Shortcuts to Nowhere (Starring Traffic, Startups, and Dilbert)
by Vinayakam Murugan, Chief Everything Officer
Sustainable growth is never a solo sprint.
It only happens when you help others around you grow.
How many times have you seen people weaving in and out of traffic in Bengaluru or Mumbai… only to find them right beside you at the very next signal?
I’ve always wanted to tap them on the shoulder and ask - “So… what exactly did you achieve?” 🙂
That’s the thing about shortcuts. They feel faster, but more often than not, you’re just burning fuel, goodwill, time - and peace of mind, yours and the ones surrounding you as well.
And in the end, you still end up at the same red signal as the others.
Business isn’t very different.
When growth is driven by “me first” thinking, everyone eventually gets stuck.
But when we choose the right way - even if it feels slower in the moment - the whole system moves faster.
That line, “The right way is the only way,” came from my CEO for the longest tenure, Anil Nanavati. And he didn’t just say it - he lived it.
It’s true in leadership.
And it’s definitely true in software development.
Because let’s be honest — we always have a workaround handy.
Comments like “ Temporary Fix; Refactor when stable” or “To be fixed later” sound harmless at the time.
But 3 years down the line, I’m staring at the code thinking - “Why on earth did we put this in?” 🤦
That’s the thing about growth, leadership, traffic jams… and even code.
Take the shortcut, and everyone gets stuck.
Do it the right way, and everyone moves forward.
Shortcuts are usually the longest route.