[eluser]myerman[/eluser]
Wow, what a great question. Here are my half-baked thoughts....
1) Put the power of the MVC framework to work for you by doing the right work in the right places.
* Make sure that your models are where you muck around with data. Muck data once in the model, hand it off to controller(s).
* Make sure that its the views that handle display issues. Don't make your views muck data.
* Make the controller(s) the center of your universe.
2) Don't be afraid to have multiple controllers, such that you create a logical "API" for your web app. In the early days, I used to cram as much as I could into one controller, when all I really needed was 2-3 controllers for a more generalized and better organized approach.
3. Leverage every single library and helper you can find. Use the anchor() and form stuff. Learn how to use the HTML helpers, and the security helpers, and validation. A lot of stuff is waiting for you to use and cut time off your daily grind.
4. Don't be afraid to ask silly and/or dumb questions. I burned a lot of daylight trying to macho my way through, when just 2-3 well-placed questions could have saved me a lot of grief.
