Why Skipping Steps Feels Fast—But Could Cost You More Later

This blog is for anyone tempted to skip steps or chase shortcuts.

Here’s your reminder:

Fast doesn’t always mean forward,
—And I’ve got a real-life story to prove it.

The mold in my chicken coop showed me something big

It had been raining nonstop in North Carolina — for weeks.

But the weather doesn’t stop my chicken chores. ☔🌧️

My birds still need:

✅ Fresh water,
✅ Food,
✅ And a clean, dry space to live.

So, during a break between showers, I went outside to tidy up. I scooped some poop out their covered living area. Then, I opened the coop door to spot clean inside where they sleep and lay eggs. 

UGHHHHH. 😩

That’s when I saw it—
Mold creeping along one of the coop walls.

And not just on the inside.
Mold was growing outside too.
My stomach dropped.

I knew I’d have to paint the coop soon to weatherproof it. 

But this soon?
Very unexpected.

THE BACKSTORY:

My husband got our coop for 50% off. 

All ready-to-use.
No building required.

The store checked their warehouse for an unboxed coop. 

But the display model was the last one left. 

It had been outside for a few months before we bought it. 

To date, it’s been outside under 18 months (maybe). 

We all try shortcuts—but here’s the truth I couldn’t ignore

Little did I know — the mold?
It was more than just a mess for me to clean.
Turns out, it had something bigger to show me!

Mold isn’t something you can just brush off. 

But with more rain in the forecast,
— My hands were tied. 

So, I did what I could in the moment:

Grabbed a spray bottle 🔫 of vinegar—
that’s supposed to be safe for my chickens,
—And hit the moldy spots. 🚫🦠

🌤️ Then, I waited for the sun.

Why skipping steps feels fast—but costs more

Days later, the rain stopped.
The sun came out.
And so did I.

I came ready to do the real work:

✅ Cleaned the wall
✅ Let it dry completely
✅ Sealed it with stain

The vinegar?
That just bought me time.
But it wasn’t a full fix.

If I skip steps,
the mold could come right back,
— worse than before.

So, I had to:

✅ Pull back
✅ Slow down
✅ And wait

… for the right moment (no rain, more sun). 

Then, I did the hard work—
Even though it took longer,
That way was better.

The slow fix that actually works

The Bible is NOT lying when it says: 

Good planning and hard work lead to prosperity, but hasty shortcuts lead to poverty. — Proverbs 21:5 (NLT)

Some shortcuts work. 

Others don’t. 

They feel faster in the moment but usually are a set up for bigger problems later. 

Maybe you can relate. 

It’s not your chicken coop…

❌ It’s a project
❌ A relationship
❌ Or even your health

You tried a fast fix, only to realize the shortcut is actually sucking life, energy, time, money, and peace from you. 

That means the fast fix wasn’t a fix at all,
— AND it isn’t what you need.
Proving fast doesn’t always mean forward.

Sometimes trying to go fast traps you in cycles—
Circling round-and-round the very thing you’re chasing.

And you know what else?

➜ Steady doesn’t always mean stuck.

➜ Steady can move you closer to your goal than fast ever could. 

Fast can trick you

Fast feels good at the moment.
But fast can trick you.

Because it looks like progress—when really, you’re just lapping the same problem over and over again. Imagine that. 😩😩

Steady, on the other hand?
Steady is what actually moves me forward.

I remember watching a championship football game.

🏈 One team dominated by moving the ball slowly ⸻ AND strategically up the field. When they switched to chasing quick touchdowns, their winning rhythm fell apart. That’s when they went back to what worked—consistent plays that advanced them bit-by-bit.

And that’s how they won.
Little by little. 🏆

SOOOO…

If your pace feels slower than you want,
— maybe it’s not a setback.
Maybe it’s the exact speed God wants for you.

Cause honestly…
Sometimes the only way forward is slower than you like.

And that (my friend) is what mold in my chicken coop showed me.

That’s all for now.
Drop a comment —
I’d love to hear from you. ♡♡♡