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Guidance for: A deadline is close and I haven't started

Triage, then do the ugly minimum

How much runway do you have?

HoursA day or twoA week or more

Start here

Write down the minimum acceptable version in one sentence — the one you'd be slightly embarrassed to hand over. Then start on it.

With this little runway, the good version is no longer on the menu. What's left is a rough finished thing or nothing at all. Take the rough one.

Then, if you have room for it

Define "minimum acceptable" in one written sentence. Held in your head, it drifts upward all afternoon.
Backwards-plan from the deadline in blocks. On paper, where you can see it.
If it genuinely doesn't fit, tell someone now. Early notice costs a fraction of a silent miss.
Cut scope before you cut sleep. Every hour you borrow tonight costs you two tomorrow.

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