P19: The Power of a Slow Race

Reading Time: 5 Minutes

Welcome to Just One Pivot, where we explore how a single shift in perspective can transform our lives. Last week, I wrote about flying higher—pushing ourselves beyond our comfort zones to reach new heights.

But as I sat with that idea this week, I realized something important: many interpret stepping outside their comfort zone as doing more—more work, more commitments, more achievements.

But that’s not the pivot I’m talking about.

Meaningful growth isn’t just about adding. It’s about aligning. It’s about making space for what truly matters, not cramming in more just for the sake of it. Sometimes, the most powerful move isn’t accelerating but slowing down.

For too long, productivity has been equated with speed. The faster we work, the more we produce, the more valuable we believe we are. But what if true productivity, the kind that leads to meaningful—lasting work—has nothing to do with rushing and everything to do with thoughtfulness?

This week, I want to introduce the mindset of Slow Productivity.

PIVOT POINT

Are you moving fast just because everyone else is, or are you moving at the right pace for what truly matters?

THE MENTAL SHIFT

In his book Slow Productivity: The Lost Art of Accomplishment Without Burnout, Cal Newport defines it this way:

It’s not just doing less. It’s about doing what matters in a way that allows us to think deeply and create work that makes a lasting impact. And often, that means slowing down.

The Tortoise Wins

Aesop’s The Tortoise and the Hare has always been one of my favorite fables. In the story, the hare, confident in its speed, challenges the slow-moving tortoise to a race. The overconfident hare races ahead and soon falls asleep, believing there’s no way the tortoise can catch up. Meanwhile, the tortoise continues its slow and steady pace, never stopping or rushing. Eventually, the tortoise crosses the finish line first, proving that persistence and consistency can outpace haste and arrogance.

I relate to the tortoise in this fable more than I care to admit. Many people find it surprising that I’m a Tortoise in the Aesopian way.

I used to feel bad about my “slowness” until a client shifted my perspective with a single compliment. Initially, I hesitated to take on a writing collaboration when I learned the editor expected the copy on an impossible deadline. “I’m a slow writer,” I confessed to my collaborator. Then, I agreed on one condition. We had to push back the due date. When she read my final product, she said,

That’s the goal!

Slow Productivity Takes Courage

I’m a slow reader, a slow writer, and a slow creative in every way. However, I accomplish a lot of high-quality work because I’ve learned to say yes only to what I can do well, or I’m confident I can learn to do well.

And when that was no longer an option, when a role shifted, expectations changed, or I found myself merely checking off boxes—I chose to step away.

I believe that Slow Productivity takes courage. Courage to be yourself and run a race worth running. Tackling work you can be proud of.

PIVOT CHALLENGE

This week, your pivot challenge is: Slow Down.

How? Keep reading.

1. First, choose your race.
   Is your goal to do a lot of work or good work? To love the work you do or grind through it? You already know the answer, of course. Still, you must verbalize it.
   

2. Once you’re clear on the race you want to run, you must prioritize it and make tough choices.

   • What can you eliminate?

   • What can you delegate?

   • What can you postpone?

3. Practice doesn’t make perfect. Practice makes it possible.
   Mastery isn’t about rushing; it’s about consistency. The tortoise didn’t win because it was fast. It won because it kept going. Instead of chasing perfection, focus on steady, deliberate improvement.

TINY SHIFTS

This week, slow down. Be thoughtful. Do less, but do it better. Here are a few practical ways to lean in into slow:

• Swap urgency for depth. Instead of rushing through your next task, take an extra moment to think it through.

• Block thinking time. Set aside 10–15 minutes daily to sit with an idea before acting on it. No multitasking, no rushing—just thinking.

• Read slower and absorb more. Instead of skimming, read one paragraph slowly and reflect. What stands out? What’s worth remembering?

• Pause before saying yes. Before committing to something new, ask: Does this align with what truly matters to me? If not, let it go.

• Embrace a single-tasking moment. Pick one task today and do it without distractions. No emails. No notifications. Just full focus. Notice the difference.

• Reclaim wasted time. Identify one activity that drains your energy without adding value. Can you reduce or eliminate it?

Finally, Slow Productivity isn’t always about slowing the speed or avoiding intensity when specific projects or moments demand it. When you need intensity, for example, this advice from social media consultant Charles Miller on balance is golden:

Until next week,

Maria Keckler, Ph.D.
Author of Bridge Builders: How Superb Communicators Get What They Want

P.S. Had a breakthrough after a pivot? Share your Pivot Stories here. 

P.S.S. I’m celebrating the tenth anniversary of my book, Bridge Builders, with a speaking tour. I’m scheduling new dates now. If you want to discuss how I can help you inspire your group, Send me a note.