October 13, 2023

Success vs Progress Metrics

If you’re focusing on the wrong things, then by definition, you’re not focusing on the right things.

And when it comes to project work, hours are always the wrong thing to focus on.

Obsessing over hours prevents everyone from paying attention to the progress metrics that actually matter to the success of the project.

Which progress metrics actually matter, you ask?

Beats me. It’s different every time. You need to find that out from your clients before you even think about writing a proposal.

Ask them something like, “What would a home run look like?”

Once they answer this to your satisfaction, you’ll have your success metric.

Then, ask them something like, “How do you imagine what I do will contribute to that success?”

This should give you your progress metric.

Yours,

—J

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