💡 The University Lesson I Wish I Had: The Critical Power of Proper Planning

How to find an expert? Very simple: you just need a 3-letter word— H O W.

If you’ve ever felt overwhelmed by a deadline, you’re not alone. We’re taught to hustle but rarely taught to strategize. This is the key realization that separates academic success from real-world expertise. How to find an expert? Very simple, you just need a 3-letter word – how.

In my academic life, I often felt that the emphasis on “using the right methods for planning” was sorely lacking. We are encouraged to plan ahead, but rarely did anyone teach us the most effective strategy to achieve our goal.

I used to believe that working “Fast, Hard, and Accurate” was the definition of capability.

But the professional world changed my mind completely.

I’ve discovered the truth: a true expert starts by thinking about how to approach the task. They choose the most efficient path to reach the goal instead of rushing forward blindly.

Just two months into corporate life, I realized my former mindset was completely wrong. Poor planning ensures you lose half the battle, regardless of the plan on paper.

📉 The Cost of Poor Planning

When a project is not properly planned and structured, it typically spirals into predictable chaos. This is what usually happens:

1. Budget issues start to surface.
2. Manpower or resource allocation proves insufficient.
3. Work assignments become messy and disorganized.
4. The deadline gets extended, then extended again.
5. Ultimately, you may not even be able to deliver the final product 🥶.

Once you reach this point, no amount of hard work can miraculously save the project.

♕ Chess, Life, and Project Management

It reminds me of a game of chess. If you make the wrong move in the opening, every subsequent move will be an uphill struggle. Life is similar, but more complex and forgiving than a chessboard.

A single misstep won’t sink the ship, but it’s the cumulative effect of consistently failing to plan that creates an irreparable, return-impossible scenario.

Success isn’t about how hard you work; it’s about how smart you start.