Slow and Fast in Digital Media

In the last couple of days I've had reasons to reflect on this dichotomy. Although things can happen really fast online, the process by which they tip is usually quite slow. And for good reason. Trust is something you build over time. Also, many confuse grabbing what is easy to grab for building a relationship, thinking that a fait accompli would let them get away with less than transparent business practices.

With technology as an accelerator, it is easier to put the cart before the horse - to try and get what you want before you established a relationship of trust. When in doubt, ask first. It's easy to get excited with the possibilities and lose sight of the fact that there are humans on the receiving end. Wasn't that the promise of the social Web? Or has that already been forgotten in the need for a fast buck?

With the opportunities of mobile communications at our doorsteps, there will be an increased need for intrinsic motivation, purpose, and intelligent application by practitioners. Or we risk getting to a place where human is colliding with technology. Julien writes about borders, "The only thing that tells you if you’ve crossed the line is people."

I agree with not letting limiting thinking fence you in, however our own freedom to possibility ends when we trample over that of others. Listen to what people are telling you. Building trust is about respecting others, following the Golden Rule, being slow when you know you could go fast, and conversely taking fast action to correct something instead of dragging your feet. It pays off in the end. 

Slow is a form of mindfulness. When slow is good:

• Building a network of trusted connections
• Learning about our food, our options, and those of our communities
• Aligning mind and body, brain and heart
• Creating a solid business strategy
• Being in the moment, present and available

Fast can be a fantastic accelerator in some circumstances:

• Reducing load time for applications and servers so you can be more productive
• Shortening the ramp up time to implementation on a solid strategy
• Making connections between people in your network
• Being there for your friends and business partners
• Spreading good ideas to help more people

The challenge, as these things go, is that often you need a combination of the two. What would you add? What's the best speed for your project, team, context?

[image from Spaceballs]

Comments

[Michael Zipursky]

Valeria,

Grazie! for the dictionary link (fait accompli)- my French, or is it Latin, is a bit rough these days :)

This is a good topic to explore - and an even better one to experience.

"What's the best speed for your project, team, context?"...and I'd add Life.

The two (slow and fast) feed on each other. It's a great feeling to come up for air and enjoy the slow moments of life after working non-stop and living the fast life.

It's dangerous to believe you'll win the race by running through the desert as fast as you can without taking a break to sip some water.

Too many in business forget to take the time, if ever so brief, to enjoy things that can only be enjoyed at a slow pace. These include being genuine, building real relationships, forfeiting small but quick gains for long-term continued success, and of course enjoying fine wine!

Some require quick action and full force ahead...and yet others just can't be rushed. The two done together, in a natural way, are ever more powerful. The fast, then slow, and then fast again approach, creates a sustainable rhythm to achieving better results and enjoying the journey along the way.

[Brian Driggs]

When it comes to Spaceballs, there's only one speed. LUDICROUS SPEED.

There are a lot of similarities between the scene where Spaceball 1 goes to plaid in pursuit of Eagle 5 due to Dark Helmet's insistence upon going faster than necessary, and some managers.

The competition blasts away, as if "They must have hyperjets on that thing," so management decides to (ugh) leverage advanced technology to catch up. Someone suggests light speed, but light speed is deemed too slow. No, "We have to go straight to Ludicrous speed."

Obviously, everyone who hears this takes a step back in stunned disbelief. There is an attempt to get everyone prepared, but there is no time for acceleration, management comes down with the mandate...

"Sir, hadn't you better buckle up?"
"Ah, buckle THIS. Ludicrous speed - GO!"

Of course, they end up going way too far. Things are moving way too fast, getting sloppy, and management now demands an instant stop to reorganize.

"What have I done? My brains are going into my feet! ... Stop this thing!"
"We can't stop. It's too dangerous. We have to slow down first!"
"BS. Just stop this thing. I order you. STOP."

About that time, second in command pulls the emergency brake and the entire organization comes to a crashing halt, often head-first into some kind of inanimate object.

"Smoke if ya got 'em."

(Seriously. It's no stretch to picture Spaceballs as the story of a giant corporation trying to catch and conquer a small, flexible start-up.)

Spaceballs funniest moments for consideration:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AcY090XV284

[Valeria Maltoni]

@Michael - somewhere I read that online etiquette should be to provide clarity with language and not use foreign words. I can't help the use of the words, it's how I grew up. So the least I can do is provide a "key" to their meaning. The ebb and flow - slow and fast - indeed need to work together. I wrote a post about that. You do remarkably well with mind reading. I'm totally impressed.

@Brian - this was such a gift today. What a great way to carry the theme and its message forward. Thank you! And thank you for the link.