Sometimes when starting a new project, it’s good to spend some time reading and playing with ideas before making a methodical plan. This may not be progress in the traditional sense, but it may help you:

• Envision success and see obstacles more clearly.
• Identify what is not important and foresee ideas you might have to argue against.
• Step back and ask some important philosophical questions that will help you understand the people involved.
• Find connections that are not obvious.