Do it Before it Needs to be Done

This is the second installment in my series on the company values of MakeStickers. You can read the first here, and learn about the simple but radical approach we take with our policies to show empathy for our customers.

Think of time as a conveyor belt, and all the things you need to do as pieces of chocolate. All things being equal, would you rather be grabbing chocolate off the beginning of the conveyor belt or the very end, right before it falls to the ground?

It’s the same amount of work to stand at the beginning vs. the end of the conveyor belt — chocolates come out at the same rate no matter where you stand. The only difference is when you stand at the beginning, there’s little risk that a chocolate will fall to the ground.

This is why we’re strong believers in the value of “do it before it needs to be done.”

Of course, no matter where you stand, if the chocolates come at a rate faster than you can package them, you’re done for. But at least it makes for a great comedy scene.

Give yourself breathing room

Doing things before they need to be done is perhaps the best way to prepare for the unexpected. By not doing something now, you’re betting that you’ll still be able to do it later, but how safe is that bet? The riskier the bet, the more you should do it now rather than later.

Doing something sooner also gives you an opportunity to fix mistakes. What if you aren’t happy with the result? It’s better to have the option to try again.

And sometimes you don’t really know what’s invoiced in a project or task until you start. A 30 minute project could require a tool or part that takes days to arrive.

Whatever the case, starting early is the best defense against all uncertainties you face.

Lower your stress level

Because doing it before it needs to be done gives you more opportunity to cope with unexpected problems, you’ll have less stress. It’s the key to being very productive but not stressed out.

Enjoy your down time more

You can’t really enjoy yourself if you’re procrastinating. That paper or pile of laundry will…