Sancho PM· Philosophy · 3 min read
The Perfect Quest
When Planning Becomes Procrastination
Don Quixote spent chapters preparing for quests that never quite started. Sound familiar? Here's how Sancho would just... start.
The Eternal Preparation
Don Quixote was exceptional at preparing for adventures. He restored his grandfather’s armor. He named his horse. He designated a lady to dedicate his conquests to. He practiced speeches.
He was always getting ready.
Sancho, meanwhile, packed some cheese, grabbed his donkey, and said, “Let’s go.”
One was a hero in his head. The other actually moved.
The PM Version
I’ve lost count of the launches that never launched because we weren’t “ready.”
The Perfect Spec. “We can’t start development until the PRD is complete.” So we spend three more weeks polishing a document that will change the moment engineering sees it anyway.
The Research Phase. “We need more user research before we decide.” Sometimes true. Often an excuse to avoid the decision.
The Roadmap Ritual. Quarterly planning becomes monthly planning becomes weekly planning. The perfect roadmap is always one revision away.
The MVP Mirage. “Let’s just add one more feature to the MVP.” Repeat until it’s no longer minimum or viable.
We’re always almost ready. Almost.
The Sancho Approach
Sancho’s preparation was simple: Is there food? Is there a donkey? Okay, let’s go.
1. Good Enough is the Goal
Sancho didn’t wait for a noble steed. He had a donkey. It moved forward. That was enough.
The test: Will waiting another week materially improve the outcome? If not, ship.
2. Learn by Moving
Quixote’s planning was theoretical. Sancho’s learning was practical — you find out what the road is like by walking it.
For PMs: Ship to learn. Real user feedback beats hypothetical planning every time.
3. Name What “Ready” Actually Means
Before a quest, Quixote added requirement after requirement. Sancho would ask: What specifically are we waiting for?
The rule: Before any “we’re not ready,” specify exactly what would make you ready. Put a date on it. If you can’t, you’re stalling.
4. Perfect Preparation is Fear
Sometimes we plan because we’re afraid to start. Sancho wasn’t afraid. He just went.
The question: Are you planning because you need to, or because starting is scary?
Signs You’re Stuck in Preparation
Watch for these patterns:
- Scope creep before kickoff — adding features before building anything
- One more review cycle — seeking approval from one more stakeholder
- Research paralysis — commissioning another study before deciding
- Perfecting the plan — revising the strategy when you should be executing
Each is preparation disguised as progress.
The Monday Morning Test
Before your next planning session, ask:
- What would happen if we started today with what we know?
- What’s the actual risk of starting before we’re “ready”?
- Who specifically needs to approve this, and what would change their mind?
- Is this planning or procrastination?
If starting today would teach you more than planning another week, start.
The Beautiful Imperfect Launch
There’s a version of your product that doesn’t exist because you’ve been perfecting the one that does.
Sancho shipped a quest with a donkey and some cheese. The adventure happened because he moved.
Your adventure starts when you stop preparing and start shipping.
Done beats perfect. Always.
Put this into practice
Stop preparing, start shipping. The 1-Page PRD forces clarity and gets you moving.
