Totally get that smart and dumb feeling at the same time. It's like we're trained to add more, you know? More features, more steps, more rules. The real fix is almost always taking something away, but our first instinct is to pile on. You see it everywhere, not just in code. We make a process at work with ten checks when two would do. We add ten ingredients to a simple meal. Stripping things back feels wrong, like we're not doing enough work. Why is subtraction so much harder than addition?

My buddy swore his gut feeling was enough for leveling cabinets until his boss made him use a laser. Turns out his "perfect" install was visibly sloping once the truth showed up on the wall. Even he had to admit the laser was right after being so stubborn.