Whenever I read a business book, I always think I've got the general gist of it and put it down sometime through.  Otherwise, I read it non-chronologically to get the idea of it.

One time when I read a book though, I decided to break through thinking I'd gotten the gist.  I read the whole thing.  By reading the whole thing, I realised I got the last 20% of the idea the writer wanted me to get.

Similarly, that is my attitude with projects.  Don't just do half of it.  Do the whole thing thoroughly and completely, and that is how you'll get the most out of it.