Shortcuts are never advisable but the most efficient path always is.
No doubt we’ve all been humbled by a shortcut that turned into the long way around. Shortcuts, the attempt to skip over critical elements in a process to achieve the end more quickly, always results in a compromised foundation. The various stakeholders in the recent oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico, for example, are under investigation to determine if any shortcuts were taken in the construction of the various components of the mobile offshore drilling unit (MODU) that exploded and caught fire three weeks ago. Shoddy concrete work, suspicious and anomalous readings in the pressure data in the days before the incident, leaks and weaknesses in the blowout preventer and more are suspected, but nothing at this point is certain.
Efficiency, on the other hand, is always desirable. Efficiency implies a wise use of resources, including time, money, physical effort, mental exertion, and a truly efficient process, like Snickers, satisfies. An efficient golf swing, for example, sends the ball to its destination with beauty, grace and ease. Efficiency is different than shortcuts in that an efficient process contains all the the steps necessary to achieve a firm and sustainable foundation.
An article in Wired.com noted that running barefoot is likely more efficient than running in shoes. It may also reduce injuries. Imagine that? If you are a runner I recommend that you check it out: http://www.wired.com/wiredscience/2009/07/barefoot/.
Much of horse training is concerned with the matter of efficiency. Whatever the goal – a smooth canter, a good jumping style, greater collection – the efficient approach would be to master the basics and to build a firm foundation, whereas the shortcut approach would call for stronger artificial aids to give the appearance of getting the job done quickly.
In the medical industry the protocol-based approach is often more shortcut than efficiency. An individualized, holistic and integrated approach is more desirable and more effective in the long-term, but we have become a people addicted to shortcuts. Likewise, our diet has fallen victim to the shortcut mentality. Fast food. A shortcut par excellence.
Think about the approach you take in everything that you do. Mindlessly following a well-worn path of shortcuts may appear to be the best or even the only way to go, but as I have said before, expediency versus integrity brings failure. Sustainability comes as there is a firm foundation. Whether it be your friendships, your work or your play, you just can’t beat a firm foundation.
Shortcuts are never advisable, but the most efficient path always is.
Gregory Hake 
The running example is a good one. For a new runner to add on miles too quickly (taking a shortcut), results in burning out or getting some injury like shin splints. But to add on miles too slowly can stagnate your progress. Like anything, I think it’s better to ease on the side of doing it the long way, and then become more and more efficient as you become better at the activity.
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Great article! Runners incur a lot of injuries based on taking shortcuts (myself included, which has forced me to change my cardio of choice) – perfect illustration of your point.
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Road Trip really is a funny movie! I have found that short cuts often cause so many more problems than they are worth. In dealing with the human body, it is dangerous to take short cuts, especially when you are training or exercising and trying to reach a goal. The body never lies and will always tend to blow out when the right strength foundation has not been built. The core or midsection is often overlooked when the desire is to have nice legs, or strong arms. Without core strength, no matter how beautiful the body seems to appear, it will not be sustainable. I have learned the hard way in many areas of my life to stop taking short cuts and learn to be efficienct. This has saved me some pain and alot of time, and there is still room to grow in this area. Thanks! Love the shoes!
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The film ‘Road Trip’ is not overly filled with great messages, but there is one scene in it where the protagonists take a short cut and end up getting in a real mess.
One guy asks ‘Why is this (short cut) so hard, I thought it was going to be easy?’, the other guy says ‘The is why is called a short cut, if it was easy it would just be… THE WAY’
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That’s funny. I haven’t seen the movie but that’s a great line!
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