Scope Creep (Death by "But What About...")
The Problem
Falling into the trap of endless possibilities and distractions. It's easier to list everything you could do than focus on what truly matters. The constant "but what about..." questions pile up: adding more metrics, covering more areas, adding data sources, real-time requirements, new AI ideas. Scope creep infects not just the solution you're building, but also the metrics you measure, the data in your warehouse, your strategy, and your personal and professional goals.
The Principle
Do less! Focus on fewer things and scale them further. Maximize the value of what you choose to do. Simplify to amplify. The next time you hear "but what about..." (or worse, say it yourself), be damn sure you want to add that nugget into what you're up to. Protect your scope like a product manager protects their roadmap—ruthlessly prioritize what creates the most value and say no to everything else.
3 Steps to Take Action
Write Down the Scope: Before starting anything, write exactly what's in scope and what's out of scope. Get stakeholder sign-off. Post it where everyone can see it.
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