No matter how big the project or how far away the end goal is, human nature compels us to keep going until get it done. It’s no surprise we are geared this way — we live in a crazy, competitive world where the first one over the finish line wins the prize. That desire to be first drives us ever faster. But the downside of rushing headlong into an endeavor is the heightened potential for running full speed into missteps that would have been apparent had we taken the time upfront to guard against them. In other words, you need to go slow to go fast.
Going slow to go fast means taking incremental steps, stopping to ask questions, checking in, and course-correcting progress (or lack of it). It means taking extra time in the early stages of a project. It may seem counterintuitive, but this strategy will more than make up for time lost to get it right.