The same applies to most projects. When I started in IT I would frequently run projects over my head and then have to do a lot of backtracking wasting time. N

The same applies to most projects. When I started in IT I would frequently run projects over my head and then have to do a lot of backtracking wasting time. Now, whenever I need to do something I don't know exactly how to, I first run a bunch of test projects to learn the ropes on small and manageable examples and only then attempt the large project. I like to think that in almost all cases doing the small example projects and the project take less time than if I started with the large project right away. The only complaint is that managers do not always see it this way and they want to see constant progress.