the ultimate goals. The Eiffel Tower had more than fifty engineers; the Statue of Liberty had three lead sculptors over the different phases. Over time, we learn that long-term academic research involves supervisor changes. What matters is not those who were present at the onset but those who endured and ensured continuity to completion.
Lesson # 2: Embed ownership in the cause, not the character. People shift. Purpose should not!
Culture Clash and Coordination Chaos
Managing multicultural teams can be a splendid symphony in concert or a mega mess. Projects that involve a mixed culture team, such as engineers from Asia, funders from Europe and community liaisons in Africa, have miscommunication issues, and this is inevitable. As different cultures have unique interpretations of words, signs, tone and applicability in the context of design, traditions, rituals, time and workmanship. One group expects rigid adherence to timelines, another values relationship-building first, while others use WhatsApp, whereas another insists on formal email communication channels.
The applicable solution here is to cultivate cultural fluency and adaptive leadership. We have to understand the technical roles and also appreciate human psychology and cross-cultural values. Leadership is not about push and shove or bulldozing for uniformity, but choreographing differences into cohesion with grace.
Lesson # 3: Your Gantt chart will not save you, Emotional & Cultural Intelligence Might.
When One Project Depends on Another
Our lives are interconnected and dependent on other factors that make it complex. Such complexity makes any project rarely an island. Projects have interdependencies and one big project despite the complex surrounding environment, also has multiple mini-projects that depend on one thing getting done and completed first. A bridge cannot proceed until the dam to hold water back is done. A mobile app cannot launch until a partner API is stable. A thesis or dissertation for Master’ s or PhD research hinges on census data that is still being cleaned and therefore an indefinite pause has to be taken.
These dependencies require more patience. They need systems thinking and strategic buffering. Smart project managers build in slack, explore contingency routes and communicate proactively.
Lesson # 4: Interdependence is not weakness; it is a design reality- plan with your ecosystem in mind.
Business-Funded Dreams: Juggling Revenue and Purpose
Many individuals and African entities fund projects from operating income. The school starts a dormitory expansion project from tuition surplus; a cooperative society initiates a new factory from last season’ s bumper harvest gains. The dream project stretches because profits fluctuate. This model is both empowering and risky at the same time. It instils frugality and ownership but requires leaders who are astute in financial stewardship and are vision evangelists.
Lesson # 5: Link purpose to profit, but do not confuse the two. Your business must live so your dream project can breathe.
Faith, Family, and the Fight for Balance
We are as good as our peace is! Sometimes, the bottleneck is not external. It is internal. Leaders, scholars, and founders often battle mental fatigue, family obligations, and personal crises. This calls for all of us to show grace.
This is where faith and meaning matter. Projects that lack a deeper connection on purpose and impact falter when life gets real. But those anchored in purpose, survive the storms and droughts. Whether it is spiritual conviction, a family legacy, or community hope, resilience is born in conviction, not convenience!
Lesson # 6: When the“ how” collapses, let your“ why” carry you.
Key Project Management Lessons
Approval & Perseverance- all these projects required champions; Lessep’ s persistence in Egypt, Eiffel’ s Tower and The Liberty Statue had self-financing risks.
Cost Overruns: Inflation, political instability, health crises, and labour complexities always drive actual costs beyond projections.
Cultural & Operational Coordination- managing multinational or multiregional teams requires flexibility and adaptive leadership.
Design vs Reality- project timelines and budgets are often optimistic. Actual cost may exceed this tremendously.
Legacy over Speed- despite delays and cost pressure, each of the illustrated projects attained iconic status due to the endurance of social and cultural impact.
Team Continuity- multi-year projects outlast individuals; therefore, the need to embed robust continuity governance structures, transition teams, and institutional memory is crucial.
Reflections: Dream On, Build Long
Dreams are blueprints; the question is, do you have the stomach to grit it hard and long to completion? Businesses, Communities and especially Africa need dreamers who finish. This also means finishing is not doing things quickly, but doing them fully. Go ahead and complete those studies, however long it has taken; launch that product, service or app after several false starts; publish that book even after years of life’ s pauses and difficult plays. Be a dreamer that finishes.
Any project that is completed has a story. The most important point is that finish them.
These are the victories that matter. The resilience that gets rewarded at completion( the unparalleled satisfaction of finishing). So, Salute! to those that have finished long overdue projects; here is to the long game. To projects that survive resistance, rebellions, fatigue, fire, funding droughts, and so much more … To leaders who press on, not because it is easy, but because the cause is worth it!
Whatever you are building, a business, pursuing further studies, or a movement- if it is dragging, do not give up. Rest, Rethink, Recruit, Rebrand, Remodel, Reframe, but do not retreat. The world does not just need fast builders … it needs faithful finishers!
Do you have a story of a delayed dream or project that finally was completed and bore fruit? Share it with us. You might inspire the next faithful finisher.
Lunani Joseph is a Technology & Governance Professional. Currently serving as the County Minister of Commerce, Tourism & Cooperatives in the County Government of Vihiga. You can commune with him via email at: JLunani @ insynqueafrica. com, Instagram: @ lunanijoseph Twitter: @ joseph _ lunani LinkedIn: @ josephlunani.