Comments on: Instant Or Incomparable, What Matters More?

By: Corky

Corky — Thu, 28 Aug 2008 05:28:21 +0000

I used to be the guy who had to actually bring the concepts to life.

R&D always wanted a quality product. Marketing and sales always wanted it delivered quickly. And accounting always wanted it inexpensively.

The reality is you get to choose two of the three and sacrifice the third. The enterprise that delivers all three is rare indeed.

By: Brian Holiman

Brian Holiman — Tue, 26 Aug 2008 02:42:46 +0000

Well as someone that has done both, I vote for slower and simpler. Our bodies were not created to be in a constant state of crisis. In fact, I would contend we are most fulfilled and contented when we have a balance between speed and a slower pace. However, in today’s climate of instant gratification, we must work at creating that space in our lives that allows us to breath and rejuvenate. I subscribe to the train of thought that holds people are more productive when they are rested and alert. Extended periods of stress, crisis and sped up lives results in diminished productivity and that results in frustration and the vicious cycle begins .

So, schedule a slow down, relax, breath and then go back to work!

By: Susan Murphy

Susan Murphy — Mon, 25 Aug 2008 11:30:20 +0000

My question is, do we really need all this stuff in the first place? It just seems that our society is so dependent on acquiring THINGS, without much thought as to their actual usefulness.

If we all just took a step back and focused on what we really NEED instead of what we WANT, perhaps there would be more room (and time) for quality over quantity.

By: Anthea

Anthea — Sun, 24 Aug 2008 23:16:39 +0000

Agree wholeheartedly, the time I am given to fit my projects in never allows room, causes much frustration and in the end, a let-down client.

Prefer quality over speed!

By: Michael Miles

Michael Miles — Sun, 24 Aug 2008 14:30:56 +0000

I agree that it depends on the context. I usually prefer quality and taking my time, but sometimes that just isn’t possible.

Having said that, if you know where to go, you can get quality in a hurry. I know some great fast food places here in Hong Kong that serve great Asian food.

By: Justin

Justin — Sun, 24 Aug 2008 04:01:07 +0000

I’m a patient person, I don’t care if things take awhile. But then again, I am young and do not have much on my plate. Adults with children place a higher value on time, because so much of it is automatically consumed by the child.

By: Shawn Kinkade

Shawn Kinkade — Sat, 23 Aug 2008 19:41:33 +0000

I enjoy your blog – thanks.

Regarding this post – it really depends on what. Fast food that’s simple and cheap should be fast, but that’s a whole different mindset than when I’m going out with friends to a nice dinner.

Having said that, and maybe this is a midwest thing…in general people need to slow down. Unless someone’s life is at risk – quality is much more important than speed.

We’re already oversaturated with media, if everyone took a deep breath and realized the world will indeed still be here tomorrow, I think we would all be better off.

By: Instant Or Incomparable, What Matters More?

Instant Or Incomparable, What Matters More? — Fri, 22 Aug 2008 21:35:12 +0000

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By: Jonathan - Advanced Life Skills

Jonathan - Advanced Life Skills — Fri, 22 Aug 2008 21:32:28 +0000

I think it depends entirely on the person and the situation. When the dentist is removing a broken filling we wan it fast and painless. When the dirty work is done and it’s time for a gold crown we want him to take his time and make it perfect.

Also, our nature has a strong influence. In my case I tend to be a perfectionist, so I need to remind myself to keep moving ahead and don’t get obsessed with every little detail. For someone who tends to ignore details because they are always in a hurry, it might be good to slow down and smell the coffee.

There does seem to be a general trend toward quick and dirty in some areas, which is often driven by economic pressures (profit). Personally, I like to see people take pride in whatever they do by making quality the number one priority.

By: Robyn

Robyn — Fri, 22 Aug 2008 19:53:34 +0000

I think there’s room for both. Some days I want something quick and I’m willing to settle for less quality. Other days, quality is important and I’m willing to sacrifice more time.

The important thing is that I stay present enough in my life that I make a conscious decision.

I used to work with someone who was always in crisis mode. Since I absolutely detest that, I learned to anticipate her cyclical workload and create a project schedule that allowed me to work at a pace that suited my need for quality at a comfortable pace.