Monday memo #93
Take the long way.
The Monday memo is food for thought to fuel your week.
Hi everyone,
Efficiency is seductive. We are conditioned to seek the fastest way, the shortest path, the quickest fix. But speed narrows your focus, forcing assumptions about what’s important and what you can skip. But what if you’re wrong about that? When you rush, it’s easy to miss important details that could change everything.
The scenic route is slower, but it’s richer. A winding path through the neighborhood reveals a mural you’ve never noticed. A detour on your commute sparks a conversation at a café you didn’t know existed. A longer way home opens space for reflection.
In work and in life, taking the scenic route isn’t about wasting time. It’s about expanding it. It’s about enjoying the journey instead of rushing to the next pit stop, choosing curiosity over efficiency, noticing instead of passing by, and giving chance a chance to surprise you.
What’s the rush?
Taking the scenic route often gets you there faster in the long run. The relationships you build walking the long way around your workplace prevent the miscommunications that derail projects. The extra time spent understanding a problem deeply prevents the expensive pivots three months later. The seemingly inefficient choice to have a real conversation instead of firing off an email prevents the endless back-and-forth that clogs your inbox.
Exercise.
Here’s your exercise for the week: take the long way. Maybe it’s having lunch with someone from a different department instead of eating at your desk. Maybe it’s deeply engaging with an article or video instead of skimming headlines. Maybe it’s calling a client or friend to check in, without an agenda.
The highway will always be there when you need it. But the most interesting discoveries, the most meaningful connections, and often the most elegant solutions are found on the roads less traveled.
Sometimes the long way around is the only way to see what really matters. Try taking the scenic route this week, and see what happens.
More information for members is below the fold.👇