The Middle of Every Successful Project Looks Like a Mess – Judith Wright
Created at: April 11, 2025

The middle of every successful project looks like a mess. — Judith Wright
Creative Process and Chaos
This quote highlights that the journey of creating something successful is rarely straightforward. The middle stages often involve confusion, trial and error, and apparent disorganization, which are natural parts of the creative process.
Importance of Perseverance
It suggests that creators and teams should not be discouraged by disorder or setbacks during a project. Staying committed through the challenging middle phase is crucial for eventual success.
Illusion of Perfection
Successful outcomes may appear seamless from the outside, but this quote reminds us that the path to them is frequently messy and imperfect, countering the myth that success must always be neat and linear.
Embracing Uncertainty
Judith Wright implies that embracing uncertainty and chaos, rather than resisting it, can be a productive and necessary step toward achieving goals.
Project Management Insight
From a management perspective, this quote encourages leaders to anticipate and plan for the chaotic middle phase of projects, emphasizing that disorder doesn't equate to failure—it may actually be a sign of progress.