The Project Manager's Life 20

The underlying foundation of successful projects is based on the concepts of promises and commitments. It is not unusual to encounter unanticipated obstacles during the project’s life-cycle. At such times, it may be tempting for team members to succumb to the temptation to use such obstacles as an excuse for not meeting their commitments. This, of course, can have repercussions on the overall project and we should strive to avoid this. Israar Ansaarii, in the following sher, has praise for those who manage to their commitments despite the obstacles that befall them.

हवाएँ तेज़ थीं बारिश भी थी तूफ़ान भी था लेकिन
तेरा ऐसे में भी वादा निभाना याद आता है

शायर : इसरार अन्सारी

This sher reminds me of the inscription on the main post office of the United States Postal Service in New York City: Neither snow nor rain nor heat nor gloom of night stays these couriers from the swift completion of their appointed rounds.

This sentence is attributed to the Greek historian Herodotus (484 BC - 430 BC) and describes the fidelity with which Persian mounted postal couriers carried out their work. It was chosen because it represents the determination of mail carriers to get the job done, come what may.

Good project teams are built on a similar spirit.