The Religion of Speed
6 hours ago
- Moving fast has become a moral position, not just a practical concern, and is treated as proof of seriousness.
- Speed often protects bad work because it's fast, not because it's good or well-thought-out, creating a cult of motion over progress.
- Real speed arises from understanding, clear constraints, and clean decisions, while most 'speed' is impatience leading to vague requirements and failures.
- Rushing through understanding causes ten times more cleanup, rework, and confusion, making systems untrustworthy and processes opaque.
- Slowing down means refusing to skip foundational questions about the work, which removes the dopamine hit of motion but leads to better outcomes.
- The difference between urgency (appropriate when time is real) and haste (emotional relief without clarity) is often ignored.
- The author values work that holds up and creates fewer problems, advocating for understanding first, then deciding, then moving.
- The 'Religion of Speed' uses excuses like fast-changing markets to justify skipping thought, but reality eventually collects its due.