The Lost Art of Slowing Down

I get the feeling that the fable of The Tortoise and the Hare should deeply offend our modern sensibilities—at least if you look at the way we operate and the pace at which we skip, zip, and fleet to the next distracting activity.

We live in the world of the Hare.

We are so busy. Our moments are full. Our margin is zapped. We have more shortcuts, cheat codes, and AI tools than we could possibly employ to reach the goals we have (presumably) set. Thanks to video conferencing, our meetings are planned down to the minute, and our calendars are stacked. Any extra moments are easily consumed by the technology monster in our pocket.

Activity? Yes.
Progress? Maybe.

The tortoise, on the other hand, had a single aim and a patient pursuit of that mission. Less activity, but steady progress. And that made all the difference.

We tend to overestimate how much we can accomplish in a day or week—but underestimate how much we can accomplish in a year. Marginal productivity, compounded over time, yields significant results.

The problem isn’t just that we’re busy; it’s that our busyness often leads to distraction rather than real progress. The Hare’s fatal flaw wasn’t his lack of speed—it was his inability to stay focused.

Certain pursuits force us to embrace patience, whether we like it or not. They remind us that true mastery isn’t rushed. Here are a few examples:

• Surfing
• Smoking a brisket
• Sitting near the edge of a field waiting for a deer to step out
• Gardening
• Mastering a new craft
• Running a small business
  

You can’t speed up the growth of the tomatoes in your garden any more than you can make the next wave come sooner. (But that doesn’t mean we won’t try anyway.)

Surfing isn’t about willing the next wave to swing your direction; it’s about mastering the skills to catch the wave when it does come—and putting yourself in the right position when it arrives. Yes, it’s about reading the environment around you and reacting to it, but you have to do the work to be in position in the first place.

People often ask me how we were able to land a collaboration with a globally respected brand like Porsche. My answer? We’ve been stubbornly paddling in the same direction for 16 years. The opportunity didn’t just appear—we put ourselves in position through years of consistency, craftsmanship, and commitment to our values.

How do you foster patience in your craft? Get clear about what the goal is, then practice the art of patient pursuit. Maybe smoking a brisket next Sunday will help you adopt a more patient mindset. Or settling into the slow, methodical rhythm of the surf lineup on an uncrowded morning. Plant some tomato seeds in the garden box and wait for the day when you can make fresh salsa.

The pace of the natural world is slow. Speed is often an illusion—real progress moves at the pace of nature. 

What if the real shortcut to success is slowing down? What if patience, not speed, is the competitive edge we’re all missing?

P.S. Even the sheer length of the article is offensive in 2025. Allow yourself permission to slow down to a more natural pace this week. Thank you for extending a bit of your time and patience on this personal reflection. I need this reminder as much as the next guy.