21 Sep 09 Why I hate deadlines and love milestones

While there might seem little or no difference between deadlines and milestones for many, I think there is a major difference. It’s like the difference between running a 100m dash a number of times continuously and running a steady marathon. I hate deadlines not because they make me nervous or I feel threatened with the time-lines. I hate them because I hate the aftermath of a deadline. I am the kind of person who uses a large hammer on a tiny pin – hence I have failed many times. Failures are for another day. I am yet to learn the art of not using a hammer on small pins and hence also be a marathon runner.

So why do I crave for milestones rather than deadlines? I hate the aftermath of a deadline when I have the worst empty feeling of nothing to do. I am sapped of all energy and drive to start anything new. If I don’t have a plan ahead I am like a flight with no flight plan and ready to crash. Milestones on the other hand are a continuous plan to keep things going and there is always an after-plan. I like the regular – “yet to do list” than a deadline to meet. Maybe that is why I hate exams as there is no after plan. And maybe that is why I like to build things and take them to market. I hate to party after a product is made as the real work is yet to begin – get the first customer. Should a start up party after a product is launched? Absolutely NOT!! The only person that is done at this stage is the tech team. Others need to start proving things now and need to meet milestones and not deadlines and now same goes for the tech team. It’s a marathon and you need to keep up and not work on a start-stop schedule. Hence my love for milestones and a dream of running a marathon (yeah right!!)

Tags: Rant