I had to choose between a detailed project outline or just jumping in

For a website redesign, my client wanted a full 20-page spec document before starting, but I felt we should just build the homepage first to test the concept. I went with the quick build, and now they're asking for changes that would have been obvious with a plan. Has anyone else faced this 'plan vs. do' dilemma on a creative project?

3 comments

3 Comments

webb.evan24d ago

That "plan vs. do" dilemma is my entire career in a nutshell, honestly.

webb.keith24d ago

Tell me about it. I've wasted months over-planning projects that should have just started. Found the sweet spot is planning just enough to avoid big mistakes, then adjusting as you go. How do you pull yourself out of the planning trap?

diana_king23d agoMost Upvoted

Hold up, are we just calling all planning a trap now? Jumping in without a real plan is how you waste even more time fixing avoidable messes. A solid plan is what lets you move fast later because you already made the big decisions. Skipping that step just means you'll be constantly stopping to figure out basic stuff. Honestly, flying blind and calling it "agile" is how projects really go off the rails.