Notes on my approach
I have a few guidelines for working through a project and it’s good to review and revise them on occasion to keep them relevant. The most recent additions (#1 and #6) are adapted from a similar list of guidelines I have for household projects, which I expanded last year after a difficult kitchen sink replacement. By now, I have internalized them pretty well, but still, it’s a good idea to read through this list at the start of any project.
Review the entire file before you begin making changes
Don’t mess with anything you don’t understand
Archive the original file and save the working file frequently
Handle change requests from end to front to avoid disrupting slide numbering
Before you do anything substantial, duplicate the slide you’re working on.
Avoid beginning a project when you are tired
Always make sure you can drop what you’re doing in less than a minute in case something unexpected happens
Be willing and be able to delegate
If you’re upset, take a break
The first rule also comes from work around the house — when assembling furniture, I found most of my mistakes could have been avoided if I simply knew what I would have to do in subsequent steps. Now I read instructions all the way through first, then I begin.
#2 is applicable around the house too — you can avoid having to repair or replace things if you leave them alone. But this guideline informs my work a great deal: I find it saves time and increases productivity if I ask questions about slides I don’t understand and work on other slides while waiting for an explanation. Get too involved working on something you don’t understand, and you risk ruining it and wasting billable time in the process.
#4 I am pretty proud of. There is seldom any good reason not to start at the end and work backwards and the headache-fighting power of this rule is magnificent.
#6 and #9 are applicable when you have the luxury of time. Fatigue multiplies the risk of making mistakes and when annoyed or angry, it is impossible for me to do my best work. In such cases, it’s best for everyone concerned if I spend some time away, coming back to the work later. After resting or being able concentrate on something else, I frequently return to the task at hand with a new insight that results in a better result.
Photo by Hal Gatewood on Unsplash