202106221152 Define success

202106221744 Begin with the end in mind and be sure to define success at the outset of a project or task. This is important for determining when to be done with a task and whether you succeeded in the ultimate goal that was supposed to be accomplished.

Having a clear definition of the goal and what it looks like to successfully fulfill it is the only way that we can keep on track while also allowing for our projects to be organic enough where we can adapt to changing information. Without a definition of success, we can trick ourselves into thinking we're accomplishing things while missing the point entirely. We can also trick ourselves into not valuing what we've accomplished or even get completely side tracked (failing to keep 202106241528 First things first) and forget about what we set out to do.

This differs from 202106221151 Define done because done is the fallback for success — it happens whether we succeed or not. Success requires measurement but done can be as simple as a deadline.