By Atif Ansar

In the world of data center construction, the stakes are immense. A single month’s delay on a 60 MW facility can erase more than $10 million in expected revenue and add nearly $2 million in financing costs. Yet despite these consequences, most projects do not meet their schedules. Research shows that nine out of ten major projects across sectors fall behind, often by a third or more of the planned timeline.

As I discussed recently on the Nomad Futurist Podcast, Beyond the Blueprint, the reasons for this pattern are partly technical and partly human. Overcoming the real challenge means looking closely at the way we think, decide, and act under pressure.

Let’s dig in; shall we?

The Ostrich Effect and the Discipline of Foresight

The podcast conversation reminded me that the biggest gap is often one of mindset. The difference between average performance and what I call greatness is whether leaders face risks directly or avoid them.

“Not-great performance is characterized by drift, by this reactive mindset. Psychologists have very nice terms for a lot of these biases, like the ostrich effect. So not-great professionals, when faced with risk, put their head in the sand. Greatness, on the other hand, is about being proactive…about being able to see around the corners and visualize what the future might look like.”

This discipline of foresight — taking risks seriously, confronting data honestly, and holding oneself accountable is what separates projects that succeed from those that falter.

Carrying Knowledge Forward

But mindset alone is not enough. To consistently build like the best, organizations need systems that allow them to learn from the past. Too often, the lessons of one project vanish before the next begins, a phenomenon known as “catastrophic forgetting.”

Traditional scheduling tools capture dates and deliverables, but not the deeper context: the why behind a delay or the how behind a recovery. Without that context, the same mistakes are repeated.

This is why knowledge retention has become so central to project delivery. In my academic research — and now through Foresight’s work — we’ve seen how insights from past projects can be systematically captured and applied to future ones. As described in Foresight’s recent blog on retaining knowledge across projects, when knowledge is treated as an asset, every new project becomes more predictable than the last.

The Role of Curiosity and Community

Knowledge systems matter, but so does the mindset of continuous learning. Great professionals are not only proactive; they are curious. They read widely, seek out new perspectives, and engage with others to challenge their assumptions.

As noted in the podcast — recalling how host Nabeel Mahmood and I first met at a conference — I was reminded of advice a professor gave me when I was a junior in college. “She asked what I was interested in, and when I said construction, she encouraged me to read trade journals, attend trade shows, meet people, and ask them lots of questions about what they do.” It was simple advice, but it has stayed with me ever since.

This spirit of curiosity is why data center industry events remain so important. They are not only places to showcase the latest in development, discuss trends and technologies, but also to share experiences, exchange ideas, and strengthen our community. Just as foresight allows us to anticipate risks, curiosity allows us to grow.

Continuing the Conversation

In the weeks ahead, I look forward to continuing my own learning with conversations across the globe. You can find me and the Foresight team at the following events:

• DCF Trends Summit (Reston, August 26–28) — where Andrew Bruhn will moderate a roundtable on data center construction.
• Platform Global 2025 (Antibes, September 7–9) — where I’m looking forward to engaging in high-level discussions on investment, AI campuses, and hyperscale growth.
• Yotta 2025 (Las Vegas, September 8–10) — where my co-founder Igor is showcasing how Foresight is reshaping project delivery at Booth K7.
• DCD London 2025 (September 16–17) — where I will join the debate: “Is short-time design the way forward for data center construction?”

Each of these forums is an opportunity not just to present, but to listen, to ask questions, and to learn from one another. I look forward to continuing this conversation at these upcoming industry events and welcome you to set up a time to connect with me or my team.

Closing Reflection

Across industries and cultures, the same truth emerges: the best do not drift. They do not bury their heads in the sand. They confront reality with discipline, carry knowledge forward, and remain open to learning from others.

To build like the best is not only a matter of tools or strategies — it is a way of thinking. One that is proactive, curious, and committed to improvement. In an industry where the margin for error is small, that way of thinking makes all the difference.

— Atif

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