In the last post I mentioned a burgeoning list of things to do if I'm not to have a pile of unused items build up. This is something I need to get on top of so I had a go at listing everything that needs doing. There's probably more that hasn't come to mind, but will at some point. No doubt there's things that I've forgotten that I have bought. No doubt also that I'll change the order of some tasks and some jobs will split out into more sub-tasks. Some of the tasks listed are sub-tasks or at least linked to others, but I have deliberately avoided making this too ‘scientific’ as if it were a Real World programme.
Some of the tasks are quick wins (e.g. 15 and 16) whilst others are sizeable projects in their own right (I’m looking at you, number 18). Knocking off a few quick wins will help boost morale while the bigger jobs are pondered, analysed to death, planned and finally executed. Number 1 on the list is a reasonable sized ‘project’ (3.9 metres of river pieces) but one that pays big dividends (every period needs watercourses).
That all said, here is the first version of the list.
Tentative Order | Job |
1 | Finish river pieces |
2 | Check stock of magnetic paper and bases |
4 | Paint houses |
3 | Order storage boxes |
5 | Paint walls |
6 | Paint and base trees |
7 | Rebase Greeks and Persians |
8 | Flag SYW figures (French priority) |
9 | Try Alala! |
10 | Try Siege Works rules |
11 | Paint wagons and gun teams |
12 | Decide what to do with SYW odds and sods |
13 | Paint petard crews etc |
14 | Prepare New Year Campaign |
15 | Paint sheep |
16 | Paint pack animals |
17 | Paint villagers (6 and 10mm) |
18 | Make fortress |
19 | Ottoman painting guide |
20 | Order Irregular Ottoman army |
21 | Paint Ottomans |
22 | Run ECW siege campaign |
23 | Make AWI boats |
24 | Maybe rebase some Romans |
25 | Build & paint sailing ships |
I should add in target dates for them all. Item 14 obviously has a time limit already, and going by that I need to get motoring. Last time I made such a list (around 5 years ago) I did get through it in a reasonable time, so I'm confident I'll do it.
One final caveat or note: every time I used the words ‘need to’ above I really mean ‘want to’. I remind myself that nothing bad will happen if I don’t do any of the things listed.
How big is your to do list? Do you expect to complete it (ignoring any new things that come along of course!).
Your list is a useful idea, I should take a leaf out of your book and create my own. I do find I occasionally forget about projects or models when they get packed away for a later day. Out of sight and out of mind.
ReplyDeleteYes, I'd partly forgotten about some things, so best shine some light on them. Either get them done or get rid of them was my thinking.
DeleteGreat idea Chris.
ReplyDeleteI have been pondering something similar for all my paused and half finished projects.
Now you have me thinking about what terrain I "need" 😁
You know you 'need' more terrain Ben :-).
DeleteThat last sentence reads like a bit of a challenge Chris...not sure I am keen to accept it though.... ignorance is bliss, as they say!
ReplyDeleteIt's everyman's right to turn a blind eye Keith. You're always very active and productive, so you can't have much of a lead mountain. Can you? 😄
DeleteNot a huge amount, by most peoples standards, based on what I read on various blogs, Chris!
DeleteThe "ooh shiny" and "scale creep" are the ' enemy.' I must admit to not making a complete list this year or last.
ReplyDeleteI must admit, I'm not too prone to the "ohh, shiny syndrome". But I am prone to leaving some things unfinished.
DeleteI came up as NOT a Completer-Finisher on a Belbin test many years ago. The irony was, I wasn't paying attention when I totted the scores, and made a miscalculation. If I'd added up correctly I would have squeezed into being a Completer Finisher. Self-fulfilling prophecy?
Chris,
ReplyDeleteSadly, I am a compulsive list maker. The Soldier King project had each army with a list of "clean up; wash & prime; undercoat; paint; varnish; flags; base; label." Each was a separate line, and was very satisfying to cross them off once totally completed. It certainly helped keep up motivation with a sense of progress.
The Crusader project has a list of British units at present with some notes of what's finished and still to do.
Neil
I considered breaking each task down like that, but decided to leave it for now. 100+ rows would be daunting.
DeleteThis is a long and comprehensive list. If I make a list at the beginning of the year as a goal, mine leans more toward broad generalities without much detail.
ReplyDeleteYou manage to produce a lot of 'output' each year, so the broader goals approach clearly works for you Jon.
DeleteI sort of have a mental list that is constantly changing as the wargames butterfly flits between projects! I would suggest that some of the terrain items (4,5 &6) would be good to do first, as they will work for all your games and have instant impact on the table. The rivers could be easy, depending upon how you want to do the banks, as Pendraken do ready made sections as extremely good value IMHO.
ReplyDeleteI think you're right about terrain pieces Steve. I bought MDF river sections from Pendraken months ago having finally decided that the 'perspex' plan I had (from the girls' school rivers project) was a bit too tricky. I've painted them now and done the 'texturing' of the edges. Just need to highlight them and stick scatter material along the banks.
DeleteLists are total anathema to me I’m afraid, continual proof that there’s a long road ahead and that I’m not making as much progress as I’d like. I usually leave a few things out on the desk and replace them individually when a jobs complete. My experience to date has been that our hobby never ends…and thus the lists never end.
ReplyDeleteGood point about it never ending. For me the point of The List is to make sure stuff doesn’t get wasted, sitting in a box not getting used.
DeleteChris
I think I'll pass as I would have hundreds of entries and it would seem like work, I do try and make mental lists as a mental exercise and like Jonathan make broad plans but they tend to be paint lots of Napoleonics and do some terrain as a break for the past few years with something sneaking in if I find keeping focused difficult!
ReplyDeleteBest Iain
Well done for your plans, focus and ambition. I make to do lists for work. I'm sure as hell not going to make to do lists for my hobby.
ReplyDeleteIf I don’t make a list I’m likely to forget!
DeleteChris
Good for you, I admire you organisational ability. I think my possible task list needs to start with 'make a task list' 😀
ReplyDeleteMaking a list is easy. It’s acting on it that’s the hard part 😄
DeleteChris