---
title: Episode 113: Mastering the Middle - Turning Project Management Complexity into Success
description: Doug and Jess discuss why projects fail—and how breaking them into more manageable parts can keep things moving and lead to better results.
---

[The RevOps Show ](https://www.liftenablement.com/podcasts/revops-show)

# [Episode 113: Mastering the Middle - Turning Project Management Complexity into Success](https://www.liftenablement.com/podcasts/revops-show/turning-project-management-complexity-into-success)

 Written by [Hannah Rose](https://www.liftenablement.com/podcasts/revops-show/author/hannah-rose) | Mar 27, 2025 9:51:13 PM

Shrink the middle of your projects. In project management, the middle is where momentum stalls and complexity takes over. The longer a project lingers there, the less likely it is to reach the finish line successfully. In this episode, Doug and Jess discuss why projects fail due to inertia and overcomplication—and how breaking them into smaller, more manageable parts can keep things moving and lead to better results. Tune in for practical insights on keeping your projects on track!

### Audio:

### Video:

### Additional Resources:

- [[RevOps Show] Episode 64: Maximizing Sales Efficiency: The 3 Must Have Pipelines That Can Transform Your Sales Productivity](https://www.liftenablement.com/podcasts/revops-show/3-must-have-pipelines-that-transform-your-sales-productivity)
- [[Blog] If You’re Not Writing User Stories for Growth, You’re Missing Out](https://www.liftenablement.com/blog/if-youre-not-writing-user-stories-for-growth-youre-missing-out)
- [[Book] How Big Things Get Done: The Surprising Factors That Determine the Fate of Every Project, from Home Renovations to Space Exploration and Everything In Between](https://a.co/d/1MO96NO)

### Show Notes:

### Pre-Show Banter: 

- Doug kicks things off with some classic optimism, reassuring Jess that “whatever it is, it’s not that bad.” 
- Fresh off a Disney Cruise, Jess is back and raving about her trip—small ship, big fun, and fireworks in the middle of the ocean! Fun fact: those fireworks actually turn into fish food. 
- Meanwhile, Doug drops some nautical wisdom on the difference between a boat and a ship (because of course he does). 
- While he’s gearing up for baseball season, Jess keeps him in check—it’s *actually* basketball season, and yes, she got her brackets in on time. Priorities.

### Main Discussion Points: 

- **The meaning of “shrinking the middle” **

- **Real-Lift Examples: **

- **Project Success Factors: **

- **Sprint Methodology: **

### Jess’s Takeaways: 

- You *need* to set clear definitions for complete. 
- Look at where you can break things up. Build that into your process. Look for where you can make components of your project smaller.
- Pay attention to your waypoints, and make sure you’re communicating throughout to help reduce the complexity of the project.

### Next Steps: 

- Follow Jess, Doug & Lift on socials for updates on the show or other insights: 
  
    - Doug Davidoff [LinkedIn](https://www.linkedin.com/in/doug-davidoff-76396b1/)
    - Jess Cardenas [LinkedIn](https://www.linkedin.com/in/jess-cardenas-3210259/)
    - Lift Enablement [LinkedIn](https://www.linkedin.com/company/imagine-business-development)
- Follow the show on [Spotify](https://open.spotify.com/show/4lIsz8aEnYppGgKBqiDKmv) & [Apple Podcasts](https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-revops-show/id1594671911)
- Subscribe to [The RevOps Show YouTube channel](https://www.youtube.com/@TheRevOpsShow)
- Listen to [Episode 114: The Missing Link in Your Sales Forecasting - Deal Quality](https://www.liftenablement.com/podcasts/revops-show/deal-quality)

[View full post](https://www.liftenablement.com/podcasts/revops-show/turning-project-management-complexity-into-success)

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