If you’ve ever started a product development project with big plans—only to watch your launch date slip further and further away—you’re not alone. In this blog post, Planning a Physical Product Launch? Don’t Skip These 9 Steps, I’ll share my key insights to help you move forward.

For many founders and product-based business owners, realistic planning feels like a luxury. But in reality, it’s the foundation for every successful launch.

In this post, I’ll share a 9-step project planning framework that helps female founders and product executives build physical products with structure, clarity, and confidence.

Why Most Product Timelines Fall Apart

You might be doing everything “right”—but if your plan isn’t built for real-world complexity, delays are inevitable.

Things like:

• Vague development phases
• Missing deliverables
• No team accountability
• Overlooked holidays or manufacturing delays

…can sabotage your timeline.

But with a few key adjustments, you can turn your planning into a strength—not a stressor.

The 9 Essential Steps to Create a Reliable Product Plan

Product Plan

1. Split your plan into 5 development phases.
   Start with clear stages: Idea → Concept → Feasibility → Development → Launch.
2. Map all actions and deliverables.
   Be specific about what needs to happen in each phase.
3. Assign time estimates and task dependencies.
   Use planning tools like Excel or Microsoft Projects to visualize what happens when.
4. Assign ownership to each task.
   Accountability is key.
5. Use milestones to make “go/no-go” decisions.
   Avoid pouring time and money into a product that’s no longer viable.
6. Use recurring planning structures where possible.
   If you launch every May, anchor key tasks around that date annually.
7. Apply learning from past projects.
   Build in extra time where you’ve historically seen delays.
8. Account for holiday periods and downtimes.
   From Christmas to Chinese New Year, plan for global and local slowdowns.
9. Review your plan regularly with your team.
   A living plan allows for fast problem-solving and better outcomes.

Here you have it, my take on Planning a Physical Product Launch? Don’t Skip These 9 Steps!

Ready to Build Your Own Product Plan?

Join me live on May 15 for my workshop:
“The Physical Product Development Process Fix.”

You’ll walk away with a customized plan tailored to your product development process—no more second-guessing, no more guesswork.

👉 Save your seat now: https://bureauflo.com/framework

I’d love to connect with you and hear more about your product idea or business journey!
 
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💼 Connect with me on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/marielouiseanthonissen/