At Mixpanel, just like at any other company, we're always trying to improve how we do things to avoid backsteps and wasted work. To that end, in 2020, we started using a process called "shaping"-a project planning strategy from Shape Up, a book by project management company Basecamp-that has already paid dividends for our product development and looks like a keeper. The overall idea is this: Each six-week product development cycle should end with something complete (meaning, deployed) and shipped end-to-end. Projects that do not finish within their six-week cycle are canceled by default and do not get extensions. We're not saying shaping is the end-all be-all, but it's worked for us, so maybe it will work for you.