The Last 5%

At the start of my career, there was always this thing that would happen towards the end of a project. It seemed like things got harder as the project was coming to a close and everyone’s workload would double overnight.

I call this the last 5% of the project.

I’ve been going head-to-head with the last 5% for years. As someone who is systems oriented, this seemed like a fun problem to try and solve. Only to be met with frustration.

No amount of planning, process, or procedure can save you from it. These things can make the last 5% feel less intense, but there’s no stopping it. It’s as if all of the things that could not be accounted for finally come to the surface at once.

If I had to put one thing above the rest that makes the last 5% easier, it would be alignment. Everything is easier when you and others are aiming toward the same thing.

So when in doubt, always remember: The last 5% of the project is 95% of the work, and that finishing a project is often harder than starting it.

Just a gentle reminder that the real work is yet to come. See you in the fray.