I wanted someone to say, "This is a dungeon."

When I start a new PJ (project), it's kind of hard. You want to do it, but you can't take the first step. Have you ever had that experience?

That, perhaps, was a "dungeon-type project".

Because I believe there are two types of "how projects proceed".

We feel that there are two types of projects: the "field type" where you can see the map in advance, and the "dungeon type" where you cannot see what is ahead until you try.

The impetus for this discovery came from playing Dracula for the first time in my life. I had rarely played games, but when I did, I realized that it felt a lot like work.

In the world of Dracula, there are large fields and dungeons where the field of vision gradually expands. Taking a cue from this, I thought the project could be divided into two types like this.

For example, there is this difference.

Field type project

The map is spread out and you can see the castle (goal) you are aiming for. You can roughly imagine what to decide and which route to follow. It is easy to plan, and decision-making is small but significant.

For example, a project like, "We're going to run our annual campaign again this year. We have some idea of what needs to be done, who is involved, and a sense of schedule. It is easy to proceed and we are familiar with the process.

Dungeon-type project

Only the first few steps are visible, and you don't know what comes next until you try to go on. The next step is not known until you try it. Decisions need to be made small but often, and the path to the goal is unclear.

For example, "a new project that no one has ever done before" or "the introduction of a technology to be tackled for the first time. There are many patterns to envision, and you have to make many hypotheses at a delusional level. But when you get going, you can sometimes see what's next.

Therefore, the "way of proceeding" also needs to change.

The problem is that it is a dungeon type but requires a field type way of proceeding.
For example, "In how many phases will this project be completed?" What are the final deliverables?" It is like being asked to draw a map when there is no map.

This is very hard.
If you try to force the whole picture while you cannot see it, you will not be able to start anything.

So it is important to first determine whether our project is a "field-type" or a "dungeon-type" project, and then choose the appropriate way to proceed.

If it is a field type, just draw the route well at the beginning.
If it is a dungeon type, you can make decisions on a case-by-case basis while repeating the process of "moving on to the room in front of you for the time being".

Finally: this is a feeling that is not only at work, but also in everyday life.

This "field-type" or "dungeon-type" feeling, not only in work, but also in life.

For example, family celebrations and travel plans are "field-type".
I can see the procedure, the goal, and the decisions to be made are clear.

But "starting something unknown to you" - for example, when you take on your first side job or volunteer in an unfamiliar field - is the "dungeon type".

We have both projects going on at the same time. So we don't live by just one or the other.

Just realizing that "this thing I'm working on now might be a dungeon type" might make it a little easier to proceed.

🗣 Which is your project?
Please consider whether the work or challenge you are currently engaged in is "field-type" or "dungeon-type".
And if you are feeling anxious in the middle of a dungeon type of situation, I would like to say this to you.

It's a dungeon. No wonder you can't see it now."