When put under pressure of tight deadlines, there are two choices, increase haste, or reduce mistakes. The latter usually requires working slower, making sure not a single movement is wasted, taking extra time to look around and making everything is ready for the next step. However, haste is what comes naturally.
I practice slowing down under pressure, and increasing my focus. As it turns out, 85% of my normal pace with no wasted movement is much faster than 150% with tons of redos.
For years, I heard about 10X (ten-ex, as in ten times faster) programmers and 10X marketers (as in 10X the returns). Seth Godin put it eloquently in the 10X Lesson, a while back, a 10X anything doesn’t do it by outworking, 10 x 8 = 80 hours a day. Not possible. They do it with efficiency and intelligence. That’s what I’m promoting here, under more pressure, increased efficiency through intelligence is necessary, and intelligence shouldn’t be rushed.
Make it a habit to calm down under pressure, and work slower, it’s counterintuitive, yet powerful. And after the pressure drops, brainstorm a relief valve that will prevent the pressure from ever rising that high again.
