Daily Cup of Tech

Before we start into the final installment of Critical Project Management Lessons from Wile E. Coyote, lets take a quick look at the nine lessons we have learned in parts one and two.

1. Poor planning will trump intelligence every time
2. Murphy’s Law is in full effect
3. Don’t celebrate too soon
4. Don’t make a bad situation worse
5. Know your limits
6. Think through all possible outcomes of your actions
7. More complicated isn’t always the answer
8. Don’t get trapped by brand loyalty
9. Spend your funds wisely

Now, let’s get on to the last five points and wrap up this series.

Know When You are Beat

You may be aware of the saying, “A quitter never wins and a winner never quits!”  There is a certain amount of truth to that statement.  Unfortunately, Wile E. takes it to extremes.  He is willing to do anything, including put himself in physical harm, in order to get that road runner.

I have done a lot of stupid things in my day, often because of my stubbornness.  I sometimes have a hard time admitting that I do not have all of the answers and that can lead me to make some bad decisions.  It is often too easy for me to say, “If I just work on it a little longer or try this risky process, then it may all work out.”

Sometimes, the best thing to do is to admit defeat and then tackle the problem again at a later date when you can see it with renewed perspective and after a few hours of sleep.

Some Things You Can’t Learn from a Book

Another way of saying this is “There is no substitution for experience.”  Now, don’t get me wrong.  I am a voracious reader and often have at least two books (one fiction and one non-fiction) on the go at any given time along with a number of magazines and blogs that I keep up with.  But, sky diving probably isn’t one of those things that you want to learn from a book. right, Wile E.?

Nothing beats getting in there and getting your hands dirty.  Want to learn how a program works?  Get the source code.  Want to make sure your computer runs the best and the longest?  Take it apart.

Always Test Before You Deploy

I know exactly how Wile E. feels.  You see that delivery truck pull up and the driver hauls out a huge box marked ACME!  You’ve waited so long and you know exactly what’s in the box.  My first reaction is to tear that box open and jump in with both feet.

But, as Wile E. has taught us, that can often lead to disastrous results.

Take the time to read through the manual and check out some of the problems others have encountered in the past.  This way, if you run into difficulties, you may not have the answers off the top of your head but you will at least know where to go to find them.

Keep Your Emotions In Check

Some of Wile E. worst results have come about because he let his emotions get the best of him.  Another plan fails and he kicks that unexploded bomb, causing it to explode.

When we let our emotions get the best of us, we start to make some bad decisions.  I have seen people destroy hardware in a fit of rage.  I’ve seen people delete entire hard drives while in a panic.  I’ve personally set myself back hours because I was upset over the fact that I was not able to meet timelines.

The best thing that you can do is keep a clear head.  Continue to think things through one step at a time.

Remember, computers never respond to screaming temper tantrums and always respond negatively when you resort to physical violence.

Don’t Lose Focus

How many times does the road runner sneak up on Wile E. and scare him into jumping over a cliff because Wile E. is no longer focusing on his goal (the road runner) but has shifted his focus over to some minute detail that, in the long run, is insignificant?  Had he kept his eye on the prize, he would have been able to quickly turn around and grab the road runner a number of times over.

It is really easy to get caught up in small details.  We suddenly can’t see the forest for the trees and the answer may be right in front of us if we were to stop for a minute, lift up our heads, and look around.  More than once, I have wasted time trying to track down a problem only to discover the answer two minutes after I abandon the rabbit trail that I was following for the last three hours.

Remember, keep your eye on the prize and think about the big picture.

Conclusion

Well, that concludes our three part series.  I hope that it was not only insightful but presented in a way that will make it easy to recall when you find yourself in these situations.

As Porky Pig would say, “Ab..Ab..Ab..Ab..That’s All Folks!”

Critical Project Management Lessons from Wile E. Coyote

• Part 1
• Part 2
• Part 3

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