# Planning For and Managing Successful Projects w/ Clint Padgett

- Show: [The Manufacturing Executive](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-manufacturing-executive)
- Published: 2025-05-06
- Length: 42m
- Episode: 256
- Page: https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-manufacturing-executive/2025-05-06-planning-for-and-managing-successful-projects-w-clint-padgett
- Listen: https://www.spreaker.com/show/the-manufacturing-executive#episode-aa75e3f4-3595-41b0-a48a-1dd9e13db855

## Summary

Clint Padgett, CEO of Project Success Inc., explains his 'shifting the worry curve' methodology, which replaces reactive panic with proactive planning to improve project outcomes. He contrasts the traditional 'uninformed optimism' phase with his approach of front-loading planning sessions to establish clear accountability and early problem identification. Padgett argues that investing time upfront in face-to-face planning reduces costs, improves quality, and prevents the emotional toll of the 'panic phase' common in manufacturing and construction projects.

## Chapters

- [0:35](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-manufacturing-executive/2025-05-06-planning-for-and-managing-successful-projects-w-clint-padgett#t=35) Introduction: Clint Padgett and Project Success Inc.
- [3:31](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-manufacturing-executive/2025-05-06-planning-for-and-managing-successful-projects-w-clint-padgett#t=211) Padgett's Background: Navy, Georgia Tech, and Early Career
- [7:33](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-manufacturing-executive/2025-05-06-planning-for-and-managing-successful-projects-w-clint-padgett#t=453) The Worry Curve: Uninformed Optimism, Vague Concern, and Panic
- [10:44](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-manufacturing-executive/2025-05-06-planning-for-and-managing-successful-projects-w-clint-padgett#t=644) Shifting the Worry Curve: Front-Loaded Planning and Accountability
- [23:06](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-manufacturing-executive/2025-05-06-planning-for-and-managing-successful-projects-w-clint-padgett#t=1386) Communication, Silos, and the Telephone Game in Project Management
- [33:47](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-manufacturing-executive/2025-05-06-planning-for-and-managing-successful-projects-w-clint-padgett#t=2027) Maintaining Dialogue: Bi-Weekly Reviews and Plan Adjustments
- [38:11](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-manufacturing-executive/2025-05-06-planning-for-and-managing-successful-projects-w-clint-padgett#t=2291) Scaling Methodology: Applying Planning to Small vs. Large Projects

## Topics

- [Leadership, teams & culture](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/leadership-and-culture)
- [Scaling production](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/scaling-production)
- [Careers & education](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/engineering-careers-and-education)
- [Manufacturing partners & offshoring](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/manufacturing-partners)

## Most relevant to

established companies

## Mentioned

- Project Success Inc. (company)
- Coca-Cola (company)
- Caterpillar (company)
- Georgia Tech (other)
- Duke University (other)
- Guerrilla 76 (company)

## Related episodes from other shows

- [60 - THE Project ExecutionHer, Megan Young Gamble](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/people-of-packaging/2021-05-18-60-the-project-executionher-megan-young-gamble) (People of Packaging)
- [269: Ultra-Precise Death Ray (Repeat)](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2021-07-02-269-ultra-precise-death-ray-repeat) (Embedded.fm)
- [Episode 081: Let’s just get through the next 10 minutes](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/making-it/2016-07-29-episode-081-lets-just-get-through-the-next-10-minutes) (Making It)
- [Episode 089: Avoiding the task at hand](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/making-it/2016-09-23-episode-089-avoiding-the-task-at-hand) (Making It)
- [269: Ultra-Precise Death Ray](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2018-12-06-269-ultra-precise-death-ray) (Embedded.fm)

## Citing this page

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