The 6 Stages of a Project

The first week of my very first media job, a friend sent me a short list called ‘The 6 Stages of a Project’.  It said that every project goes like this…

1. Enthusiasm
2. Disillusionment
3. Panic
4. Search for the Guilty
5. Punishment of the Innocent
6. Praise and Enthusiasm for the Uninvolved

It seemed funny at the time, yet over the years, the list seems almost too true – especially when a business initiative or ‘project’ doesn’t go smoothly or when it hits unexpected setbacks.

And, it’s been on my mind lately as unsettled financial markets have generated nervousness in media and digital businesses.