⚙️Things Done Well ⚙️ - Volume 33 - The Work Isn’t Lost—It’s Transformed


Hello Reader!

✨I'm so glad you're here!✨

First things first:

  1. Donnell Writes - The Great American Game. This is so good.
  2. Shop First Nations is an excellent site if you're looking for more things that are Made in Canada
  3. Fellow Canadians it's time to vote like your life depends on it! Because it does. It really, really does.

Okaaaaay, let’s talk about something we all run into during digital transformation—especially in values-driven orgs:

👉 The urge to stick with a tech project just because we’ve already spent time, money, and energy on it.

This is the sunk cost fallacy—and it’s not just a budgeting issue. It’s a mindset trap that tells us: “If we walk away, it was all for nothing...”

Here’s the truth: The work you’ve done is not lost—it is transformed.

Every process previously designed, every form created, every SOP written holds value. And here’s the key:

Refinement is the real work. Iteration is how we stay aligned.

Aaaaaaalso, let us always remember that...

  • You could choose the perfect-fit software—only to have the company fold six months later.
  • You could drop serious budget on a custom platform, only to watch the landscape shift beneath your feet, making it unusable overnight.
  • Or...The CEO of the core software you use could go off the rails and start pushing far-right propaganda that is in direct opposition to your mission...

The pace of change isn’t slowing down—and thriving in this moment means rethinking how you approach digital transformation.

✅ What To Do Instead

  • Reframe pivots as part of your growth—not signs of failure.
  • Let go of tools that no longer serve your goals, even if they once did.
  • Create space for regular reflection—celebrate what’s working and explore what could be better.

💔 When Sunk Cost Is Emotional, Not Just Financial

There’s another layer to sunk cost that doesn’t get talked about enough—
and that’s the emotional investment we have in the projects we’ve built ourselves.

Maybe you:

  • Championed the new CRM,
  • Designed the onboarding workflow from scratch,
  • Or led the team through a painful system migration.

When something isn’t working, it can feel personal. Letting go might feel like admitting failure—or erasing your hard work.

But here’s the truth:

Good leadership is not defined by whether the project you led or process you designed was perfect or even successful.

Good leadership defined by the ability to evaluate, adapt, and evolve.

Iteration isn’t an undoing of your work—it’s a continuation of your impact.

So yes, honor the time and energy you poured in. And then ask yourself: What’s the next right thing?

And remember:

The work done isn’t wasted. It’s your new foundation.

Iteration is not a detour. It’s the roadmap.

Want to learn more about how to lead successful digital transformations? Check out our Digital Ops Academy programs below!

Until next time, say hi to your neighbours, and take care of yourself!

R*

113 Cherry St #92768, Seattle, WA 98104-2205


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Things Done Well

Digital strategy for social impact movers and shakers. Realistic advice to support the journey to digital maturity. Gifs, humour, and my current music, art, and activism recommendation included!

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