I like doing things quickly. I speak quickly, I think quickly (most of the time), I like things to move at a faster-than-steady pace.
My day to day involves a lot of deadlines, many of which are coming at me at high speed.
Over the last few months I’ve had to slow down, though. Years of bad posture at my desk, not stretching regularly and using my neck to do more than it was designed to (i.e. leading every activity of lifting a weight whether a bar bell or a suitcase with my neck), I managed to cause myself a little damage and some pain — which really slowed me down towards the end of last year.
So, since January I haven’t had much choice other than to slow down. I’m being rebuilt, if you like.
Until recently my recovery gym training consisted of very slow movements designed to build deep strength. I’ve had to stop typing on my computer like a nutcase and recalibrate, reposition myself at my desk so that I’m not in pain, to get up and walk around. To loosen my neck. I’ve even invested in a standing desk at home and my Apple watch reminds me to stand up and take a break every hour.
It’s a drag, to be honest. But it’s taught me a few things.
Sometimes, in order to go faster, I need to slow down.
When I train at the gym (Crossfit Ignite Sydney), many of our workouts are timed and the idea is the get the best result in the shortest amount of time.
In business, I am driving by deadlines that aren’t always flexible. When we schedule an event, it’s coming towards us closer each day, and so there’s an urgency to complete things. This has worked and has allowed us to achieve many great things.
But…
The most powerfully effective projects that I’ve completed over the last year have been ones where I’ve given myself the time to:
- Envision the intended outcome
- Consult mentors, our Advisory Board and the ABN team
- Create a detailed plan of execution (broken up by priorities and time-lined to the week!)
- Hitting the ‘go’ button when the time was right
Slowing down has allowed me to be really focused on the projects and actions that are the highest leverage for the business and will produce the best outcomes – most profitable, most reach, most impact. I’m probably still prone to typing so hard and fast that I wear the lettering off my keyboard, and my strength at the gym is almost back to what it was pre-Christmas — but I’m moving and acting smarter, more deliberately, and getting further ahead.
