The Best Outcomes Begin with Calm, Early Planning
We often face situations like this: When a boss says, “Solve this in 10 days,” we feel an urge to jump into action immediately.
A lesson from Romance of the Three Kingdoms offers wisdom here.
Zhuge Liang’s Wisdom
Recall the story where Zhou Yu traps Zhuge Liang with an impossible task: “Produce 100,000 arrows in 10 days.” Most people would panic and think:
- Should I mobilize soldiers?
- Where do I get wood?
- How much feathers and arrowheads are needed?
- How do we even make this many?
But this approach has flaws:
- Sourcing materials alone could take over 10 days.
- Untrained workers can’t guarantee quality.
- Poor-quality weapons risk failure in battle.
Zhuge Liang, however, appeared idle for two days. Instead, he strategized:
- Who already has high-quality arrows?
- How can I acquire them effectively?
He exploited foggy weather to “borrow” arrows from Cao Cao’s forces, completing the task in just 3 days.
*(From John Woo’s *Red Cliff: Part 2)
Another Real-World Example: Painting Walls vs. Ceilings
In actual projects, planning matters. Consider painting a room:
Inefficient Method:
- Paint the ceiling first.
- Mask the ceiling.
- Paint the walls.
Efficient Method:
- Paint the walls first.
- Mask the walls.
- Paint the ceiling.
At first glance, painting the ceiling first seems logical (to avoid drips). But in reality:
- Ceilings have complex structures, making masking harder.
- Edges where walls meet ceilings require meticulous masking.
- Wall masking is far simpler.
- Final quality depends more on masking precision than spray technique.
The “1 in 60 Rule” of Aviation: Why Early Direction Matters
A 1-degree navigation error over 6,000 miles leads to a 100-mile deviation. Similarly, initial planning determines 80% of a project’s success.
Traits of Failing Employees:
- Excuses like, “But I worked so hard!”
- Rushing to start without a plan.
- Prioritizing action over strategy.
Two Keys to Success
- Align Direction with Your Supervisor
- Ask: “Is this the best approach? Any suggestions?”
- Correct direction > Perfect execution.
- Supervisors see you as “coachable but error-free.”
- Learn Your Supervisor’s Work Style
- Compare how you’d handle tasks vs. their actual methods.
- Analyze time, difficulty, and roles in each step.
- Understand workflows and stakeholder responsibilities.
Conclusion
Before starting any task:
- Pause and breathe.
- Write down a plan.
- Define the ideal outcome.
- Strategize the best path.
- Confirm direction with your supervisor if needed.
This approach may seem slower initially, but it saves time, effort, and guarantees better results long-term.