There’s an old adage among carpenters: “Measure twice, cut once.” A moment spent verifying a measurement can save the time and frustration of having to re-cut, sand, or replace a board if the size is off by even the smallest amount. Taking shortcuts can literally lead to “short cuts,” which require more time, resources, and expense to fix and make right.

The same idea holds true for pouring a slab of concrete, laying tile, hanging a door, installing cabinetry… and running a business. Sometimes, in the rush to get things done, we all forget to “measure twice” before pushing forward on a project or policy. We think we’re working smarter, when in reality our shortcuts are short-circuiting our efforts and making us spend even more time, energy, and money fixing mistakes we would never have made if we had just taken the time to do it right from the start.

Of course, measuring twice doesn’t mean delaying decisions indefinitely or dragging our heels for fear of making a mistake. That could prove even more harmful than moving too fast. What it does mean is taking a step back, verifying our course, and then moving forward more confidently than before.

So the next time you’re tempted to cut corners, just to get things done, stop for a minute, assess the situation, and make sure those corners aren’t important to the structural integrity of your project before you pull out that blade.