Years ago I read another list of the stages of a software project. I can't point you at the source because it was so long ago (decades) that I only have a vague recollection of it. The first stage was "boundless optimism and enthusiasm". One of the middles stages was "grim realization". The end stage was "finding scapegoats and assigning blame".

If anyone knows the source of this list, or can elaborate on more of the steps, I would love to know.

In theory, there is no difference between theory and practice. But in practice there is.