For several years, I worked in companies to support functional teams in adopting and mastering agile approaches. Then, I ventured into entrepreneurship, and like any entrepreneur, I started attending networking events, presentations, and discussions. That’s when I realized that the challenges faced by entrepreneurs were very similar to those I had helped internal teams navigate in their project management. So, if agility can help large companies, why not entrepreneurs?
In any project, you can sometimes feel overwhelmed by the sheer amount of work to be done. Numerous stakeholders make requests, and everything seems urgent! As an entrepreneur, you have to manage everything—administration, communication, strategy, human resources, operations, etc. At the same time, you’re bombarded with advice like: “You need to increase your presence on social media,” “You must develop your offer,” or “What’s your 30–45–60 second pitch?” Unlike an internal project team, an entrepreneur faces all these tasks and demands alone, which can quickly become overwhelming.
In both cases, adopting an agile approach helps to step back from all these demands. Taking the time to separate vital and essential activities from bonus tasks brings clarity and allows you to focus on the most important efforts first.
In an internal project, best practices involve listing tasks, deliverables, and activities needed to achieve objectives. Typically, a team is in charge of the project, so proper organization and coordination are essential. However, structuring the work isn’t always straightforward. In an entrepreneurial project, you are often alone. As a result, your task list might be stored in your head, on an electronic or paper to-do list, or even a combination of all three!
First, writing down all the tasks helps offload mental burden and keeps everything in one place. Second, planning step by step prevents feeling overwhelmed or discouraged by the workload. It also makes it easier to set realistic expectations for what can be accomplished within a given time frame. Regular progress tracking helps celebrate completed tasks, recognize intermediate successes, and stay motivated for the next steps. In agility, we call these sprints—but in reality, as an entrepreneur, you’re running a marathon!
Whether in an internal or entrepreneurial project, I have observed the same tendency: people wait to have THE perfect solution, THE perfect answer, THE perfect product before sharing it. However, perfection doesn’t exist, and striving for it consumes an enormous amount of time and energy without guaranteeing success.
In agility, we often say, “Done is better than perfect.” The approach focuses on continuous improvement. You develop something and seek feedback regularly from various stakeholders (peers, future clients, partners, etc.). The goal is to ensure that your work aligns with needs and delivers real value.
In a traditional corporate approach, changing course once a project is launched is extremely difficult. Commitments are based on initial needs and are hard to modify. As an entrepreneur, you constantly face new demands, external pressures, and unforeseen events.
In an internal setting, an agile approach encourages frequent reassessment of needs, accepting that they may evolve with market and contextual changes. For entrepreneurs, agility helps organize time while leaving room for unexpected events. Prioritization exercises also ensure that the latest request is not treated as a priority just because it is the most recent.
In a company, projects can last months or even years. A traditional approach often results in what’s known as the “tunnel effect,” where there’s little visibility between the start and the end of the project. This makes it difficult to keep teams motivated over time. As an entrepreneur, you’re in an endless marathon—launching your business, finding your first clients, working on long-term sustainability… The finish line is never in sight!
In both cases, agility helps sustain motivation. Breaking down the marathon or long tunnel into shorter milestones allows you to celebrate progress, receive feedback on completed work, and maintain momentum.
Agility principles already provide value in corporate project management. Applied to entrepreneurship, they offer the same benefits: managing priorities, organizing work, embracing imperfection, handling change, and maintaining motivation.
