Dec 11, 2023

Cutting Corners Leads to More Work

One day, as I passed a construction site, I noticed a slogan similar to the one in the photo. I spontaneously thought, "That's so true," and took a picture. Upon closer inspection of the photo, I noticed it had an explanatory note attached, which led me to search the internet for more details. For further information, please refer to the blog mentioned in the references at the end.

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In truth, I'm someone who never cuts corners. I apply this principle in everything I do, which sometimes annoys those who prefer to take shortcuts, accusing me of putting pressure on them. It's misguided to project the guilt of cutting corners onto those who don't. Therefore, it's disheartening to see students eager to seize any opportunity to slack off.

Indeed, "cutting corners leads to more work." Even in my constant effort to avoid cutting corners, I understand that issues requiring extra attention can still arise. This makes me wonder how much worse things would be if I did cut corners. I'm painfully aware that taking shortcuts only yields results of the same quality. Therefore, choosing to cut corners equates to resigning oneself to subpar outcomes, and this realization should be firmly embraced.

People tend to dislike tedious tasks and, as a result, want to cut corners. They often view those who don't take shortcuts as bothersome and develop an aversion towards them, as if diligent work is something wrong. This mirrors my experience with people accusing me of being a source of pressure. Essentially, they want to take shortcuts but feel guilty about it, so they blame others, redirecting their guilt and potential disdain towards them. A single act of cutting corners can lead to a cycle of compounding faults.

In a previous blog post about the importance of judgment and creativity, I advised parents on creating environments conducive for their children to develop these skills. I wrote, "It may seem bothersome, but please engage with your children's curiosity." That's the thing—education and research are full of tedious, time-consuming tasks. That's precisely why we cannot afford to cut corners. Children raised by cutting corners likely become more troublesome. Doesn't the momentary avoidance of inconvenience by cutting corners lead to far greater, often unsolvable problems later on?

"Cutting corners leads to more work" — this is a principle I want to keep in mind throughout life.

Reference:

https://www.morinaga-net.co.jp/blog/president/post-1937 (Japanese site)