The Challenge Rambles and riff raff about all this and that

If I had know then what I know now

How many times do we find ourselves asking what would a project look like if one would of started it knowing as much as we do when ending it? For me it happens on every single task I commit myself to. Sometimes it appears as a slight frustration, on other occasions it is a haunting feeling that comes too darn close to a sentiment of failure.

Quite recently I've been working on a project that required a steep learning curve. "Vertical" would be more accurate way to call it.

From scratch there was a certain technical issue (ahem... implementation) that I felt had to be solved on a certain way. The "experts" suggested a different approach to what I thought would be the best way out of the conundrum. "They have to know better" I thought to myself. I gave in and a solution was put in place. Now it turns the "solution" is a problem in itself. I was right, and that is what bugs me most.

In retrospective it is easy to say "I wish I had done that", but I think it is natural to trust on those who (allegedly?) know better. If I found myself in a similar position today I would probably do almost the same.

Where's the learning in this fable then? Keep your options open. Trusting experts is a good thing, but if you think the answer is different from what's suggested make sure you have the path open to get things done your way.