When you cut the corner in a Formula 1 qualification, there’s a monitor that detects you have cut a corner. Your lap time will be deleted, as the impact that it made: Let’s say pole position is taken from you.
When you cut corners in the race, you get a warning and then a penalty.
There are so many opportunities to cut corners, and sometimes we focus too hard on impact that we want to make. Then we do.
Cutting corners is most certainly always faster.
Here’s something: if the just impact is your goal: cut corners.
If there’s any nuance, even just one: choose the safe path.
The shortcut will probably be less safe, has a higher risk, makes some people complain, and be a solution that fulfills a short time need.
And moreover: everyone can cut corners.
Not everyone can solve interesting problems in a sustainable way, and make progress and impact at the same time.
You can.