Experienced developers know this situation. You covered all the different specs with user stories. Provided early access to the software for your key users. Made impressive progress due to agile methods. And finally, it's time to implement the last task.
It should be easy. Everything is in place. You can already hear the korks popping. This evening is for you and your wifey. Together you will celebrate the completion of your SaaS prototyp.
There is but one question. Assured of the near victory, you head over to your friendly customer. She agrees to meet for a short chat.
You present the details about how you'd like to solve that last tiny question and your customer responds with, “Oh, but we need to have the possibility to have X here…”.
The conversation turns into an intense meeting. When you leave, you realize, the bright end on the horizont was just a lunatic shimmer, like a false dawning of a day that will start way later than assumed.
You head back to your office. The reality is smashing your illusions.
The emergence of this last task opened the sight for your customer from a complete new perspective. Only now she was able to see what her perfect end would look like.
Here's the thing: The end of a project is only an illusion. Like the march on a giant mountain, only when you reach the summit, you're really there. Being at that peak and looking around, new endeavors emerge, and you know for sure: the journey continues…