Slow down to speed up?

Run, run, run. Multitask. Hurry up. Go, go go. That seems to be the mantra wherever you happen to look these days. Everyone seems to be in such a hurry to get nowhere. However, does all of this seemingly mindless scurrying about really achieve what needs to be achieved in the end? Is the quality of the endeavor less because of all the speed? How many entrepreneurs and small business owners are working 60 hours a week or more and don’t feel like they are gaining any ground? The answer just might be that you need to slow down to speed up.

• Multitasking, of course must be avoided at all costs. While your intense activity may seem like you are getting a lot done, you are, in reality, getting very little done. It is all about focus. When you focus on several things at once you really aren’t focused on any one thing at all. The quality of the work is quite poor and the quantity of work, when actually measured, is every little. Focus on one project or task at a time and, by slowing down in this way, both the quality and the quantity of your work will soar.
• Other advantages of slowing down is improved sleep, health and clarity of mind. Time for reflection offers a chance to actually see where you are and to make needed adjustments. Speed also implies not being present. Not being present can cause accidents and, of course, if you go all out all of the time, it will only be a matter of time before you fall ill or worse.
• Lastly, the reason to slow things down in order to make more steady and solid gains is the toll excess speed takes on your emotions. Too much speed means you are constantly focused on a future that never comes. Only right now ever comes. This will cause some severe anxiety to make its presence felt as well as anger and even rage. Your emotional stability is key to your performance and success. If you find that stress, anxiety and anger keep creeping up on you, then you will know that you are traveling too fast. In the end, less speed may mean a healthier future for yourself, your loved ones, your employees, and your company.

-Written by Kevin Sawyer