In the 1950s, “Made in Japan” was synonymous with shoddy merchandise. In the decades that followed, the Japanese not only shed that stigma, they became a manufacturing powerhouse. How did they achieve that feat and why should you care? Read this before it’s too late.

In essence, different philosophies produced different actions. While the Japanese created business practices and processes to achieve quality excellence before the manufacturing process took place, U.S. companies did the opposite. They added quality control inspectors afterward to find defective products. The rest is history. Japanese products took the world by storm. What can we learn from this lesson? And how can you apply this principle to your daily life?

How often do you fail to do things properly in the first place and find yourself forced to fix them afterward? Think about it…we fail to plan up-front and then act surprised when things go astray; we treat people poorly and are obliged to mend relationships later; we do things quickly and are forced to do them again. Does that sound familiar?

Problems are best addressed before they arise.

Do It Right the First Time

Here are 15 suggestions for a little attention beforehand that can save you a lot of aggravation afterward:

Think before you act. Determine the best way to do something before you begin. Ready, fire, aim is a recipe for disaster.

Make a commitment. Most things in life require sacrifice. If you’re not willing to make the commitment beforehand, don’t complain about the outcome.

Prepare contingency plans. Things rarely go according to plan. Ask yourself, “what-if” questions. When planning life’s journey, always have an alternate route.

Protect your downside. Many people focus on upside potential while disregarding the downside. Protect yourself in case of a calamity.

Think before you speak. Think before you open your mouth. You can’t unring a bell.

Invest in your relationships. It’s easier to treat people properly than to repair broken relationships.

Make your kids self-sufficient. Give your kids a solid education, instill good values, and set them free. As Frederick Douglass, the American statesman, said, “It is easier to build strong children than to repair broken men.”

Embrace a healthy lifestyle. You can’t live an unhealthy lifestyle and expect a healthy outcome.

Live within your means. Keeping up with the Joneses is a high price to pay. When you run out of money, stop buying.

Listen to your conscience. It’s easier to do what’s right than to defend your actions after an indiscretion.

Plan for the inevitable. Some things in life shouldn’t come as a surprise. Don’t wait until it’s too late to save for your kid’s education or your retirement.

Make your money work for you. You work so hard to earn money. If you don’t take the time to invest it properly, it won’t work for you. In addition, save for a rainy day. Don’t wait for a fire to locate the exits.

Manage your resources with care. We all have limited resources. Establish priorities before you waste your resources on frivolous things.

Create good karma. If your thoughts, intentions, and deeds are heartfelt and beneficial to others, they’ll come back full circle — like a boomerang. The same holds true for negative behavior.

Live without regrets. Make your priorities a priority. Life isn’t a dress rehearsal.

Speed at All Costs Can Be Costly

We shoot from the hip, talk before we think, and run full speed ahead before we know where we’re going. And then we act surprised when those actions come back to bite us one day. The truth is, if you spend a little time up-front, you’ll save a lot of aggravation on the back end.

Do it right the first time or be forced to do it again, later.

You may be thinking the world is moving at light speed and you don’t want to get left behind. Ask yourself whether speed at all costs is helping your efforts or holding you back. While it may feel good being busy, it’s taking a toll on you by creating inefficiency, waste, stress, and even regret. Stop for a moment and think — before it’s too late.

Do You Do Things Right In Advance?

Please leave a comment and tell us what you think or share it with someone who can benefit from the information.

Additional Reading:

Do You Listen to Your Conscience?

Reputation: You Can’t Run From Your Shadow

Are You Preparing Your Kids for the Real World?

Karma: Make Your Own Luck

Winging It Through Life

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