The reserve

Would you plan to start a trip across the desert without a spare tire?

Of course not.

Forget about the desert, most of us, wisely, would hesitate to drive around town without a spare.

Likewise:

• Any sailing ship will carry with it, on any journey, a generalized supply of repair materials and tools.

• Any army, since ancient times, will commit only a portion of its forces to the main battle and hold back a reserve force to be used later.

Why do we operate like this?

Obviously you may drive from home to work without getting a flat.
And a ship may sail across the ocean without incident.
And an army may simply conquer its enemy outright.

But we know it doesn't always happen like that.
Surprises will arise.
Even our best plans often face unexpected challenges.

It's worth keeping this in mind with any new project you might undertake in your work.

• Key staff members can get sick or otherwise be absent.

• Requirements that seemed clear in the beginning can change as the project develops.

• Launch dates can be delayed due to technical surprises or the challenge of getting all of the stakeholders fully on board.

Of course, there may come a time when you need to make a long drive on your last spare tire.

But as a general rule, that's not a recipe for long-term success.

Always, if possible, keep something in reserve.

So you can have it ready when the unexpected happens.

All the best,
A.