Happy 2025! This year let’s resolve to NOT take shortcuts.
I recently came upon this sight in a nearby alley: detached chunks of wood hanging from power lines. I can’t stop thinking about it, because it’s the perfect metaphor for the danger of shortcuts.
As you can see, whoever removed the tree decided not to take on the full challenge, likely for safety concerns. However, I was informed that professional arborists have several options depending on the complexity of the job and whether the lines are high or low voltage. Working with the impacted utility company, you can usually find an effective way to free or replace the wires.
But that’s not what happened here. Maybe they didn’t perform a pre-work inspection. Maybe the tree service lacked the requisite experience. Or perhaps the homeowner was cheap and didn’t want to involve the utility or wait until the job could be properly finished.
Will these trunks eventually rot away or pull down the lines on a windy day? No one knows. But whoever owns this home and lives on the block will face an extended game of Russian (tree) roulette. The problem persists, with the risks multiplied.
I often see the equivalent in business, especially after joining a new organization. While not dangling overhead, the signs are there. Poorly designed CRM flows or fields, hastily constructed and forgotten web pages, and marketing campaigns launched quickly but without proper tracking (feel free to add your own examples below).
These all represent short-term thinking that places the burden upon those who follow. Your team will eventually pay the productivity costs of hastily devised solutions. As a leader, or someone who aspires to be one, it’s critical to show that you can think several steps ahead like a chess master. Resolve to solve the issues in the moment rather than leave them for the next project, quarter, or employee.
If you feel hurried to produce a short-term outcome, recognize it and then take a beat to think about the long-term consequences. Instead of a one-off approach, can you create a reusable template from your work? Can you build in aspects that are scalable and flexible rather than fixed?
Also be aware that some shortcuts can cheat you of personal and professional growth. An overreliance on AI for creating messaging and communications can deprive you of the opportunity to become a better writer and strategic thinker. Or if you’re reusing competitive marketing materials to save time, you may also be propagating outdated information that can make you look uninformed. Train yourself to slowly and carefully reread and question the accuracy of your content.
So in 2025, I say yes, work quickly and effectively, even if it’s not 100% perfect. But when you recognize a challenging entanglement that could put you at future risk, don’t sidestep it just because it’s hard. Address it now, involve others who can help, and complete the job like the pro you are.
Happy 2025! This year let’s resolve to NOT take shortcuts.
I recently came upon this sight in a nearby alley: detached chunks of wood hanging from power lines. I can’t stop thinking about it, because it’s the perfect metaphor for the danger of shortcuts.
As you can see, whoever removed the tree decided not to take on the full challenge, likely for safety concerns. However, I was informed that professional arborists have several options depending on the complexity of the job and whether the lines are high or low voltage. Working with the impacted utility company, you can usually find an effective way to free or replace the wires.
But that’s not what happened here. Maybe they didn’t perform a pre-work inspection. Maybe the tree service lacked the requisite experience. Or perhaps the homeowner was cheap and didn’t want to involve the utility or wait until the job could be properly finished.
Will these trunks eventually rot away or pull down the lines on a windy day? No one knows. But whoever owns this home and lives on the block will face an extended game of Russian (tree) roulette. The problem persists, with the risks multiplied.
I often see the equivalent in business, especially after joining a new organization. While not dangling overhead, the signs are there. Poorly designed CRM flows or fields, hastily constructed and forgotten web pages, and marketing campaigns launched quickly but without proper tracking (feel free to add your own examples below).
These all represent short-term thinking that places the burden upon those who follow. Your team will eventually pay the productivity costs of hastily devised solutions. As a leader, or someone who aspires to be one, it’s critical to show that you can think several steps ahead like a chess master. Resolve to solve the issues in the moment rather than leave them for the next project, quarter, or employee.
If you feel hurried to produce a short-term outcome, recognize it and then take a beat to think about the long-term consequences. Instead of a one-off approach, can you create a reusable template from your work? Can you build in aspects that are scalable and flexible rather than fixed?
Also be aware that some shortcuts can cheat you of personal and professional growth. An overreliance on AI for creating messaging and communications can deprive you of the opportunity to become a better writer and strategic thinker. Or if you’re reusing competitive marketing materials to save time, you may also be propagating outdated information that can make you look uninformed. Train yourself to slowly and carefully reread and question the accuracy of your content.
So in 2025, I say yes, work quickly and effectively, even if it’s not 100% perfect. But when you recognize a challenging entanglement that could put you at future risk, don’t sidestep it just because it’s hard. Address it now, involve others who can help, and complete the job like the pro you are.
Just say no to shortcuts.