As you begin your project, make sure you have a list of priorities. The top-priority tasks are those that will lead most directly to the success or failure of the project. These are your core tasks. Some tasks may seem lower in importance, such as finding a rehearsal hall. However, you can't proceed with rehearsals for the original production of Phantom of the Car Wash without a place to rehearse. Therefore, larger tasks are sometimes contingent on smaller ones being completed first. This makes those little tasks high on the priority list.

A prioritized list of objectives will help you eliminate certain tasks if sticking to your budget or completing the project on time is becoming an issue. Priorities will also help you if you need to reorganize the project — you will know which tasks and objectives will need more attention. The same holds true with shifting team members. If two people are working on a low-priority task, such as printing the program for the theater production, and there's a need for more assistance on higher priority tasks, like costumes and lighting, you'll be able to make the proper adjustment.

Throughout the subsequent chapters, there will be further discussions about resources, objectives, working effectively with the project team, making decisions, and adhering to your priorities. A project manager must remember that these areas are not mutually exclusive. A project has a life, and like any living thing, there is growth and change throughout the process. There is overlap, which means determining what you will need and who you'll need go hand in hand. As you read further, you will see that project management means keeping tabs on the whole project by monitoring the numerous parts.