A stalled project restart is coaching aimed at one project you've been meaning to finish for months. Doin.ca helps you find why it stopped, cut it into steps small enough to start this week, and checks in with you until it's moving under its own steam. It's narrow on purpose, and it's the easiest way to test whether coaching suits you.
What it is
Every owner has one: the project that sits on the list month after month. It's important, everyone agrees it should happen, and it never quite starts. Usually it's stuck for a reason that has nothing to do with effort.
The restart begins by naming that reason. In our experience it's usually one of five:
- The first step is too big. "Redo the website" isn't a step. "Write down the five pages we need" is.
- A decision is missing. The project waits on a choice nobody has made, such as which supplier, which price or which person.
- Someone else is waiting on you, and you're waiting on them.
- It's uncomfortable. Raising prices or letting a long-time employee go is hard, so it hides behind busier work.
- There's no time for it. The project has no slot in the week, which is a calendar problem we can solve with habit work.
Who it's for
Owners with one clear, overdue project and a willingness to look at why it's stuck. It's also a good fit for owners who are curious about coaching but don't want a long commitment yet.
It's not a fit if the project needs specialist delivery you don't have. A legal restructuring or major renovation needs the right professional; we can help you brief them and keep your side moving, but we're not a substitute.
What's included
- A stuck-point session (about 60 minutes) to map the project and name why it stopped.
- A next-steps ladder: the project cut into steps of an hour or two each, in order.
- Weekly check-ins for four to eight weeks, focused only on this project.
- A handover note at the end: what's done, what's left, and how you'll keep it moving without us.
Timeline
| Week | Focus |
|---|---|
| 1 | Stuck-point session; first two steps chosen |
| 2–3 | First steps done; missing decisions made |
| 4–6 | Momentum: steps get bigger as confidence builds |
| 7–8 | Handover note, or a move into ongoing coaching |
How progress is measured
Progress is measured in steps finished and decisions made. Each week we record which steps on the ladder are done. We also track the "days since last move", a simple count of how long the project sat untouched. Before the restart, that number is often measured in months. During it, the target is never more than seven days.
A worked example: a price increase that has been deferred for nine months becomes six steps: pull last year's job list, calculate the margin on the top three services, choose the new rates, write the customer notice, tell the team, send the notice. At two steps a week that's three weeks, not nine more months. We can't promise how customers will respond; we can make sure the decision finally gets made and acted on.
Mistakes to avoid
- Restarting three projects at once. Pick one. The others go on a "next" list.
- Planning instead of starting. A short ladder beats a perfect project plan.
- Hiding the uncomfortable reason. If it's stuck because it's hard, saying so is half the fix.
- Stopping at 80%. Projects often stall again near the end. The handover note exists to prevent that.
Signs your project qualifies
- ☐ It has been on your list for three months or more
- ☐ You can explain why it matters in one sentence
- ☐ You can't name the very next step without thinking hard
- ☐ It makes you slightly uncomfortable when someone asks about it
Getting started
Tell us the project in a short text or email; the contact page explains what to include. You can also look at the six-week action plan if more than one project is stuck, or read the FAQ first.
Frequently asked questions
What kinds of projects do owners bring?
Common ones are a website rebuild, a price increase, a first or second hire, a new service line, tidying up the books before tax season, or writing down how the business runs so someone else can do it. Any project that matters and keeps getting deferred qualifies.
Will you do the project for me?
No. We coach you through it. If the project needs specialist help, such as a web developer, bookkeeper or lawyer, we'll help you decide what to ask for and keep you on track with that person, but we don't replace them.
How long does a restart take?
Usually four to eight weeks of weekly check-ins, depending on the project. The engagement ends when the project has momentum and a clear path, not necessarily when every task is finished.
Is this a good way to try coaching?
Yes. It's small, focused and easy to judge. If it works, you'll know within a few weeks, and you can decide whether to continue with broader coaching.