Most software projects suck. They're often ill-defined, resource-deprived, badly managed, and very often not even necessary in the first place. Even the projects that eventually succeed do so with far too much stress and by wearing good people out. This painful and wasteful situation has got to stop. And this presentation will show you how. This presentation is for anyone who has wondered why SMART PEOPLE who WORK REALLY HARD still get stuck on Death March projects. And particularly for anyone who wants to break that cycle and work on cool projects that succeed!