The “It’s Not That” People

Beware of the “It’s Not That” People

In this blog, I’m going to cover the “It’s Not That” people.

I’m outside writing this, my wife’s in the office because her computer is down, and the cleaners are here. If you hear birds chirping in the background, that’s why.

Last week, we ran SuperPM Boot Camp with 40 attendees. It was an incredible session, thanks in large part to my co-trainer, Mr. Montero, but also exhausting. The more technical it gets, the more it depends on the instructor staying ahead of the group. I ended up sick and am now nine blogs behind, but I’m catching up.

The Problem with the “It’s Not That” Crowd

This isn’t me being petty, this is about clarity and truth. You’re the only one who can decide what’s true for you, but we all have a responsibility to communicate accurate, clear information. As Brené Brown says, “Clear is kind, unclear is unkind.”

Recently, I’ve noticed a marketing trend where people make big, provocative statements:

• “Takt is not about flow, it’s about finding things that will prevent flow.”
• “Takt control is not about meetings.”
• “Lean is not about tools or processes.”
• “Construction software should not depend on Excel.”

But then, if you read further, they end up saying the opposite:

• The whole point of finding things that prevent flow is… to protect flow.
• Takt control does involve short, focused meetings to manage field flow.
• Lean tools and processes should lead to respect for people.
• And yes, their software exports to Excel.

This “shock and awe” approach might be good for clicks, but it confuses people and distracts from what’s actually important.

The Real “It’s Not That”

If you hear someone say, “It’s not that,” ask yourself:

• Is it a real warning?
• Or is it just a sales hook?

For me, the only legitimate “It’s not that” is when something hurts people.

Let’s be clear:

• Flow doesn’t hurt people.
• Excel doesn’t hurt people.
• Tools, systems, processes, if they help people, don’t hurt people.
• Short, focused meetings to coordinate work don’t hurt people.
• CPM, however, can and does hurt people. It causes overburden, late nights, and unrealistic schedules that burn people out.

That’s why I’ll say “CPM is not the right tool” without hesitation. It’s not about nitpicking, it’s about eliminating systems that consistently disrespect people.

Use the Right Tools for the Right Reasons

We should be able to use any tool, system, or process flow, meetings, Excel, takt, you name it, for the benefit of people. The litmus test is simple:

If it systematically disrespects people, it’s an “It’s Not That.”
If it doesn’t, then use it with common sense and human dignity in mind.

Key Takeaway

Don’t fall for “It’s Not That” statements unless they’re pointing to something that truly harms people. Marketing shock tactics create confusion, focus instead on using tools and processes that protect dignity, promote flow, and respect the humans doing the work.