You know how it usually goes


PPP = Prolonged, Painful, and Pointless.

But not this time.

Somehow, against all odds, cultures, and acronyms…

The New Royal Adelaide Hospital in South Australia didn’t just avoid disaster — it delivered.

Let me break it down for you:

  • Australia’s most expensive hospital project at the time.
  • $2.3 billion AUD.
  • A maze of private, public, and clinical stakeholders.
  • 800 beds. 40 operating theatres. 100% public access.

The predictions?

“Too complex.”
“Healthcare PPPs always end in tears.”
“Get ready for claims, arbitration, and political carnage.”

But guess what?

They finished it.

And not just finished — they pulled off a clinical-grade, digitally-integrated, energy-efficient mega-hospital that actually works.

The secret sauce?

  1. A private consortium (SA Health Partnership) that didn't play the blame game.
  2. A government team that didn’t change the brief 64 times.
  3. A dispute resolution process that got used before lawyers smelled blood.

Crazy, right?

How couldn’t I have thought about it?

A PPP that respected scope, handled conflict like grown-ups, and even came out functional on the other side.

How could it be possible…

Anyway.

Some still say it was luck.

I say it was proof that PPPs can work… if you don’t staff them with saboteurs.

Do you want some blood?

Take a look to the lessons below?

$99.90

The 15 Top Lessons of a PPP Project Nightmare

Learn about:
The number 1 killer of Projects
Why this was not going to be just "another construction project, mate"... Read more

​

PD 1: If you liked this email, don't keep it in secret and forward it to a friend. They will thank you enormously one day.

PD 2: If somebody has sent you this email and you want to receive emails like this yourself, visit vicentevalencia.com

PD 3: If you want unsubscribe, click the link below.

Vicente Valencia

Weekly insights on how to perform when it matters | High-stakes decisions. Real situations. No BS. | 👇JOIN +2k readers 👇

Read more from Vicente Valencia

Some people keep asking for a manual. A framework. A checklist. A step-by-step guide. A beautiful PDF with arrows, diagrams, acronyms, and the comforting illusion that if they follow it properly, nothing bad will happen. Let me tell you something that may hurt a little. Or a lot… depending on how many checklists and guides you’re collecting and keeping unread somewhere in your laptop or phone… People who are obsessed with manuals are often not looking for knowledge. They are looking for...

Look at the difference: Saying “it’s about intelligence” feels much harder than saying “it’s about learning something.” Saying “it’s about discipline” feels very different from saying “it’s about giving it more time.” Saying “it’s about luck” is one movie. Saying “it’s about trying as many times as necessary” is a completely different one. Different versions, of the same thing: “I won’t be able to do it.” vs “I’m not able to do it yet.” “My client is not like that.” vs “My current client is...

Raise the bar on yourself. Never settle for doing “enough.” Today’s world is competitive and moves so quickly that you will have to raise your stamina level if you expect to remain in the competition or to even get into the competition to begin with. Those words are not mine. They are from a little orange guy living in a white house in Washington DC. You may like the guy or not… I don’t care. The thing is that Orangeman is right. The business as usual is killing professionals, if not...