Slowing down often feels counterintuitive to those of us who are in the midst of chasing after dreams and successes.
This is because we have been conditioned as a society to perceive a "deceleration" as a luxury or reward, something earned after we have expended maximum effort, or have attained a certain status in life. However, what is crucial for us to understand, is that slowing ourselves down is fundamental to optimal performance; not a reward, but an essential element of sustainable success.
The reason why people do not perceive slowing down as essential is because they feel that they are not capturing the opportune moments of their day, the "carpe diem", so to speak. They feel that they are wasting excellent opportunities by breaking momentum that would have otherwise built up into life's maximum operating efficiency.
However, if we were to ponder on this - there is only so much that can be done even by machines in the short term, that when expended over a longer period, will lead to a break down. By the time you realise that you have hit an impasse or a plateau in growth, you will probably be too burnt out to realise the need to shift gears. And what you do not do manually for yourself in slowing down, life will come at you in auto mode to shift the gears down for you - in the form of a lifestyle reset - mentally, emotionally, medically, physically, whatever you call it.
Think of your life as one that is akin to investing, where the old adage goes - "it is not timing the market but time in the market" - where you will realise the power of compounding and building on your gains. In this sense, you cannot rush to compound. Compounding requires time - doing things in the pace they are meant to be done.
There is an old Chinese folktale about a boy who was called upon to plant beansprout seeds and to eventually harvest beansprouts when the time was right. He was diligent in planting those beansprouts and on the first day, completed the task. He was up the next morning and started watering the plantation. By day 2, he saw no progress in terms of growth. Then by day 3, when he saw the seedlings emerge from the ground, he decided that they were doing things a little too slowly. He started to engage in speeding up the process, and started to give each and every seedling a little pull from the top in the hope that they will grow faster. By the 4th day, all the seedlings died from his tugs and pulls.
The secret sauce to success in life is not speed, but grit and endurance.
Ask the 100m runners - when they are racing ahead, they become narrowly focused and everything else around them becomes a blur. However, when we consider a longer-distance runner who has a greater latitude to complete his race, the world around him becomes clearer in focus. Things that would have been missed in the 100m dash can be seen in a 1.5km jog. By reducing your frantic pace, you make faster progress, because your actions become more deliberate and aligned.
So how can we integrate this mindset into our lives? Here are 3 quick keys to achieve a "slow down to speed up" mentality:
1. Take More Breaks
The power of breaks lies not just in stepping away from work but in resetting our mental and physical energy. For instance, if you're writing a chapter of a book, a five-minute break could involve doing something completely unrelated to the content—stretching, walking outside, or even reading a page from a novel. This quick reset allows your mind to process what you've been working on in the background, often sparking new ideas or insights when you return.
Similarly, for financial traders who are traversing the markets, stepping away after a particularly intense session allows your emotions to settle, leading to more balanced decision-making when you come back.
Instead of thinking of breaks as interruptions, reframe them as critical moments to recharge. Meditate by finding a quiet corner of your home, a nearby park, or simply closing your eyes and taking deep breaths. These small pauses can turn your work from chaotic and rushed to smooth and efficient.
2. Say More "Nos"
In the fast-paced environment of running a business or managing demands, saying "no" feels like leaving money or opportunities on the table. However, learning to say "no" creates the space for projects that align more deeply with your values or have the highest long-term impact.
Let’s say a client requests a rush project that doesn’t fit your business direction. Instead of feeling obligated to accept, ask: “If this project were starting today, would I want to prioritize it over my other commitments?” If not, decline it graciously.
By embracing this filter, you say yes to what truly matters: projects that allow for creativity, your children's needs, or personal growth, like focusing on your book or trading development. In trading, it's crucial too—saying no to unnecessary risks or impulsive trades keeps you aligned with long-term strategies.
3. Cut More Mediocre Items Out
Multitasking can tempt you when managing various roles. You might think handling several tasks at once increases your productivity, but in reality, it divides your focus and diminishes your results. Instead, adopt a focused approach.
For example, dedicate an uninterrupted block of time to what you are currently doing, without toggling between emails or other distractions. In your business, apply this by focusing on one key project at a time, delivering exceptional results. If you are a financial trader, give each market analysis or trade decision your full attention—review the data thoroughly without distraction. The result will be quality over quantity, and your productivity will skyrocket as the depth of your work improves.
To Conclude
In the relentless pursuit of success, it is easy to fall into the trap of believing that more effort, more hustle, and more busyness will lead to more results. But the paradox of performance is clear: slowing down doesn’t mean falling behind.
Rather, it is the key to sustaining long-term success. By taking strategic breaks, learning to say "no", and cutting out mediocre tasks, we shift from a scattered, hurried existence to a focused, deliberate approach.
When we embrace the philosophy that we will "speed up by slowing down,” we unlock the power and deliberate space to think deeply, act wisely, and grow exponentially. It’s not about cramming more into our days, but about doing fewer things better. Success is not about speed or intensity, but about longevity, clarity, and the ability to stay in the game long enough for compounding to work its magic.
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