Sprinting and Strolling

We live in a world obsessed with speed. 

“Go fast and break things.” 
“First to market wins.” 
“Hustle harder.”

Sometimes, that’s what we need to do.

Sprint when feedback matters more than perfection.
Sprint if it’s a two-way door decision. 
Sprint if you need the momentum to fuel the team. 

But if you’re sprinting in the wrong direction, you might not get to where you want to go. Sometimes, we should stroll a bit.

“Measure twice. Cut once.”
“Haste makes waste.”
“Well begun is half done.”

Stroll if the stakes are high and failure is permanent. 
Stroll if it’s a one-way door decision.
Stroll when reflection creates insight. 

It’s not all or nothing, however. Fast and slow aren’t enemies. They’re partners. 

If you’re a leader, get good at knowing how and when to shift gears.

Sprint to learn. Stroll to decide.