project management tips for real life: don't make optional things necessary

[nabil]

so, i've been thinking a bit over the last year or two about what tricks translate from my work life to home, or vice versa, and tonight i want to tell you a really good one.

first, i need to define a dependency: a dependency is when you have two tasks, and you can't do one until another one is complete. so, in software, there's a dependency between developing software, and testing it. you can't test it before you've developed it.

in both real life and project management, it's very tempting to create unnecessary dependencies. i was just on the phone with a friend who is going through a depressive episode. i suggested it's a good idea for her to be exercising and she said, "you're right. i have to join a gym."

wrong. she just made an unnecessary dependency. it is not necessary to join a gym in order to exercise. you can exercise by leaving your house, and walking for 15 minutes; or taking public transit to an airconditioned mall and walking for 15 minutes; or turning on the radio and dancing for 15 minutes. joining a gym might be a nice way to get exercise-- if you like gyms, and feel motivated to join one, then by all means go for it. but if you're in a depressive episode, or trying to figure out how to get a project moving that has been stalled out that's already behind schedule and two of your staff just quit, then for god's sake don't make any unnecessary dependencies.

what do you need to do right now?

(if resources are limited, you only need to do things that will cause significant harm to you or someone you love unless you do them right now.)

what do you need to do in order to do those things?

(don't make unnecessary dependencies. you don't need to join a gym to exercise.)

do those things.

xoxo

nabil

Comments

[beckastar.livejournal.com]

ding ding ding.

yes. i get so hung up on shaving the yak sometimes, but in doing so i complicate things.

[hotelsamurai.livejournal.com]

Thanks for reminding me. I do with writing what your friend did with exercise. I tell myself, "I need to write. I need to get out of town for the weekend, rent a hotel room, turn off my phone, and just WRITE." Right?

Wrong. I'll never get anything done if those are my preconditions. Now, I write a little bit at a time, all the time. It works.

[danaeris.livejournal.com]

Awesome post. Thanks so much for sharing it!

[swatibee.livejournal.com]

brilliant post and always a good reminder :-)