You don't actually do a project; you can only do action steps related to it. When enough of the right action steps have been taken, some situation will have been created that matches your initial picture of the outcome closely enough that you can call it "done.
Interpretation
Successful projects are achieved through a series of actionable steps rather than one single effort.
David Allen emphasizes the importance of breaking projects down into actionable steps. The quote highlights that by consistently taking the right actions, a desired outcome can be reached, making the project feel complete. It encourages a focus on the individual steps required rather than viewing a project as a daunting whole, fostering a proactive approach to achieving goals.
In practice
In a team meeting about project management, this quote could inspire team members to focus on task completion.
Isn't it interesting that people feel best about themselves right before they go on vacation? They've cleared up all of their to-do piles, closed up transactions, renewed old promises with themselves. My most basic suggestion is that people should do that more than just once a year.
It is a tricky business to know when you should set goals and objectives in order to achieve a focus, and when you would be better off dealing with the acceptance and management of your current reality so you can later step into new directions and responsibilities with greater stability and clarity. Only you will know the answer to that, and only in the moment.
Most of the stress people experience comes from inappropriately managed commitments they make or accept.
Once a week, do a thorough review of all your projects in as much detail as you need to. If you do, your systems will work. If you don't, no system will work.
Your mind is for having ideas, not holding them.
If you don't pay appropriate attention to what has your attention, it will take more of your attention than it deserves.
This world demands the qualities of youth; not a time of life but a state of mind, a temper of the will, a quality of the imagination, a predominance of courage over timidity, of the appetite for adventure over the life of ease.
Every time you take a step, even when you don't want to. . . . When it hurts, when it means you rub chins with death, or even if it means dying, that's good. Anything that moves ahead, wins. No chess game was ever won by the player who sat for a lifetime thinking over his next move.
Be motivated by something beyond simply money or glory.
Most of the time, creative entrepreneurs lose interest long before their marketing message loses its power.
Don't settle for average. Bring your best to the moment. Then, whether it fails or succeeds, at least you know you gave all you had. We need to live the best that's in us.
I train every day of my life as they have never trained a day in theirs.
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