Two years ago, I found myself in Mexico, working on a project with Nissan. Yes, the same company you think of when you see those cars on the road. We were setting up a new software system for their warehouse, and it was one of the most intense things I’ve ever worked on.

At Nissan, the warehouse keeps everything running. It’s where all the parts move through before they reach the factory. If the warehouse even hiccups, the entire production line grinds to a halt. The stakes were so high that no one could afford a single mistake.

Our job was to install the new system, but every time we thought it was ready to launch, something didn’t add up. Maybe a report wouldn’t load fast enough. Maybe inventory updates were lagging. Every little issue sent us back to square one. The managers made it clear—there was zero room for error.

We tested, fixed, and retested until we lost count. Each time felt like a fresh start, but at the same time, it felt like we were walking on eggshells. I couldn’t help but think, “This has to work.”

Eventually, the team got it ready for launch after I had already moved on to another role. But knowing how much effort we poured into making sure the system wouldn’t cause a single slowdown? That was its own kind of satisfaction.

Sometimes, projects like this are a reminder that the real success is in the prep work.