Boundaries and limits
They serve different purposes.
The fence near the train tracks is a boundary. You can go near it without risk. The electrified third rail, on the other hand, is a limit. If you touch it, you’re done.
Boundaries can give us room to innovate and thrive. Budgets, schedules and specifications all exist to show us where the safe areas are. Sure, go to the edges and challenge the boundaries, that’s why they’re there.
But limits aren’t boundaries. Limits are the end, the danger zone, the thing to avoid.
Some people bristle at boundaries. They’d like to have a project with no budget and no deadline. The problem with living without boundaries is that the limits sneak up on you, and then, boom, it’s over.
We shouldn’t always color inside the lines, but creative work is better when there are lines.