Reflections in the 40s — Part 6 - Steady Over Quick

 If my younger years had a theme, it was speed. Everything needed to happen fast — results, promotions, success, even personal milestones. Quick progress felt like proof that I was “on track.” Slow felt like failure. But somewhere along the way — especially in my 40s — I realised that speed is often overrated, and steadiness is deeply underrated.

Quick wins are exciting, but they rarely endure. They give you a high, but not a foundation. Steady progress, on the other hand, is quiet. It doesn’t make noise or announce itself. But it keeps moving — step by step, habit by habit, choice by choice.

The most meaningful things in life grow slowly:

– Trust

– Strong relationships

– Mastery

– Financial stability

– Health

– Reputation

– Self-confidence

Nothing valuable builds overnight. Everything worthwhile compounds.

Earlier, I used to admire people who achieved things quickly. Now, I admire those who can stay with something long enough to make it meaningful. People who show up year after year — who don’t get bored by repetition, who don’t abandon the work when the novelty fades. 

Steadiness isn’t the absence of ambition. In fact, it’s ambition with patience. It’s the confidence that you don’t need to sprint because you’re building for the long term. It’s choosing sustainability over adrenaline. It’s trusting the compounding effect of small steps taken consistently.

Life has also taught me this: quick progress can often be reversed quickly. But steady growth becomes part of who you are.

Today, I no longer chase “fast.” I chase “forever.”

Because in almost every important area of life, steady beats quick — every single time.