What’s the Rush?
On January 13th, 1982, my eyes were fixated upon the television as I watched a horrible scene take place. Air Florida Flight 90 had crashed into the icy Potomac River (about 30 miles from my home) and passengers were floating around struggling to survive. Four motorists and 74 passengers were killed. It later turned out there was too much ice and snow built up on the wings but that that pilots decided to take off anyway. Why? Apparently the pilots were in a rush. They never got to where they were going.
One of the Most Important Decisions You Can Make
After Aliyah’s death I made one of the most important decisions of my life. I decided I will not rush. I will not rush in my car, in my career, in my speaking, in my walking, in my reading, in my parenting, in my assignments or in anything else. I simply will not rush. My least favorite word became ASAP. What has happened as a result? Ironically, the less I rush, the faster I get to where I am going. Keep in mind the two failed flights above never reached their destination because they rushed. This is what happens in most peoples’ lives when they rush. They rush and rush and rush and never get to where they are going.
When you rush, there is an accident waiting to happen. Plus, it’s unnatural to rush. Nature doesn’t rush to grow plants, fruits, or grass. Whenever we rush, we go against natural law and we usually pay the consequences. Sometimes we pay the ultimate price.
Most People Still Rush and They Pay the Price
Lots of people want to get rich quick and end up in a financial black hole. Others plant seeds (reading, writing, learning, and growing) on a regular natural basis and get rich slowly but surely. These kinds of riches include more than money. Because they don’t rush, they create lasting rich friendships, rich experiences (that they can actually enjoy because they’re not rushing through them), rich family lives, and so on.
Make your New Commitment
I suggest that you make a commitment to yourself not to rush anymore. You’ll sense a peace come over you that you never felt before. You’ll feel the stress fall from your shoulders and breathe the adventure back into your life. You’ll find new opportunities that you didn’t see when you were rushing to that next place. Will others still rush and expect you to rush too? Absolutely. But your job is to let the world rush by and not get caught up in other peoples’ rush hours. They don’t only have rush hours, they have rush days and rush weeks and rush years. Before they know it, they’re home before they realize they missed the entire journey.
I can’t promise that when you stop rushing you will be free of all accidents. But what I can promise is that when you stop rushing you will find yourself living on purpose. Rest in peace Aliyah.
3 Responses to “What’s the Rush?”
There’s an acient Chinese saying, I forgot if it was said by Confucius, which has the same insight, “The more you rush, the less possible you are going to achieve.”
Need to think about the pace of my life as well.
Thank you for sharing, Craig.
Craig, I meant you in Guangzhou last year; I’m the younger man (Kenn Lewis) who won the table topic speech contest. I want to say that your performance last year and your articles have allowed me to study more and more about speech making. I use the technique of using the stage as a story line and since then I’ve won 7 out of 9 local, area and division contests. Who said you can’t teach an old dog new tricks. I’ve been a collage professor for 30 some years and thought I knew how to speak, but watching you and other great speakers I bow my head for not paying more attention in my collage speech class.
Your articles “You master what you Measure”, “Winners vs. Losers” and “What’s the Rush” and many others are excellent and have given me some food for thought. I start out each day catching up on the news and then proceed not to get much done. So I’m going to try your approach and write down 3 items to complete before I turn on the computer.
Thanks for your entire internet help
Kenn Lewis still in China
Hi Kenn,
It’s great to hear from you and congratulations on all of your success so far. I am sure there is more to come. Keep up the great work and please tell the Toastmasters in China hello for me.
Craig