I like the sentiment, but, as with all advice, moderation is key. The failure mode here is "analysis paralysis", where you get so caught up doing the preparatio

I like the sentiment, but, as with all advice, moderation is key. The failure mode here is "analysis paralysis", where you get so caught up doing the preparation that you forget to actually do the work. A good example is writing. By all means, do research and create an outline prior to writing. But never ever confuse research and outlining for the writing itself. Preparation is key, but so is just buckling down and doing the damn work. As Steve Jobs put it so well: "Real artists ship". EDIT: Another common failure pattern that I've noticed (and personally fallen into) is spending more time figuring out todo/task tracking systems than actually doing work. The todo system is only a tool. The only measure of its value is in whether you actually get tasks done faster with the system than without. It doesn't matter if you "feel" more organized as a result; it's far better to feel disorganized, but finish projects than it is to have everything squared away... have nothing accomplished at the end of the day/week/month.