3: Beware of the Foggy Project Trap
You are standing in the office of a partner who gives you a project. You listen intently, ask questions, and show some empathy toward the situation. You walk out of the office and the “fog” starts immediately.
“What the heck am I supposed to do?” You are completely confused about what the project is and are at a loss about what to do next.First of all, recognize there are two ways the brain fog starts: the first is that you are inexperienced, and you just don't have the background to parse everything being thrown at you. The second is that the person giving you the instructions isn't doing a good job. Maybe they are too busy and don't give you clear instructions. Maybe they assume you can read their mind. Or maybe they don't actually understand the project that well, or they'd do it themselves!
Three suggestions for when such a fog rolls in: (i) calm down as much as you can, (ii) research what you can to get as smart as you can quickly, and (iii) revert back to the project giver and try again. Don't get hung up thinking you have to figure out the whole thing yourself; rather, get up to speed on what you can and then reengage.
Also, be healthily skeptical of any prior work previously conducted on the project. Don't take anything for granted and review and assure yourself that prior work looks like quality work.