It's funny how often we skip the simple stuff to save time, only to make more work later. I see this when people cook without measuring, then wonder why the recipe fails, or plant a garden without any plan. That story pole idea is like using a tape measure or sketching first. These little tools save so much frustration.
Came across a study on why plans fail, and it stuck with me. They said skipping basic steps is a huge reason, like not checking measurements before cutting wood. In cooking, that's why recipes stress mise en place, getting everything ready first. It feels slow, but it actually speeds things up by avoiding mistakes. Your mileage may vary, but I've found that to be true almost every time.
Oh man, that is so true. I see it all the time with measurements, like when someone just eyeballs it instead of using a tape measure. They might save twenty seconds, but then the whole piece is wrong and they have to start over. That actually adds an hour to the job, easy. Doing it right the first time is always faster, even when it feels slow at the start.