In a few cases, the quick way is the easy way – like ripping off a band-aid. In most cases, the quick and the easy involve a trade-off.
The quick way is to start programming as soon as some requirements are presented. The easy way is to figure out the algorithm and its structure first.
The quick way is to drive to work – it requires no planning. The easy way is to take the train. Somebody else does the driving.
The quick way is to throw everything we’ve got at a problem. The easy way is to avoid problems.
The quick way is dirty (“quick and dirty”). The easy way is clean.
Our brain can think quick or think easy. When it thinks quick, it holds only one piece of information at a time. When it thinks easy, it works slower, but it compares several choices to pick the best alternative.
As it should be clear by now, “quick” isn’t always the same as “fast”.
