Musings at Altitude

My wife and I always smile at folks going the speed limit that hit their brakes when they see a cop car on the side of the road.  It’s a natural reaction.  It’s instinct, regardless of how fast you may be going.

I noticed that again today during my late afternoon walk, when a car came by flashing his brights, warning those coming that a cop was just ahead.  As I walked around the bend, the cop had pulled over a compact car, and he was out of his car talking to the driver.  As I watched, sure enough, all approaching cars hit their brakes, regardless of how fast they were going.  The most extreme slow down was by a student driver, who slowed to about 5 miles per hour as she drove by the police officer.

That caused a big smile as several cars stacked up behind her!

That got me thinking. 

The instinctive slow down doesn’t just happen when we’re driving along and see a cop car on the side of the road.  It happens many times in life and in business when we think we’re moving at the right speed and things seem to be going right.

Some of the things that cause me to slow down even if I’m moving at no more than the speed limit (realistically or metaphorically):

• big things that appear to be blocking the way even if they aren’t
• slow moving traffic ahead, whether a good reason for that slow movement or not
• really bad weather that makes traveling at the normal speed limit impossible (I distinguish between just bad weather and really bad weather…in bad weather, I tend to still travel the speed limit on the road or in business)
• dramatic shift in the traffic pattern…unexpected shifts that creates an unfamiliar path for a period of time
• debris on the highway that’s been dropped by others that have gone before me
• unfamiliar territory with so many twists and turns and no clear indication of them on the map
• flat tires or other mechanical problems…unexpected problems with the vehicle I’m traveling in

There are many more too, but at least 95% of the time, I’m full speed ahead.

In life or in business, you can be uncomfortable, uncertain, or paranoid.  That’s sort of like slamming on the brakes when you see a cop on the side of the road, even when you’re going the speed limit.

Or, you can be confident, certain, and balanced.  That’s sort of like going the speed limit even if the radar gun pointing straight at you.

If you’re in a hurry and the expectations for achievement (travel or otherwise) are high, you have a much better chance of getting to the destination at the expected time (or even early) if you travel with conviction and resist the natural paranoia that accompanies most people on most journeys.

PS.  I certainly don’t fault anyone for being cautious.  That’s quite different than being uncomfortable and paranoid!