You've probably been in a "slapdash" planning meeting — too many people, shallow preparation, not enough time, with too many unanswered questions spiraling out. You have to make a decision but nobody feels good about it. We contrast that with having separate shaping, de-risking, and betting meetings. Shaping sessions are small, private, and intensely collaborative. In the de-risking rooms, technical people give input to the concept so you have better answers to the hard questions later. Chris tells before/after stories that show how different it is to bet on a project after doing the right kind of pre-work.