--- title: "7 Tasks Rockstars Check Off Before Kickoff: Step 7" description: Learn how to talk about timelines with your client and the factors to consider when creating a realistic timeline. Part of a project management series. image: https://blog.elblearning.com/hubfs/7%20Tasks%20Rockstars%20Check%20Off%20Before%20Kickoff-%20Step%207_Blog%20Featured%20Image%20800x500.png --- [![ELB-Learning_Logo_ColorRGB-white-text-1](https://blog.elblearning.com/hubfs/ELB-Learning_Logo_ColorRGB-white-text-1.png) ](https://elblearning.com/) ![](https://blog.elblearning.com/hubfs/7%20Tasks%20Rockstars%20Check%20Off%20Before%20Kickoff-%20Step%207_Blog%20Featured%20Image%20800x500.png) # 7 Tasks Rockstars Check Off Before Kickoff: Step 7 by [Stephanie Ivec](https://blog.elblearning.com/author/stephanie-ivec) | Feb 11, 2020   ![7 Tasks Rockstars Check Off Before Kickoff- Step 7_Blog Header 800x350](https://blog.elblearning.com/hubfs/7%20Tasks%20Rockstars%20Check%20Off%20Before%20Kickoff-%20Step%207_Blog%20Header%20800x350.png) Congratulations, you’ve made it to step 7. You are about to graduate to rockstar-level project manager. Throughout this series, we’ve been taking a deeper look at each step of the [7 Tasks Rockstars Check Off Before Kickoff](https://hub.elearningbrothers.com/top-strategies-to-avoid-a-change-of-scope). Where did these 7 tasks come from? They’re all parts of the “Readiness call” that our custom development team has with clients *before* kicking off a project. This is not a kickoff call. You could consider it a pre-kickoff call. In this call, we confirm all the details and make sure we have the information necessary to kick off a project. Hear all about it in this [webinar](https://blog.elearningbrothers.com/webinar-are-you-as-awesome-as-you-think-you-are). During an eLearning project readiness call, we go over 7 specific areas with our clients, gathering information and details that will help us stay on target to meet our scoped budget and timeline. [Step 1](https://blog.elearningbrothers.com/7-tasks-rockstars-check-off-before-kickoff-step-1) determined the roles and responsibilities of all the key players on your project. [Step 2](https://blog.elearningbrothers.com/7-tasks-rockstars-check-off-before-kickoff-step-2) defined your client’s success criteria. [Step 3](https://blog.elearningbrothers.com/7-tasks-rockstars-check-off-before-kickoff-step-3) outlined the project scope. [Step 4](https://blog.elearningbrothers.com/7-tasks-rockstars-check-off-before-kickoff-step-4) covered how to explain project phases. [Step 5](https://blog.elearningbrothers.com/7-tasks-rockstars-check-off-before-kickoff-step-5) showed you how to plan for contingencies. [Step 6](https://blog.elearningbrothers.com/7-tasks-rockstars-check-off-before-kickoff-step-6) clarified project-specific details. ## Today we’re talking about Step 7: Timelines This is everyone’s favorite part! Gone are the days when you could just ask “when is it due?” and be set. Building a timeline involves making sure a project is properly staffed, knowing when employees are available to work, knowing when the client’s office is open or not, etc. ### Dive deeper and ask pointed questions. Ask: - Are there any vacation days we need to work around? - How much time will you need to review? - What’s our due date versus yours? ## Why we love having a “Readiness Call” before Project Kickoff: In our experience, the readiness call has decreased timeline killers by collecting assets in advance, decreased kickoff call length, and allowed for more time to connect with stakeholders, subject matter experts, and other key players. We no longer hear complaints like “I wish you would have warned me this…” or “You should have told me about…” from clients. Our clients also love having a readiness call! It gives clients a safe space to identify risks they hadn’t considered before, prevents timeline and budget busters, builds project confidence, and makes them look like a rockstar to their stakeholders and supervisors! Download the [Top Strategies to Avoid a Change of Scope](https://hub.elearningbrothers.com/top-strategies-to-avoid-a-change-of-scope) checklist to start implementing these techniques in your eLearning development. ### Download the checklist to see all the steps rockstars check off before kickoff. [![Get Checklist](https://no-cache.hubspot.com/cta/default/5108583/a8c6ac0d-a3bd-406b-ac81-dd865e49b251.png)](https://cta-redirect.hubspot.com/cta/redirect/5108583/a8c6ac0d-a3bd-406b-ac81-dd865e49b251)           [custom solutions-](https://blog.elblearning.com/tag/custom-solutions), [custom eLearning development-](https://blog.elblearning.com/tag/custom-elearning-development), [eLearning development-](https://blog.elblearning.com/tag/elearning-development), [Professional Development-](https://blog.elblearning.com/tag/professional-development), [Project Management Resources-](https://blog.elblearning.com/tag/project-management-resources) ### Related Posts [![Stop Building Courses and Start Designing Your Career](https://blog.elblearning.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Recap%20Blog%203-19-26_Stop%20Building%20Courses%20and%20Start%20Designing%20Your%20Career_Blog%20Featured%20Image%20800x500.png?width=388&name=Recap%20Blog%203-19-26_Stop%20Building%20Courses%20and%20Start%20Designing%20Your%20Career_Blog%20Featured%20Image%20800x500.png) ](https://blog.elblearning.com/ld-career-strategy-panel-taking-control-of-your-career) [Stop Building Courses and Start Designing Your Career](https://blog.elblearning.com/ld-career-strategy-panel-taking-control-of-your-career) [![From Insight to Impact: Making Employee Engagement Surveys Work for L&D](https://blog.elblearning.com/hs-fs/hubfs/From%20Insight%20to%20Impact_Blog%20Featured%20Image%20800x500.png?width=388&name=From%20Insight%20to%20Impact_Blog%20Featured%20Image%20800x500.png) ](https://blog.elblearning.com/from-insight-to-impact-making-employee-engagement-surveys-work-for-ld) [From Insight to Impact: Making Employee Engagement Surveys Work for L&D](https://blog.elblearning.com/from-insight-to-impact-making-employee-engagement-surveys-work-for-ld) [![How I Learned That Brand, Leadership, and Identity are All the Same Story](https://blog.elblearning.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Recap%20HCG%20Episode%203_Blog%20Featured%20Image%20800x500.png?width=388&name=Recap%20HCG%20Episode%203_Blog%20Featured%20Image%20800x500.png) ](https://blog.elblearning.com/how-i-learned-that-brand-leadership-and-identity-are-all-the-same-story) [How I Learned That Brand, Leadership, and Identity are All the Same Story](https://blog.elblearning.com/how-i-learned-that-brand-leadership-and-identity-are-all-the-same-story) [![Mise En Place Your Workday: A Simple System to Boost Productivity](https://blog.elblearning.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Recap%2010-2-25_Blog%20Featured%20Image%20800x500.png?width=388&name=Recap%2010-2-25_Blog%20Featured%20Image%20800x500.png) ](https://blog.elblearning.com/how-to-create-a-culture-of-productivity-in-the-workplace) [Mise En Place Your Workday: A Simple System to Boost Productivity](https://blog.elblearning.com/how-to-create-a-culture-of-productivity-in-the-workplace) [![The New Leadership Playbook: Ownership, Agility, Results](https://blog.elblearning.com/hs-fs/hubfs/The%20New%20Leadership%20Playbook%E2%80%94Ownership%2c%20Agility%2c%20Results_Blog%20Featured%20Image%20800x500.png?width=388&name=The%20New%20Leadership%20Playbook%E2%80%94Ownership,%20Agility,%20Results_Blog%20Featured%20Image%20800x500.png) ](https://blog.elblearning.com/the-new-leadership-playbook-ownership-agility-results) [The New Leadership Playbook: Ownership, Agility, Results](https://blog.elblearning.com/the-new-leadership-playbook-ownership-agility-results) [![Redefining Leadership in the Age of AI: Why Organizations Must Rebuild Their Training Blueprints](https://blog.elblearning.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Redefining%20Leadership%20in%20the%20Age%20of%20AI_Blog%20Featured%20Image%20800x500.png?width=388&name=Redefining%20Leadership%20in%20the%20Age%20of%20AI_Blog%20Featured%20Image%20800x500.png) ](https://blog.elblearning.com/redefining-leadership-in-the-age-of-ai-why-organizations-must-rebuild-their-training-blueprints) [Redefining Leadership in the Age of AI: Why Organizations Must Rebuild Their Training Blueprints](https://blog.elblearning.com/redefining-leadership-in-the-age-of-ai-why-organizations-must-rebuild-their-training-blueprints) - [** Facebook ](http://www.facebook.com/sharer.php?u=https://blog.elblearning.com/7-tasks-rockstars-check-off-before-kickoff-step-7%2F&t=7%20Tasks%20Rockstars%20Check%20Off%20Before%20Kickoff:%20Step%207) - [** Twitter ](http://twitter.com/share?text=7%20Tasks%20Rockstars%20Check%20Off%20Before%20Kickoff:%20Step%207&url=https://blog.elblearning.com/7-tasks-rockstars-check-off-before-kickoff-step-7) - [** Pinterest ](http://pinterest.com/pin/create/button/?url=https://blog.elblearning.com/7-tasks-rockstars-check-off-before-kickoff-step-7&media=https://cdn2.hubspot.net/hubfs/5108583/7%20Tasks%20Rockstars%20Check%20Off%20Before%20Kickoff-%20Step%207_Blog%20Featured%20Image%20800x500.png&description=7%20Tasks%20Rockstars%20Check%20Off%20Before%20Kickoff:%20Step%207) - [** LinkedIn ](http://www.linkedin.com/shareArticle?mini=true&url=https://blog.elblearning.com/7-tasks-rockstars-check-off-before-kickoff-step-7%2F&title=7%20Tasks%20Rockstars%20Check%20Off%20Before%20Kickoff:%20Step%207) - [** Gmail ](https://mail.google.com/mail/u/0/?view=cm&fs=1&su=7%20Tasks%20Rockstars%20Check%20Off%20Before%20Kickoff:%20Step%207&body=https://blog.elblearning.com/7-tasks-rockstars-check-off-before-kickoff-step-7%2F&ui=2&tf=1) - [** reddit ](http://www.reddit.com/submit?url=https://blog.elblearning.com/7-tasks-rockstars-check-off-before-kickoff-step-7%2F&title=7%20Tasks%20Rockstars%20Check%20Off%20Before%20Kickoff:%20Step%207) © 2025 ELB Learning. All rights reserved.  | [ Terms of Use](https://www.elblearning.com/legal/terms-of-use)  |  [Privacy Policy ](https://www.elblearning.com/legal/privacy-policy)|  [Legal Notices](https://www.elblearning.com/legal/legal-notices)