), and the Steady Pacer (28 days). The episode explores how short deadlines can lead to better results by fostering real-world testing and decision-making. Listeners are encouraged to choose and commit to a timeline that suits their working style, ensuring accountability and progress. Key takeaways emphasize combating perfectionism and prioritizing impactful actions.
00:00 Introduction to the Series
00:11 The Importance of Validating Your Offer
01:18 Parkinson's Law and Rapid Validation
02:18 Embracing Short Timelines
06:07 Three Rapid Validation Timelines
08:46 Choosing Your RVP Timeline
11:06 Key Takeaways and Final Thoughts
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Hello and welcome to the market. Your message show. I'm your host, Jonathan Milligan. And we are going through the third book in the series. Validate your offer. This is an important book because a lot of people will start their business online. And then they're trying to figure out how do I create something that people will want and how do I do it without wasting time? And that's what this third book in my book series is all about. Now as a thank you for being a loyal podcast listener, I am making the audio book available one chapter at a time every single week. And as you're listening to this, we are currently going through that. Validate your offer. Now, if you ever want the audio book or you want the book or the workbook, you can go to platform growth, books.com again, it's platform, growth books.com, and you could order one of those. And of course, listen, as you go through the book or use the workbook to implement what you hear. In each episode. So with that being said, let's jump right in to today's chapter.
Speaker 4:Chapter 5. Selecting Your Rapid Validation Timeline. A British naval historian named Cyril Northcote Parkinson is scratching his head. It's the 1950s, and he's noticed something peculiar about the bureaucracies he's studied. As they grow, they seem to get less and less efficient. More people. More paperwork. More meetings. But less getting done. It's like the work is expanding to fill the time available. No matter how much time that is. Parkinson turns this observation into a humorous adage. Work expands so as to fill the time available for its completion. It's a clever way of saying that if you give someone a week to do a task, they'll find a way to make it take a week. Give them a month, and they'll make it take a month. The work grows to fit the time, like a goldfish in a bowl. But here's the thing, Parkinson's Law isn't just a funny observation, it's a powerful insight that holds a crucial lesson for anyone trying to validate a new offer or idea. When you're launching something new, it's tempting to give yourself all the time in the world. After all, more time means you can make it perfect, right? Wrong. As Parkinson observed, more time just means more procrastination. It means more second guessing and more busy work. The key to rapid validation is to do the opposite. Embrace short timelines that force you to focus on what really matters. In this chapter, we'll dive into the power of tight deadlines and explore how you can use them to your advantage. When validating your offer, shorter timelines are often better than longer ones. I'll give you some specific options for making your own rapid validation prototype RVP schedule. By the end, you'll have a clear plan for testing your idea quickly and efficiently without falling prey to Parkinson's law. So get ready to think differently about timelines. It's time to ditch the idea that more time equals better results and embrace the power of positive constraints. As Parkinson might say, if you want something done, Give it to a busy person. Let's get busy validating your offer.
Speaker 5:Selecting the right timeframe for rapid implementation. Let's talk about the elephant in the room. Most people struggle with setting project timelines. When we're launching something new, whether it's a book, a course, or a coaching program, our first instinct is often to give ourselves a ton of time. We think, This is a big, important project. I need to make sure I have enough runway to do it right. Sound familiar? Here's the problem with that approach. It's a recipe for procrastination and paralysis. When we give ourselves too much time, we tend to fill that time with busy work and second guessing. We endlessly tinker with the details. We think that if we keep tweaking, we'll make something perfect. But perfection is a myth. And while we're chasing it, momentum dies. Weeks turn into months. And before we know it, we've lost steam. And our once exciting project has become a dreaded albatross. So, what's the alternative? Embrace the power of short, focused timelines. When we give ourselves less time to validate an offer, magic happens. Suddenly we're forced to prioritize ruthlessly. We don't have time for busy work or perfectionism. We have to focus on what really matters, creating something valuable and getting it in front of people. Condensed timelines create a sense of positive pressure. They light a fire under us and force us to make decisions quickly. And here's the counterintuitive thing. That pressure often leads to better results, not worse ones. When we have to move fast, we don't have time to overthink or second guess. We have to trust our instincts and take decisive action. But the benefits of short timelines go beyond just speed. They also help us combat two of the biggest enemies of rapid validation. Perfectionism? And analysis paralysis. When we have a tight deadline, we can't afford to get bogged down in endless planning and theorizing. We have to put something out there and see how people respond. And that's the key to rapid validation, getting real world feedback as quickly as possible. You can spend months crafting the perfect offer in your head, but until you put it in front of actual people, you're just guessing shorter timelines, force you to test your ideas in the real world where it matters. So, if you want to validate your offer quickly and efficiently, embrace the power of short timelines. Don't fall into the trap of thinking that more time equals better results. Instead, focus on what really matters and use the power of positive constraints to drive momentum in real world learning.
Speaker 6:The three rapid validation timelines that work. All right. So you're sold on the power of short timelines, but how do you actually choose the right timeline for your rapid validation prototype? Let's dive in and look at three options. Option one, the weekend warrior, 14 days. This is the fastest, most intensive timeline. You'll build your RVP in just two to three days alongside 14 days of promotion. It's a full immersion pedal to the metal approach. If you thrive under pressure and want to validate your idea as quickly as possible, this might be the path for you. Option two, the weekly sprinter, 21 days. With this timeline, you'll build your RVP in the first seven days and then spend the next 14 days promoting it. It's a bit more breathing room than the weekend warrior, but still fast paced. You'll be working in focused burst each week with clear milestones to hit. Option three. The Steady Pacer, 28 days. This is the most relaxed of the three timelines, but still pretty quick by most standards. You'll build your RVP over the first two weeks with a one week promotion buffer before launch. You'll be making steady progress via weekly milestones with a bit more time to refine and polish your offer. So which timeline should you choose? Think of it like training for a race. Some people thrive on compressed prep times, using the pressure to sharpen their focus and build excitement. Others prefer a slightly longer runway, giving them time to build strength and endurance. There's no one right answer. But, here's a key principle to keep in mind. Research has shown that hard goals with tight deadlines boost motivation and performance more than easy, open ended goals. In other words, a little bit of positive stress can be a good thing. So, as you're considering your options, don't just default to the longest timeline. Pick the one that excites you and compels you to take focused action. A short deadline has a way of making your dream feel urgent and real. Imagine telling your friends, I'm launching my new program in just 14 days.
Feel the adrenaline kick in.
Speaker 6:That's the power of a tight timeline. It takes your goal from someday to right now. So which path calls to you? The Weekend Warrior. The weekly sprinter or the steady pacer, whichever you choose, know that you're setting yourself up for rapid learning and growth by embracing a short timeline. You're not just validating your offer. You're validating your ability to make things happen. And that's a skill that will serve you well in all areas of life. Today's exercise, choose your rapid validation timeline. All right. It's time to take action. Let's do a quick exercise to help you choose your RVP timeline and make it real. First, take a look at the three timeline options. We just covered the weekend warrior, 14 days, the weekly sprinter, 21 days, and the steady pacer, 28 days. Think about your current schedule, your working style, and the type of offer you're creating. Which timeline resonates with you most? Are you the type of person who thrives under intense pressure, or do you prefer a bit more breathing room? Do you have a relatively open schedule right now? Or are you juggling a lot of commitments? Is your offer something that you can create quickly? Or does it require more extensive development? Take a few minutes to really consider which timeline feels like the best fit for you. Trust your gut. There's no wrong answer here. Once you've chosen your timeline, it's time to make it real. Open up your calendar and start blocking out time to work on your RVP. If you chose the Weekend Warrior timeline, find a weekend where you can devote two, three full days to creating your offer. If you chose the Weekly Sprinter or Steady Pacer, block out a few hours each day or a couple of larger chunks each week. Here's the key. Treat these blocks of time as non negotiable appointments with yourself. Just like you wouldn't skip out on a meeting with an important client, don't skip out on your RVP work sessions. Protect this time fiercely. And show up fully committed to making progress. Finally, it's time to bring in some accountability, share your chosen timeline and your scheduled work blocks with a friend, colleague, or mastermind partner. Ask them to check in with you regularly to make sure you're staying on track. Having someone else in your corner can be a huge motivator and can help you push through any rough patches and remember. This is just the beginning. Once you've completed your RVP, you'll have a wealth of learning and insight to build on. You'll know what resonates with your audience, what falls flat and what to double down on next. By choosing a short timeline and committing fully to the process, you're setting yourself up for rapid growth and success. So take a deep breath, choose your timeline and dive in. Your RVP adventure awaits.
Speaker 7:Key takeaways, short validation timelines, combat procrastination and perfectionism by creating positive pressure to act short deadlines, shift focus to what's key. They encourage real world testing over endless planning. Consciously choose a timeline for your RVP launch 14, 21 or 28 days. Block out time and find an accountability partner. Commitment turns goals into results.