128: Your project can't possibly be as bad as working for Mr Beast, Part 2

Ever worked on a project that felt like a complete disaster... only for leadership to call it a huge success? In Part 2 of our Mr. Beast series, Kim and Kate dig into the reported chaos behind Beast Games—from weather disasters and safety concerns to unhappy contestants, lawsuits, and production challenges. But here's the twist: despite all the problems, does the sponsor spin it as a win? If they did - would they be 'right?' This episode explores project sponsors, stakeholder management, risk management, and one uncomfortable truth many project managers eventually learn: success is often defined by the people funding the project—not the people doing the work. Kim and Kate unpack what happens when ambitious goals collide with reality, why sponsors often see projects differently than project managers, and why writing your own project post-mortem may be one of the most important leadership skills you can develop. Grab a drink and join us. Quotes from the Episode "Imagine that guy pouring down rain. He's in ankle deep water holding a 240 volt line over his head thinking, well, at least I'm getting paid for this." — Kate "Watch out for fixes that move the problem instead of solving it." — Kim Practical Takeaways When project scope or scale increases dramatically, bring in people who have experience operating at that level. Challenge proposed solutions by asking whether they solve the root cause or simply move the problem elsewhere. Escalate business-level risks back to leadership when leadership made the decision to accept those risks. Build post-mortems that document both successes and failures—not just one side of the story. Tailor project communication to sponsor priorities while still surfacing risks clearly and consistently. Closing Reflection A project can be operationally messy and still be considered a success by its sponsors. The question isn't just whether a project succeeded—but whose definition of success ultimately mattered. 🔗 Links & Resources Mentioned PM Happy Hour Membership: pmhappyhour.com/membership PM Happy Hour Facebook Page Folding Ideas — Why Was I Invited to Beast Studios? Rolling Stone article by Stephen Essarch: A Fyre Fest Feeling Inside the Chaos of Mr. Beast's New Reality Show KSNV article by Minx and Lau: Las Vegas Staff Say Mr. Beast Should Be Blacklisted, Cite OSHA, Medics Set for Failure