Success custom software development projects don’t happen by accident. If you read the statistics, they fail more often than not. But they don’t have to. Here’s three quick tips that will keep ANY project on track.

1. Weekly status meetings, weekly status: Have a weekly meeting, either in person or on a conference call, at the same day and time every week. Make it a habit. Make it short, no longer than 30 minutes. For any size project. Really. Don’t let anything blow up into a big discussion-this is just the status meeting. Schedule the rest of the meetings for the next couple of weeks (if need be) at the right times and with the right people. After the meeting, have one person (usually the vendor) send out meeting notes to the group. Make sure the meeting notes get sent out within one hour from the end of the call. For one thing, you don’t want someone spending all day creating meeting notes. The notes should be sent out soon enough that the meeting is still fresh in everyone’s mind.

2. Send out an Agenda before EVERY meeting: Allow everyone to be prepared. Allow everyone to be ready to contribute early in the meeting to get the meeting over as quickly as possible so every one can get back to work. The worst meetings are when nothing can be discussed because no one has the answers, and this meeting turns into a pre-meeting for the real meeting. Then you’re in Dibert-land.

3. Have Fun With It: Not all work has to be a chore. For many people, work sucks. But it doesn’t have to. I find any new project to be the most exciting part of my day. What can be more exciting that creating new, custom, business critical software that will have a major impact on your business? So many people equate ‘new’ projects with ‘change’ and no one likes that. But embrace the milestones, the meetings, the relationships, and the people. Have fun with it. Put a little bit of yourself into every project you’re involved in.