We are about to embark on the most pervasive single project we have ever undertaken.  We are transitioning to a new Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) system.  There is no aspect of our business that will not be impacted by this project.  It is critically important for our long term growth potential as it is much more transferable and scalable than the system we currently utilize. It is foundational to our ability to make future acquisitions, open new locations, and mature our operations.

However, my greatest fear with this incredibly exciting project is that it will become our top priority.  As it permeates our entire professional lives, how can we keep it in its place?  We have been working very hard to grow and build momentum.  That comes from connecting with customers.  It also comes from engineering products for specific applications.  The ERP is infrastructure to support those activities, but in and of itself does not do those things.  I can foresee though, as we work to implement and update practices towards the utilization of the new system that it dominates our time, our thoughts, our priorities.

I am worried that it will become a good distraction.  A good project that is much needed, but just happens to carry with it the potential to become a big enough distraction to derail most of our positive momentum.

The toughest part of this project may not be the implementation itself, but the maintenance of its priority level.