Cutting corners
When you cut a corner while driving the outcome and side effects depend on the situation.
The hopeful outcome of the driver is usually to save time and energy. That’s why corners get cut. This outcome is not guaranteed as I will mention later. However, even if the corner is successfully cut and a second or two is saved there is usually a cost, a side effect, that gives the practice its negative connotation.
Scenario 1: crossing lines
If there are lines drawn on the ground, this usually means that the space demarcated could sometimes be occupied by other cars, perhaps parked, or maybe bicyclists. The lines are there to encourage you to avoid the habit of also occupying that space with your moving vehicle. If you cross these lines to shave a few meters off the turn, you have stayed on the road, but gone out of your lane. If you are caught, you will get a ticket. You get fined. You get an expensive warning.
Scenario 2: bush-lined road
If the corner is lined with bushes and you drive through them while courtney cutting, you’ve gone off the road. You’ll still make the turn, but your car’s paint will probably be damaged. Your car’s image will be tarnished. Other drivers will see the damage and question the safety of driving or parking near you. Imagine driving next to a car with a dented front fender. What goes through your mind?
Scenario 3: curb
If there is a cement curb that the corner cutter hops to make the cut, this usually means they’ve driven onto a side walk. This mean pedestrians could be at risk. This likely means tire damage and a car with a flat tire is undriveable.
The worst result of a successfully cut corner is that no negative side effect is perceivable which perpetiates the deepening habit of cutting corners. This habit is a character flaw that eventually leads to disaster.
Carry this over to life:
If you cross the line, and no one gets hurt, you’ll get a warning. Tell a fib. Throw something recyclable in the trash. If someone finds out, they may call you out. If no one sees, you will know, and the lack of integrity is like carrying a weight. Over time, these decisions add up to a load that creates tension and drag in every day living as you have a hard time trusting yourself to do what you think is right which leads to a difficulty trusting others as well. Suspiciom, distrust, and fear limit growth.
If you hit the bushes and scratch the car, this is like your reputation getting tarnished. If people see you as untrustworthy, they will avoid working with you, and you may not even know why. In the modern era of reviews, constant communication, and social media, very few noticeable acts go unnoticed.
If you pop your tire after crushing a curb, you can’t drive. You can’t move forward. You’re out of the game. You’ve burnt the bridge. You must now repair the damage, lose the time, and start again. In business, this is running out of money. In life, this is running out of trust with friends, family, and loved ones. This is losing your health due to controllable factors like what you eat, how you think, how much you sleep, or how often you move.
Corners exist as a boundary that protects others when we make decisions.
They protect our clients when we make products or provide services.
They protect people walking along the road.
They protect the trust we have in ourselves.
Efficiency is conserving resources while achieving a outcome.
Cutting a corner saves time, but also sacrifices the resource of trust.
What separates the wreckless from the professionals is learning to hug the corners without crossing the line.