Sunday, December 21, 2025

The Hidden Cost of "Maybe Later"

Everyone talks about technical debt. Nobody talks about roadmap debt.

You know the scenario. A stakeholder asks for a feature. It’s not a priority right now, but you don’t want to be the "Department of No." So you say, "That’s interesting, let me add it to the backlog."

You think you just bought yourself peace and quiet. You didn't.

The Insight: Your Backlog is a Liability, Not an Asset

Most PMs treat their backlog like a savings account—a treasure trove of great ideas to draw from later. This is wrong.

Your backlog is actually a debt register. Every item on that list is a tiny, unfulfilled promise. It represents a conversation you have to reopen, context you have to re-gather, and an expectation you have to manage.

When you have 200 items in your backlog, you aren't "organized." You're carrying massive cognitive overhead. You are weighed down by the past, which makes it impossible to pivot quickly for the future.

"A long backlog is just a list of disappointments waiting to happen."

How to Default on Your Debt

If your roadmap is cluttered with "maybe laters," you need to declare bankruptcy. Here is how to clear the books:

The 90-Day Expiration Date: If a ticket has been sitting in your backlog for more than three months, delete it. If it’s actually important, it will come back up. If it doesn't, you just saved yourself weeks of work.
Stop Using the Icebox: The "Icebox" is where ideas go to die slowly. Stop pretending. If you aren't going to do it in the next two quarters, the honest answer is "No."
Change Your Script: Instead of "I'll put it on the roadmap," try this: "We aren't going to prioritize that right now because we're focused on [Current Goal]. If we succeed there, we might look at this next year."

The best roadmaps aren't comprehensive lists of features. They are focused statements of intent.

Clear the clutter. Your team needs focus, not a laundry list.

Sources & Further Reading: