If your dream is a project so timeless it outlives your org chart, start by treating people like LEGO bricks—swappable, stackable, and prone to cracking under pressure. Placing capable—but unqualified—individuals into pivotal roles is a time-honored way to stretch delivery without looking like you’re trying. It creates space for failure to unfold slowly and creatively.
Richard Mogan
Richard (Rick) Mogan is an author, former Strategic Program Executive, and systems thinker who writes about why projects fail—and why they often fail successfully. With a background in engineering and large-scale program leadership, he brings a sharp, analytical lens to the messy reality of modern organizations. Rick is the author of 8 Successful Ways to Fail – at Project Management, a narrative-driven exploration of project dysfunction told through story, satire, and real-world case studies. His work blends practical insight with a dry, often self-aware humor, reflecting years spent navigating complex initiatives where clarity was optional and confidence was mandatory. Through his writing and commentary, Rick focuses on the systemic patterns behind failure—unclear objectives, poor planning, stakeholder blind spots, and governance theater—helping readers recognize the warning signs before their own projects join the list. He lives in Colorado with his family and continues to write, observe, and occasionally shake his head at meetings that could have been emails.