Build your own
project success factors

  1. Reflect: Think about your experience, what makes for successful projects and change?
  2. Identify: Choose 5–10 of these “rules of thumb.” These should be simple, powerful, and feel true for you.
  3. Write: Keep each one short and memorable (aim for 5–10 words).
  4. Record: Call them your Success Factors. Pin them somewhere visible, your wall, notebook, or desktop.
  5. Tip: The best Success Factors are lessons you’d bet your career on.

Example: “Test small before scaling big.”

Heuristics Builder

Create your own rules of thumb.

Real-World Success Factors

Use these for inspiration, but write your own.

Think from Right to Left
Value Truth Over Good News
Projects Don’t Go Wrong, They Start Wrong
It’s the Benefits, Stupid!
Test Small Before Scaling Big
Don’t Underestimate Randomness
Get the Team Right
Create Structures That Uncover What’s Real
Share Early and Share Often
Welcome Problems—They’re Opportunities to Learn
Never Trust the Plan, Question Everything
Organizational Structure ≠ Communication Structure
Protect New Ideas
Don’t Make Too Many Rules
Balance is More Important than Stability
Keep It Simple
Encourage Candor—Root Out Fear
Measure Success by Benefits Delivered
Change and Uncertainty are Normal
Hire for Growth, Not Just Skill
Write 2 to 20 heuristics. 0 / 20
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