I am of a generation of planners and analyzers
(But we sometimes fall prey to "Commerce-tipation"
And we are living in an era when the old rules no longer apply. I love the Pepsi Max "Wake Up People" ads, and often think of them when I'm dealing with business folk who are tethered to their old rituals, oblivious to the changes happening around them, and paralyzed by over-analysis and inertia. I call it commerce-tipation. Caffeine and ginseng are not the only cures, however.
Admittedly, I often move TOO fast (and in doing so can make mistakes or annoy the hell out of people who need a few extra minutes). But we are living in a world (and economic era) when moving quickly and acting on decent (but not perfect) information can still make a big difference in business results.
There is even scientific evidence that thinking quickly makes us happier.
I recently participated in a timed group exercise. It was interesting to see how we all started freaking-out when we realized we only had 5 minutes left to complete the task. Panic, whining, and frantic gestures ensued. But we all got it done (quite well, I might add). Having a hard-stop deadline can be liberating. It forces people to choose the best option at the time and move on to something else (perhaps something even more important!)
I'm not advocating irresponsible frenzy or knee-jerking. But life is relatively short. Even with modern science on your side, you're lucky if you can get 8-10 good decades in.
Don't become one those old slow folks who get trampled by the competition or by people on the street. Don't let the next big thing pass you by because you were busy chewing it over (and then chewing it over again). Turn your mental treadmill up a notch or two every day and you won't get left in the dust.
- Set aggressive deadlines, write them down, and stick to them. Reward yourself for achieving your goals
- Hang-out with people who move faster than you do
- Read, watch, explore, and see what's happening around you
But, be sure that after the race is over, you enjoy a few minutes of cool-down time, breathe deep, look back at the race course, and have a refreshing beverage (another Pepsi Rush, perhaps?).
Fast-moving animals (Pretend you're one of them)
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