Fire, Fire!

If you’re a web developer, designer or part of the system development life cycle process, it is not uncommon for us to be simply digesters of direction. Besides, our work demands adaptability and change, right? If content is incorrect, we fix it – on the fly. Of course you can, it’s easy!

Add this div here. Build this table there. Write this code. It should be client-side vs. server side. The list goes on.

But, it’s not easy. You know that. Furthermore, this type of “do it now” thinking begs the question – what are you putting off that needs to be accomplished today? When you say yes to “fire, fire, fix it now”, another task suffers. While multi-tasking is highly sought out in resumes, reality is, you can only work on one task.

Whatever that task is will require your undivided attention. So, how do you prioritize?

You've got two options. Extend the deadline or decrease the requirements.

Pick one, not both.

Stacked on new requests are existing milestones. If you choose to maintain the deadline and requirements along with what’s being worked on, something will break.

This is tough. It requires hard conversations which means you have to either extend the deadline or decrease your requirements. It may even require speaking with your manager about an unsustainable workload which he/she can help align.

What's on the line? Remember, your job matters. The work is important. Like the great philosopher Smokey the Bear says, "only you can prevent forest wildfires". When you say yes to another fire, something else will burn.

Decrease the scope or extend the deadline. What's it going to be?