Slow Down to Speed Up

Most people can’t keep up with the rate of change these days. Recent studies show that ⅘ people struggle to keep up with change and the other ⅕ is probably exaggerating about their confidence in it.

The study was on AI, but between that, competitive threats, global instability and everything else – we don’t have to get caught up in this rat race to “keep up”. But instead, pause and ask ourselves some fundamental questions to grow. 

How we perceive and respond to the world around us directly impacts our growth and the culture we contribute to. If we get lost chasing the chaos of change, we’ll end up burned out, dissatisfied and ironically performing at a slower rate. It’s an attractive trap at best and will drown your results (and maybe you) at worst. 

As one of my mentors used to say and as ironic as it may seem, we’re required to slow down to speed up. Slow down to ask… 

Who are we? And how are we showing up? …amidst that change. 

It’s not just a luxury; it’s a necessity. This self-awareness allows us to align our values, update our beliefs and focus our actions. 

In this fast-paced world of keynote speaking and thought leadership that I’m in, I’ve been navigating this process myself recently. Slowing down from all the buzz about AI, innovation, the future of work, self-leadership… and asked those same questions: who am I? And how am I showing up? 

Revisiting years of research, considering all the wild growth modalities I’ve experimented with and looking at my most impactful client work, I realized that my answer to both has shifted – something I’ll share with you next week (cliffhanging I know!).

It wasn’t an easy process though and it wasn’t a fast process, but it’s more real, more connected and (at least from our early work with clients) more impactful. 

It’s not the speed we’re moving at, it’s the depth. From there, this crazy rate of change doesn’t have to be daunting.

Of course, it's important to stay informed about the latest trends, technologies, and tools, it's equally crucial to engage in the real work of self-reflection and growth.

By updating our understanding of who we are and how we present ourselves to the world, we can stay grounded amidst the chaos.

And it’s only from a grounded place that we can create meaningful connections, do work that matters and produce breakthrough results to grow – #NoMatterWhat.