The Go-Live Checklist No One Talks About

READ TIME - 3 MINUTES

"Good luck! Hope nothing breaks while we're all at the beach hahahaha!"

Alex winced as Sarah from IT's parting words echoed in his head. She'd tossed them over her shoulder yesterday, heading off for three weeks of camping with a cheerful wave.

Now, at 2am, the day before Christmas Eve, he was still awake scrolling through his "Go-Live Readiness" checklist for the hundredth time.

Technical requirements? Check. User training? Check. Stakeholder sign-off? Check.

So why can't he shake the knot in his stomach about their January 1st go-live?

If you're staring down the barrel of a January 1st go-live, we’re sorry!

Here are two critical moves that we use (and that most Go Live Checklists forget):

1. Create Your "Ghost Team" Protocol

This concept is inspired by how Netflix handles major platform updates during quiet periods.

How to do it:

  • Map out who's actually around (and contactable) each day from Dec 24 - Jan 15

  • Create a simple, one page decision tree: "If X happens, contact Y. If Y's unavailable, escalate to Z"

  • Set up a WhatsApp group (yes, really) for urgent issues - people check this more than emails during holidays

  • Document everyone's beach/camping/overseas locations and time zones

  • Know which executives can make emergency calls if needed

Pro tip: Create "If/Then" cards for common scenarios. Like recipe cards, but for crisis management. Share them with everyone who might need to step in.

As Reed Hastings says: "The best way to minimise chaos is to plan for it."

You’ve got this!

2. Design Your "Break Glass in Emergency" Kit

How to do it:

  • Create a simple rollback plan that anyone in your decision tree can execute

  • Write emergency communications templates for various scenarios

  • Set up auto-escalation triggers (if X metric hits Y level, automatically notify Z)

  • Prepare a "skeleton mode" version of the system

  • Have a clear "pull the plug" protocol - who can make the call, and how

Pro tip: Do a "worst-case scenario" run-through with the holiday support crew. Like a fire drill, but for your go-live.

Look, launching anything on January 1st is a bit nuts. But sometimes that's the hand we're dealt.

The secret isn't in having a perfect plan - it's in being ready for imperfection. Your go-live might not be smooth as silk, but with these moves, it won't be Lord of the Flies either.

Remember: you're not aiming for flawless execution (good luck with that on New Year's Day). You're aiming for "robust enough to handle whatever summer throws at us."

Next Tuesday we’ll be talking about "Kickstarting Your Change Initiative in the New Year" - you won't want to miss it.

Until then, we hope you enjoy some fun downtime with the folks you love, doing stuff you love!

Cheers,

Team EVER

PS: Someone pass this on to you? 

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Kate Byrne