[wccrawford]

I noticed a few years ago that what set me apart from my junior days was that now when I have a question, I decide what I think the best course of action is, send an email with the question and my choice, along with a statement that I'm proceeding in that direction unless someone stops me, and then start working on it.

Previously, I'd either have no idea what to do with it, or just not work on that thing at all. (Usually I'd move on to something else, since there was seldom that I didn't have multiple things that needed doing.)

It means that I'm a lot more efficient at getting things done, but I never get so far out of the proper path that it's a problem. And even going down the wrong path usually produces something of value for the correct path.

[marktangotango]

Ha, and the next level is; just do it and wait for someone to tell you it's wrong, which they probably won't but you've already argued the alternatives to yourself anyway. So criticism at that point is just opinion and doesn't matter.

[wccrawford]

I don't think I'll ever reach that level. While I'm very confident in my decisions, I'm wrong (at least a little bit) often enough that I always point out when I'm making those decisions.

Quite often I get no response, and just continue. But those time that I do get a response are still important enough that I'm not willing to risk missing them.