I don’t know the origins of the phrase “project lifecycle”, but whoever decided to tie the two words together must have been very insightful. Yes, I’m about to go zen.

Recently a lightbulb went off in my head that the project lifecycle closely mirrors that of life in general. I don’t necessarily mean that in the literal sense, especially since some projects never seem to die, but there is a certain causality in a project that is reflective of life in general.

What do I mean? Well, the decisions we make the first week of a project can have an impact on us during the last week, just as in life the decisions we make as a child can have an impact on us forty years later.

For example, in a project, no planning typically leads to some level of chaos and potentially a lot of crunch. In life, no education as a child typically leads to a worse job, worse social status, and overall more difficult life.

In a project, poor communication can lead to ineffecient execution, infighting, and a lack of direction. In life, poor communication can lead to stunted personal growth, isolation, and perhaps divorce.

And so, the pattern is similar.

Everything we do and every choice we make drives us down a path, and it’s either driving us where we want to go or it’s driving us away. This holds true for any journey, whether it’s life, a project, or a roadtrip. Every decision counts.