Momma Knew Best: 5 Stillness Lessons To Speed Up
As a high-energy teen, I couldn’t sit still—let alone read. My mom begged me to try, but I was too impatient.. Go figure. That changed in my mid-20s when I wanted to launch my first business. I dove into entrepreneurship books about business, optimization, sales and marketing. I was focused on speeding up results. Then I picked up Ryan Holiday’s Stillness Is the Key—and it flipped everything I thought about speed and success.
Holiday, a former marketer turned stoic writer, beautifully blends stoic lessons with storytelling and real-world examples from leaders and athletes. He’s my favourite author–I’ve read more of his books than anyone else’s. Here’s what Still Is The Key taught me:
Slow Down To Speed Up
I used to believe success meant going pedal to the metal 24/7. Then Holiday hit me with this: “Slow down, and the world opens up.” It clicked–I was burning out chasing results. Now I schedule time to slow down and think, instead of trying to hustle sun up until sun down. That pause brings clarity and sharper work. Slowing down doesn’t stall you, it propels you further. Try it this week.
Kill Distractions
We live in an age of endless opportunity–learning, networking, growing–all at our fingertips. Unfortunately, those same tools can derail us. When it’s time to focus, put your phone on airplane mode, stash it out of reach, and get your work done. Reply to messages later. It’s not just about avoiding texts–it’s about removing the urge to scroll social media. Less friction, more momentum.
Say No
I was a yes-man, jumping at every opportunity because I was genuinely excited and didn’t want to disappoint anyone. Then I learned about the time tradeoff: every yes means no to something else. We’ve all got 24 hours. Saying no to what doesn’t serve your goals protects what does. Respect your time–it’s your power.
Know Yourself
Can you set aside your ego and face your strengths and weaknesses? It takes guts to look in the mirror and own your flaws. Ask yourself: What am I consistent at? Do my actions match my words? How do I show up? When I started doing this, I spotted the gaps–and the people too busy judging others to see their own. Self-awareness builds real strength.
Let Go of the Scoreboard
So often we obsess over results–hit the goal or we fail. But what if you commit to the process instead? Set a big target, research, plan and show up for yourself daily. You’ll build resilience and grit, even if you fall short of your desired outcome. Focus on doing what you say you’re going to do and aim to be 1% better each day, your future self will thank you.
Stillness isn’t just a book lesson, it’s a life shift. Have you read Ryan Holiday? What’s your favourite? Or tell me a book that’s changed you? I’d love to hear.
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