How many times have you heard the phrase it takes time. Two pretty common ones are: it takes time to do a good job, it takes time to do it right. You know it does, but the best way to save time is to do it right the first time. An old story is the boss who gave three electronic engineers one third of the project to complete within six weeks. This program was in modules so none of them depended on the other engineers involvement. The first engineer immediated developed a prototype using a high level language he was fluent in that basically did what he wanted before writing it in the language specified. The next developer started directly with specified language and perfected each section as he completed it. The last engineer smply sat at his desk and occasionally jotted down a note or two that no one understood by his self.

 

After three weeks the engineer who had done the prototpye foutnd that the steps he had taken in the high level language did not translate into the same steps in the language specified, he was already a week behind with only three weeks to go. The engineer who perfected each section as he went along found that he often had to go back as the final elements never quite worked to gether, he was also a week behind. With three weeks to go the third engineer, looked once again at all his notes, turned on the computer and began writing the module.

 

With one week to go, the first two engineers were at their bosses desk asking for more help and an extension, there was no way to complete their assigned tasks with just the one week left. The third engineer was also at his bosses desk but he was there to ask for the rest of the week off; his job was done.

 

I am an action person, I want to jump in and do it now. I want to see instant results. When I take the time to plan out what I want and write it down. When I wait and look at all the outcomes. When I consider the options and make sound decisions before starting. I find that I save the most time and my work is the best.

 

Ron