Speed Kills
The emphasis on speed in the world seems almost as universal as the push to look young. According to a lot of business gurus or coaches, if you’re not fast in your decision-making process, you’re toast. But don’t forget: speed kills.
“Slow down and enjoy life. It’s not only the scenery you miss by going too fast, you also miss the sense of where you are going and why.”
— Eddie Cantor
Host: Tom Hering
Just look at the recent New York Times best-sellers list:”Ready, Fire, Aim” by Michael Masterson, “Blink” by Malcolm Gladwell, “Thinking Fast and Slow” by Daniel Kahneman are a few recent books pushing the idea of being fast.
While I do admit that speed can sometimes help you in your professional life, I see too much emphasis in all kinds of media about making a decision and making it fast.
And too much of this popular speak puts the cart in front of the horse. Instead of thinking carefully about the decision, these speed-freaks tout the merits of “failing fast.”
But I think many mistakes can be avoidable when you take a more deliberate, thoughtful process. Where you carefully weigh all the facts, split the blank sheet of paper with “pros” on one side and “cons” on the other.
And then make an objective, reasonable decision versus one that is subjective and emotional.
Buying a house, proposing to a prospective mate, leaving your job, considering schools for your kids, starting a new business—these are all major decisions. If you were advising a close friend, you would tell him to slow down, take his time and think things through carefully, not as fast as possible.
I firmly believe that life is a marathon, not a sprint. And as Eddie Cantor mentions above, there’s a whole lot more enjoyment in feeling a real sense of purpose versus feeling “rushed” to make a decision.
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Live well.
In my book 51 Life Lessons Every Boomer Male Should Have Learned by Now, I write about key lessons that I believe every evolved boomer male needs to know to make his third act his best. They fall into one of three categories: health, wealth and happiness. Each lesson serves to inspire and motivate you.
