Is Speed The Enemy Of Progress?

‘There is never any hurry on the creative plane, and there is no lack of
opportunity.

Go as fast as you can, but never hurry.

Remember that in the moment you begin to hurry you cease to be a
creator.

Whenever you find yourself hurrying, call a halt.’

~Wallace Wattles

One common phrase I hear from people who just get started in the business is…

“I need to hurry and get some sales as fast as possible.”

Or… ‘I need to make money ASAP.’

Or… ‘I only have X amount of time to make this profitable.’

I totally understand this frame of mind because I’ve slipped in and out of it myself over the years.

I set myself a new and exciting goal that’s important to me and others who will be affected by it and so I start to justify shortcuts…

For example..

Fast invitations via some automatic social media inviter tool with a spirit of rush to get to the money question (and forgetting one of the most important intentions behind any human interaction, which is – how can I serve this person in the best way?)

Hurrying to get off the phone or out of the interaction so I can move onto the next prospect or marketing task because I’ve got goals to achieve and deadlines to meet.

Sloppily throwing together a piece of content so I can have something to send in order to get people back to the capture page or sales page.

These are normal states of mind for human beings and I hold no ill will toward myself or others for slipping into them every now and then.

That being said, it seems to be a good thing, for truth to touch our minds with gentle reminders every so often.

It’s usually not the speed of our work that produces the result and impact we seem to be looking for in life, but rather, the quality of work and the spirit behind it.

The other night my boys were begging to go play some basketball, as they often do.

The living room was scattered with their clothes and toys and little kid garbage.

Of course their bedrooms looked as if a tornado had touched down for a visit.

I saw a teaching moment and asked… ‘Hey boys, you know that wood stove out at grandpa Tim’s?’

‘Ya dad, we know.’

‘How ridiculous would it be for Grandpa to fiercely gaze into the pit of that stove shouting, ‘GIVE ME SOME HEAT!’

‘Pretty silly right?’

They quickly got the lesson.

To get fire, you must put in the wood.

The farmer reaps a great crop only after he’s planted the seeds, cultivated the ground and lovingly nursed the growth along.

It seems to be the same with business.

Maybe it’s good to resist the temptation to shout at the stove of our prospects…

‘Give me the money!’

And instead, take some extra time to ask some questions.

Get to know them.

Find out where they are in life and business.

Are they happy?

Do they have any unfullfilled dreams, goals or desires?

Is there any way we can serve them, with our business, products or otherwise?

In sales and marketing – this is equivalent to tilling the soul, planting the seeds, watering the ground and pulling the weeds.

And it often seems, to do this in the best way, a bit of time and care must be mixed into the process.

Sometimes, maybe it’s good, to slow down a bit, so we can speed up over time, and get the results that make the best kind of difference.

The ones with staying power.

As always, whenever I write or speak words of advice, I’m speaking to myself just as much as I’m speaking to anyone else who may be reading or listening.

We’re all in this together.