Sorry this is wrong. Every single one of my projects began/begins that way. Also true for many of my friends. I think you’re way over-indexed on execution projects and are missing how R&D projects work. The trick is to not set a tempo or fixed exit gate time for it.
A discovery phase should a) develop at its own natural tempo b) exit when there’s the right kind of aha! gear-shift to execution tempo. It’s what’s known as an alap in Indian music. Like a prelude or opening movement in i western, except improv.
There’s also specialized execution type projects with clear discovery phases, like legal discovery in a trial, or initial investigation in a detective case. Any situation where you don’t know what you don’t know, but must act, and *must* explore before deciding *how* to act.