Under the influence of our fast-paced lives and a general overexcitement, we often react too quickly. Of course, not everything should stay as it is, but we should be careful about acting just for the sake of it. The result could be something we don’t need. An undifferentiated understanding of innovation too easily elevates the novel over established quality, leading people to underestimate the value of the past while overestimating their own ability to anticipate the future. What we need, as Peter Sloterdijk puts it, are “resilient bores”, people who boldly and courageously go about doing their thing with a keen sense for long-term value. Here, too, a casual “Who cares!?” is the right attitude to adopt so we remain calm, cool and collected in the face of surprise.
The best way to get more done is to do less anyway, at least if the latest research on productivity is to be believed. So go ahead and take some time out from those breathless deadlines every now and then.
For example, by opening yourself up to surprises and new ideas while browsing through a good magazine.
