[tigerlily]

This absolutely. Right now I'm reflecting on a couple of my own projects that would have been completed much sooner if I had planned things out more effectively.

Don't let your boss jump out from behind a bush and hand you a task and run. Corner them and determine together exactly what the deliverable is. Define terms of reference, get specific details and get them to name the standards, otherwise you'll be stuck trying to guess.

If you are stuck at a critical juncture, list all the options and get your boss to choose the best one (let it be the course of action you recommend).