[VikingCoder]

Step 1) Do the dumbest possible thing that will solve your current problem. Try to explain it clearly so that other people will understand what you did and why, but don't spend effort on being clever.

Step 2) Assess whether this is good enough, if so, move on to the next problem. If not, think hard and do something smarter.

[shortstuffsushi]

Maybe not dumbest, but do what comes to mind. Solve the problem. Then determine if you've done it right.