1
The situation The date, the budget, and the team size were already agreed. A few weeks later a sponsor went to an industry event and wanted competitor features before go-live. Nothing else could change.
The note Do not say no just to protect the plan. Ask what we are willing to change to make this possible.
The lesson New requests are normal. The problem is what we did not agree to drop.
2
The situation We needed to leave a vendor. On paper it was a new contract. In practice people, processes, and knowledge were still sitting with the old one.
The note Treat this as a project. Plan the handover, the cost of leaving, and what happens if service drops during the switch.
The lesson A lower price does not replace a transition plan.
3
The situation We were running training programmes that depended on travel. Then travel stopped. The programmes still had to happen.
The note Get the new way of delivering in place first. Everything else follows once people know how the week works.
The lesson If the work has no rhythm, nothing else sticks.