Project saying #25:
You can’t start doing something right until you’ve stopped doing it wrong.
As a consultant I am more familiar with dysfunctional IT organizations, ineffective PMOs and failing projects than most people. They wouldn’t call me if everything was ok. I am constantly amazed at how often my clients know they are doing something wrong. It reminds of a famous Bob Newhart skit where he is a psychologist who tells his patients, simply, to “Stop it!” Whatever bad habits or fears they have just “Stop it! Two words, first word S_T_O_P, second word I_T. Stop it.” It really can be that simple.
But I frequently meet resistance. When I see a project not going well and I advise the not-radical idea of clarifying scope, schedule and budget, my clients will complain “can we just let this project go forward?” Umm, no. I say to them:
You can’t start doing something right until you’ve stopped doing it wrong.
Sometimes I also add project saying #19:
The best time to do a task is three weeks ago. The second best time is today.
It is never too late to stop doing things you know are wrong. In fact, it is prerequisite for you to start doing things right.