This morning, I was reading a post on Bloggertone that reminded me of our own journey to get where we are at the moment.
When Eoin and I presented the concepts for MyProjectTracker to our friends in Contrast, we had already written down to an implementation level i.e. dictating (almost), how we wanted the product to be built. We had gone the direct route to come up with an answer for how the product should be put together based on our own experiences up to that point. Oh, and to ensure it was deployed as fast as possible (in our eyes).
A different path
In our first meeting with the development team, we were introduced to the power of the newer technology sets that could be used to build what we were looking for more robustly, more cost-effectively and faster. Our eyes had been opened to all sorts of new possibilities on what we could do with the product if we sat back for a little while and re-assessed how we were going to get to our end-game i.e. not to take the direct, prescriptive route.
With Contrast acting as our coaches, letting us make up our own minds where we wanted to go, we saw the possibilities and alternatives. The indirect road to the end game was actually going to deliver a better result.
It’s taken longer but we are now coming around the final bend and like where we are going to end up. We’re going to have the same abilities in the product, less unnecessary “stuff” that gets in the way of simplicity and it’s going to be far easier to maintain. Sounds like a result to me.
The power of not taking the direct route is that it gives you exposure to choice. You can still go direct if you’ve found it’s the right thing to do, but sometimes that side-road is exactly the one you should be driving down.
Have you ever stopped and re-assessed the route you are taking and why in your business?
Photo: unhindered by talent
[...] This post was mentioned on Twitter by Barney Austen. Barney Austen said: The beauty of choice, giving you other options. (this mornings post) http://cot.ag/djqCgM [...]
I try to constantly re-asses but sometimes too much
Good post Barney.
I hear you Facundo. You can tie yourself in knots thinking about all the options sometimes. It's a question of balance
. Thanks for the comment.
Barney,
My first thought when I read your post was that you and Eoin gave yourselves permission to let go of the result. A lot of us get hung up on how we want thing to end and forget that we need the process to learn and adjust so we get the results we seek. Interesting thing is that some results aren't what we originally imagined but are actually better!
Hi Elli. That's an interesting point. The ability to accept that the end result can be also changed will lead to better results – quite right! And this is exactly what we are hoping happens as well
. Thanks for the comment
Thanks for the referencing my post Barney. It's always good to look at the alternatives and see if there is a better way of doing things.
In fact tomorrow I am participating in a review of a workshop that our team has been running for the last year. The facilitator will be using the “Six Thinking Hats” approach (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Six_Thinking_Hats) during the session. I did a bit of research this afternoon, and I'm excited to see how the session goes tomorrow.
No problem Frank and thanks for reading. I hope the session goes well – the six_thinking_hats looks interesting.