Assume you’ll be back to reuse what you are building

First time analysis or code or construction of any sorts rewards scrappiness. It’s nice to blitz through to find the answer. Who cares if the analysis or code looks clean? Just get the darn thing done.

Over the years, I’ve endured many painful experiences when I have had to come back and re-use what I was building. Hacking through the piece of analysis to get an answer has almost always resulted in me having to rebuild it from scratch.

Do it right the first time if you can. If you can’t, do it with a good process so you can come back and pick up from where you left of – you’ll thank yourself later.