Tuesday's Rule #11
Smooth Operator
Welcome to this week’s edition of Tuesday’s Rule, a weekly breakdown of a “life rule” I’ve found interesting or useful.
The best rules tick multiple boxes. Among other things, they are:
Easy to remember
Widely applicable
Fun to say
This week's rule meets these requirements in a major way.
It is particularly powerful when a rule has emerged for specific applications or in particular contexts but can be used for a wide range of alternative situations.
Today's rule originated as a Navy Seals mantra.
According to usmilitary.com, "this principle serves as a guiding star for these highly trained operatives, leading them through gruelling training regimes to high-stakes missions around the globe."
But it is not a complicated rule about fitness, focus or excellence. It is a simple, memorable axiom that we can all understand and apply.
The rule is:
Slow Is Smooth And Smooth Is Fast
Say that again.
Doesn't it roll off the tongue beautifully?
In military contexts, you can imagine this being important for preparation or in reacting to unexpected changes in situations.
Spotting an enemy approaching, needing to prepare weapons and take up a particular position, I can only imagine the temptation would be to rush and scramble into position, loading your gun as quickly as possible not to waste time.
Slow is smooth and smooth is fast.
Carefully load the weapon, move deliberately into position, remain calm.
Easy to see how this could make all the difference.
But I’m hoping not to be called into military conflict any time soon.
So, how can we use this euphonic rule in our everyday lives?
At its core, the rule means deliberate, methodic and controlled action. It means careful movement rather than rushing into things headfirst. It means making haste. Slowly.
That said, there are limitless scenarios where this could be applied, and it is a valuable thing to remember in any situation where we feel hurried, anxious to get ahead, or concerned that we're wasting time.
It's something I could do with reminding myself of as I think about my career. As a friend reminded me this week, we likely have at least 30 years of work left. A rushed decision now, without deliberate consideration, could result in years of unpicking. Slowing down and taking extra time to consider things on an extended timeline is the difference between good and bad decisions.
Even daily, "slow is smooth, and smooth is fast" is a helpful reminder. In the gym, lifting weights, writing an email, or conversing with a loved one. Do it right, and you will go quickly. Do it too quickly, and it won't go right.
It means planning ahead and not - in some instances - getting started before you are ready.
But it doesn't mean you don't have to work hard.
In the fable of the Tortoise and the Hare, it is clear that it is the Tortoise who is the hard worker.
The Hare, whilst brilliant and confident, is inconsistent and lazy. The slow, methodical, deliberate grind of the Tortoise is what makes the difference.
Modern interpretations of the fable have asserted that the moral is indeed “more haste, less speed” and we should try to embody the virtues of the Tortoise.
But I think of it slightly differently.
Whilst the Tortoises slow deliberate consistency has valuable lessons, and we should avoid the arrogant condescending nature of the Hare, it is really the “smooth is fast” part of the rule that needs emphasis.
Speed remains crucial, and even after the Tortoise's victory, should the need arise to send an urgent message quickly, one would invariably choose the Hare.
If the Hare had paused initially, made a plan and executed on it, he would have won the race by an embarrassingly large margin and moved on with his day.
So the lesson from me is not to be the Tortoise.
Be the Hare. But take a moment. Be deliberate and intentional. Use what you have. Be humble.
Smooth is fast. And fast is exhilarating.