Neil Cherry:
I get in a lot of trouble when I'm engineering something because before I start doing, I start planning.
T.J. Watson Sr said it best. "THINK". There are youtube videos where he explains that motto. Not "think first" or "think ahead". Just "think". Think about what you're doing before doing it. Solve the problem, don't just make a program for the sake of writing programs.
I sit down and think first. My boss had a fit with me until I explained that I will be on schedule even though I had physically to show. I find it hard to believe that people can start doing without planning first. So the paper and pen (white board, markers and a camera) are my preferred method of starting a project.
It's those pointy-headed-bosses that cause the crapware we have: folks pounding out pretty pieces that might not fit together, but it's "look busy" and "how many lines of code can you write per day" vs. does it work, is it maintainable, is it optimized or other goodness-o-meter things.