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“Slow Dance: Have you ever watched kids, On a merry-go-round? Or listened to the rain, Slapping on the ground? Ever followed a butterfly’s erratic flight? Or gazed at the sun into the fading night? You better slow down. Don’t dance too fast. Time is short. The music won’t last. Do you run through each day, On the fly? When you ask: How are you? Do you hear the reply? When the day is done, do you lie in your bed, With the next hundred chores, Running through your head? You’d better slow down, Don’t dance too fast. Time is short, The music won’t last. Ever told your child we’ll do it tomorrow? And in your haste, Not see his sorrow? Ever lost touch, Let a good friendship die, Cause you never had time, To call and say Hi? You’d better slow down. Don’t dance so fast. Time is short. The music won’t last. When you run so fast to get somewhere, You miss half the fun of getting there. When you worry and hurry through your day, It is like an unopened gift thrown away. Life is not a race. Do take it slower. Hear the music, Before the song is over.” ― Timothy Ferriss, The 4-Hour Workweek

“Slow is smooth. Smooth is fast.”

“Slow and steady wins the race.”

“No hurry. No pause.”

• Refuse to feel rushed (or in a hurry). Rushing causes errors. Errors cause setbacks. Setbacks cause delays.
• Remember: You have all the time in the world you give yourself!
• Think about a 45-minute versus 43-minute bike ride (No difference actually…)
• 如同「開車」，讓日常生活中的每一個瞬間都保持在「專注，但放鬆柔和」的狀態 ^{1 2}，建立 心流狀態 中，那種如行雲流水般的節奏感。
• Building momentum is key!

Move slow to move fast.

• Wanna go fast? Try slowing down.
• If you slow down, you’ll speed up.

Go slow first. Start slow, finish fast.

Slowly by slowly.

The Paradox Of Speed: You Have To Slow Down To Speed Up

• Benefits
  • Restore and gather your energy to deploy your resources more efficiently
  • Notice small and beautiful things you previously missed
  • Be more deliberate with actions and focus on highest leverage opportunities

The Two Woodcutters

This is a well-known metaphor for the importance of taking time to “sharpen your saw,” a concept introduced by Stephen Covey in his book The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People.

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Once upon a time, there were two woodcutters who were hired to cut down trees in the forest. The first woodcutter worked nonstop, chopping down tree after tree with all his strength. The second woodcutter, however, took regular breaks and spent time sharpening his saw, while the first woodcutter kept hacking away without pausing.

As time went on, the first woodcutter became increasingly exhausted, yet he kept going, convinced that working harder and longer would get him the best results. The second woodcutter, on the other hand, took the time to rest and maintain his tools, believing that the efficiency gained from sharpening his saw would save him time and effort in the long run.

At the end of the day, when both woodcutters stood back to assess their work, the second woodcutter had cut down far more trees. The first woodcutter, although he had worked harder, had not been as productive because his saw had become dull, and he had not taken the time to maintain his tools.

See Also

• Every single day, chop wood, carry water
• slackness
• Wu Wui