Sometimes, to get where you want to go, you have to go slow.
Imagine you’re driving a really fast car toward a sharp curve you need to take. You could keep your foot on the gas, continuing in the direction you’re heading—but of course, you’d miss your intended turn. You might try to nail the turn without slowing down at all, but that would take insane skill and luck—and you’d still risk wrecking.
The best choice? Ease off the pedal and tap the brakes. That way, you actually hit the turn and keep moving forward.
That’s just a metaphor—but life is similar.
We live in a culture that tells us progress means constantly pushing as hard as we can, but sometimes slowing down is exactly what’s required to make the right moves or avoid costly mistakes.
I’m currently in a “go slow to go fast” season, which I’ll share about in this post—along with a few more real-world examples to show why easing off the gas can sometimes be the smartest way forward.
Slowing Down To Make A Career Change
A few weeks ago, I buckled down to begin the process of making my second major career change.
It’s a long process—learning the technical ins and outs of a new tech platform—and because of how much time it takes, I haven’t been able to focus as much on writing for the blog, studying Spanish, or simply basking in all the free time my sabbatical affords me.
Unfortunately, I can’t have it all.
I have to decide: do I want to keep speeding along in the career direction I’ve been going in for the last six years? Sure, I make good money and live pretty comfortably. Not slowing down means I can avoid the hard work of change and focus more on those other important things.
But without redirecting my energy, I’ll never get to where I actually want to go—which is a role that’s more aligned with my methodical, laid-back disposition, rather than the dynamic, people-centered demands of being a project manager.
In “go slow to go fast” terms: being a project manager feels like driving a six-speed manual stuck in fourth gear. It’s plenty fast. But slowing down to reposition my career is like unlocking gears five and six—where performance vehicles really shine thanks to a blend of speed and efficiency.
Giving Up Money & Status…For A While
Giving Up Money & Status… For a While
Another thread along the same career-change lines is the idea of giving up the money and status that comes with being in a high-demand role in exchange for work that feels more meaningful or aligned.
I’m facing this dilemma myself, as I anticipate taking a pay cut in my next role. I suspect this would be a non-starter for most people—but for me, it feels like an easy decision, largely because I’m framing it through a go slow to go fast lens.
Think about it:
In almost any field, top performers tend to earn well. And aside from the rare exceptions—those who rise to the top despite hating what they do—the best usually aren’t more talented or special than everyone else. What separates them is passion. They want to get better. The work fuels them, so it doesn’t even feel like work.
In other words, doing work you actually enjoy dramatically increases your odds of long-term success. So even if you’re already earning good money, it may be worth giving some of it up if that trade leads to something you love.
Ironically, that slower, less glamorous path may be the one that helps you earn more—and feel better doing it.
Cleaning & Decluttering For Headspace
Pivoting away from career talk brings me to another a go slow to go fast idea related to general productivity as something I’ve learned about myself over the years is that I need a clean, clutter free environment to be at my best.
I feel it when things around me are off. I become distracted by stacks of mail, piles of laundry, or items in my home not where they belong.
Just knowing the environment isn’t right activates a node in my brain that doesn’t relax until I’ve set things right. I can try to go fast out of the gate by ignoring the situation, but then I find that my focus sessions aren’t as productive as they can be.
As hard as it can be at times to force myself to slow down, stopping to clean and declutter enables me to truly go fast. Not having the mental load of environmental clutter frees me to think clearly and settle into deep work.
Going Slow For Body Maintenance To Go Fast With Longevity
If I could do anything from my youth over again, it would be to slow down to take better care of my body so I could have the longevity to continue to go fast in sports and in life. My first serious knee injury was a cartilage tear that I ignored while continuing competitive play for five years before I was permanently sidelined due to the additional damage I had caused.
If I had gone slow and took care of the issue when it first happened, perhaps I’d still be able to run and move pain free today. My choice to keep going fast bought me a few years, but ultimately cost me more considering I now live in pain and can’t run or do much athletically.
Perhaps someone I could have learned from is LeBron James, who at 40, is still regarded as a top 10 player in the NBA. Aside from having otherworldly genetics, the primary secret to his success is him slowing down to take care of his body via a legendary maintenance routine that some speculatators say costs him 1,500,000 per year.
I’m not suggesting I need to do it exactly like LeBron does. But going slow to do my stretching, yoga, Pilates, ice baths, massage therapy, and physical therapy are wise ways to keep myself going as fast possible into the future.
Slowing Down To Cook Instead Of Eating Out
Back in 2017, I left my familiar surroundings in Orlando and took a job that moved me to Washington, D.C. It was a big shift—my first time living in a fast-paced city with metro rides, happy hours, long workdays, and of course: takeout.
I was so busy I rarely had time to cook. Uber Eats was on the rise, and I took full advantage—alongside regular trips to restaurants near my apartment on D.C.’s infamous H Street. I ordered out so often that I was spending upwards of $1,000 a month on food. Worse, I couldn’t figure out how to reign it in—until I finally decided to slow down.
The first step to slow down was cutting back on other time commitments so I had space to grocery shop and cook. I was working nights and weekends as a sports official, but after the first season, I didn’t renew. More time in my back pocket—check.
Next, I slowed down by carving out time specifically for cooking. Sundays became my go-to since I was usually at home relaxing. My routine was simple: cook one or two meals to get through the first half of the week, then cook again midweek to make it to the weekend.
The result? I initially went slow to get my cooking routine in order. Then I went fast from a financial and health perspective as I was able to cook more at home, save hundred each month, and eat healthier food.
Unlocking True Full Speed
It may feel counterintuitive, but sometimes the fastest way forward is to slow down first.
Real progress often requires a pause—especially when we’re navigating change or trying to manage our money well. Both demand that we take a moment to think, strategize, plan, and prepare. That brief pause isn’t wasted time—it’s the launchpad. When we slow down with intention, we position ourselves to move forward with far more clarity, speed, and power than if we had just rushed ahead.
So the next time you’re at a crossroads or facing a dilemma, remember: go slow to go fast.
Chances are, you’ll arrive exactly when—and where—you’re meant to, with better results than you ever could’ve forced through haste.
Don’t settle for 4th gear. Ease off just long enough to realign—then unlock your true full speed.