I believe a key reason for a lot of project inertia is this: we get stuck behind an expectation that projects should be planned in great detail before we get started. This supposedly reduces the risk. On time, on budget - way to go! It's a noble concept, but trying to do this often holds us up unnecessarily. First, planning in great detail takes significant time. As this is time we seldom have, even a pony-sized project comes to look insurmountable. Secondly, the underlying assumption that we can predict what will work and what won't is simply fantasy.
Learn from an old horse. So get up on this giddy old horse with me. As we set off, you'll notice that our well-worn equine takes one careful step at a time. Unable to see his own feet, he makes sure that each hoof is safely planted before lifting the next.
He knows exactly where he's going; he's followed this route hundreds of times before. In management-speak, he is clear about his desired outcome. Nevertheless, he plans the detail of his progress one step at a time.
Importantly, rather than plan the detail too far ahead, each step is guided by what he learnt from the last one, and what he can see just ahead. If the surface is loose and unstable, for instance, he'll be extra careful. If it's firm, providing more certainty, he'll move faster.
If this four-legged friend could speak, I'm sure his message would be something like this: Next time you are struggling to get a project started, try the simple approach. Identify the first step and do that. Then decide on the next step. And so on. There's a good chance you'll reach your feedbag sooner.
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