It’s really hard to be successful if you can’t define what success looks like.
This may seem like a simple statement of fact, but all of us occasionally start new projects without knowing what the end state looks like. Often times, this is just the nature of what we all do. Not everything can be defined up front.
The problem arises when you never stop early in the project to define success before really getting underway. At some point, before the work really gets going, you have to understand what you are trying to achieve. Without a picture of the end, you can’t actually get to the end. Moving goalposts lead to lots of problems.
Simplicity is your friend in this. A simple, clear goal can be explained to others and compared to the final product. Success should be more than just throwing your arms up and declaring it. It should be something recognizable by others.