Quick Tales: Allowing Timeline Hiccups

Balancing patience and impatience in every project

As achievers, we always set higher goals. That way, if ever we “fail,” we’re still higher than mediocre. It’s the same as that Kanye West quote: “Shoot for the stars, so if you fall, you land on a cloud.”

That is the same way with project/goals management. You need to set higher goals so you can push yourself to give your best all time. See that path and reverse engineer each steps to make it. Think of the GOOD, BETTER and BEST results so you can project a realistic timeline.

Can you do X number of push-ups in a day? If you want to work out 3x a week, how many hours will you allot each session?

Then, set your mind to the best part.

Here goes life.

The biggest challenge in setting goals is unpredictability. You want to work out 3 times a week, but there will be unexpected roadblocks along the way. You hurt your toe, you had a flu or the gym burnt down! It’s totally unexpected.

So, when external factors could not be controlled, you do not need to stop right away. You find an alternative. If that doesn’t work find another alternative. Repeat this n times, until you reach a point.

The good thing about timelines is they have a deadline. If something does not reach that deadline (even after trying x number of alternatives) then, it is time to accept that the goal deadline would just need to adjust.

From there, learn how to pivot and recreate your planning. There is still the big goal in mind, but you adapt your planning to what you have learned from the previous attempt at achieving that goal and you adjust.

Adaptability is the most important skill you will need for dealing with life’s or business’ unpredictability.

So, whenever your project or your goal deadline goes overboard, do not go complaining or whimpering like a spoiled brat. Do your work, pivot and adapt.