See the plan behind your tasks

Mind map structure. Kanban flow. One connected plan.

Mind map structure

• GoalLaunch a startup
  • Build a first version
    • 1Draft the signup page
    • 2Build the demo

Kanban workflow

Launch a startup / Build a first version

Backlog

• 2Build the demo

Active

• 1Draft the signup page

One plan, two ways to see it. Changing a task’s status doesn’t change where it belongs.

A mind map helps you see how ideas fit together. A task board helps you move work forward. Faucus brings the two together: the same plan, seen by purpose or by status.

Every task has a why

Every task belongs to a goal or another task. Its parent explains what it helps you achieve. Break a project down into smaller tasks and concrete next steps, without losing that connection.

Use the tree to work out the plan, then the Board to choose and track the work. If a task doesn’t fit, ask what it supports before adding it.

Create your first goal

Open Faucus and choose Start planning. You don’t need an account. For quicker access later, you can add Faucus to your Dock or Home Screen.

On your first visit, you’ll see a sample plan. Explore it if you like, or choose Start my own in the sample banner to clear the plan and create your first goal. Only use this if you want to replace what’s there. If you’ve already started your own plan, use + Goal instead. On a phone, open the app’s ⋯ menu and choose New goal.

Call your goal Launch a startup. In Why it matters, you can add a few words about why you want to do it.

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Name the goal and add why it matters. The tasks come next.

Work out the steps

Think about what needs to happen for the goal to succeed. Start with a few broad tasks, then break down the first one:

Example plan

GoalLaunch a startup

• TaskCheck whether people need the product
  • Write down the problem you want to solve
  • Find five people who have that problem
  • Arrange conversations with them
• TaskBuild a first version
• TaskFind the first customers

Each indented task helps the one above it. Follow the connections back to see why you’re doing it.

To put this example into your plan, add the three broad tasks in Outline, then break down the first one. You can use a keyboard or the touch controls.

You don’t need to map out the whole startup before beginning. Write down what you know, break down what needs attention, and fill in the rest as you learn.