Life of a project timeline chart

Every marketer knows this chart is too real. You start out thinking your campaign idea is genius... then halfway in, it feels like you’ve created a dumpster fire. But push through, and suddenly it all comes together.

What’s going on here

This chart nails the creative process: excitement, frustration, despair, recovery, and relief. It’s not just “how projects go,” it’s how our brains handle uncertainty and creative risk.

Why it works

• Normalizes the messy middle that kills most projects
• Encourages persistence when motivation dips
• Reminds you the emotional low point is actually progress
• Builds realistic expectations for creative teams

Real-world examples

• Apple’s “Think Different” campaign went through 100+ script drafts.
• Pixar rewrites most films 5+ times before release.
• Dollar Shave Club’s viral video looked “too rough” until it blew up with 12,000 orders in 48 hours.
• Marketers who iterate win—those who quit in the dip don’t.