Grimrock

I press the button away from the pillar, then run to the west side of the pillar... then run around to the east side, then the south side... how the heck do you get over to the north side to press it? There just doesn't seem to be enough time

This is one of the tougher things you have to do. It requires absolute precision and speed on your part. There is just enough time to get it done. I had to do it many times over to get it just right. Don't waste time turning unless you need to turn to hit the next button. If you're just going for the key to move on in the dungeon you don't need to hit all four buttons. Memorize the exact sequence of commands to get it done. Such as press start button then A, W, W, turn left, W, W, W, press button, and so forth. There really is no trick to this beyond speed and precision. Good luck.

Another thing that might help you: once you clicked on the first button with your mouse, don't move it. So when facing the next button you'll just have to click since the mouse is already pointing at the button.

I think I see the question, but your facings are all wrong, iirc. The first pillar button to push is east side of the pillar, then west side, then north side, then south side. I think you only need to press the east side button the first time, then run clockwise around the back of the pillar and over to the key. Then you can grab the key and TAKE THE TORCH. [Note: I did east, west, and south all the first time, but thought later that this wasn't needed just to get the key.]

The second time, though, you definitely have to do all four buttons. After doing the east, west, and north side buttons, step back, then navigate clockwise around all the pits to the south side button. You MUST have taken the torch earlier, else you'll step back into a hole . This is a long trip to the last button, but you should make it with a microsecond to spare. Be sure to step back (or somewhere) after hitting the final button.