The implementation will be more than you thought.

It will take more of your time.

And be more complicated.

It will require way more communication.

You will lose a valuable person during the project, and it will force you to adjust.

It will force you to include someone you never considered.

No matter your expectations at the start, the implementation will be more or different than what you thought.

It is not the vendor’s fault.

Or yours.

Or anyone’s.

It just is.

This should be your baseline when you start.

And now that you’ve read the above, you are no longer allowed to use the phrase “We don’t know what we don’t know.” That phrase is completely useless (and obvious) and is often used as an opening move (like the Ruy Lopex, Exchange Variation in chess) to say “Shit has hit the fan” combined with “It’s not my fault, it’s yours.”

Supporting Music

Harmony Hall by Vampire Weekend

Groove is in the Heart by Deee-Lite

Originally Published March 23, 2018