The Age of Speed

About the Author

Vince Poscente is a renowned business consultant, author, and keynote speaker. Inducted into the Speaker Hall of Fame, Poscente is one of North America's most sought-after speakers. His work focuses on helping organizations and individuals harness the power of speed to achieve extraordinary results. His book "The Age of Speed" reflects his deep understanding of the modern world's fast-paced nature and offers insights into how to thrive in such an environment.

Main Idea

"The Age of Speed" explores the pervasive role of speed in today's society. Poscente argues that instead of resisting speed, individuals and organizations should embrace it to reduce stress and enhance productivity and fulfillment. By understanding and leveraging speed, people can lead more significant lives, spending less time on mundane tasks and more on meaningful pursuits. The book provides a framework for categorizing different speed profiles and offers strategies for harnessing speed as a powerful ally.

Table of Contents

1. The Speed Phenomenon
2. Evolution: Embracing Speed
3. The Big Blur: Work-Home-Leisure Integration
4. Four Speed Profiles
5. Agility: Adapting to Change
6. Aerodynamics: Reducing Drag
7. Alignment: Finding Authentic Purpose
8. Harnessing the Power of Speed
9. Conclusion: Thriving in the Age of Speed

The Speed Phenomenon

In today's world, the craving for speed is ever-increasing. Poscente notes, "Our tolerance of slow has decreased dramatically as our yearning for speed has increased." Waiting times and downtimes are no longer acceptable; they are seen as wasted opportunities. For instance, 23 percent of Americans lose patience within five minutes of waiting in line, viewing it as a loss of their most valuable commodity: time.

Businesses have tapped into this societal demand for speed. For example, Chase Manhattan Bank reduced ATM transaction times to appeal to speed-seeking customers. Similarly, Geico's "Fifteen minutes could save you 15 percent or more on car insurance" slogan highlights the company's commitment to speed and efficiency.

More Life, Please

Speed allows people to focus on significant activities by reducing time spent on mundane tasks. Poscente states, "Every time we speed up the time it takes to complete an unimportant task, we create the possibility of more time to spend doing what we feel is significant." This shift enables individuals to chase more dreams and achieve more goals within a shorter timeframe.

“We want to spend less time on things we deem inconsequential, so we devour every chance to speed up the minutiae in our lives.” - Vince Poscente

Evolution: Embracing Speed

Despite the benefits of speed, many people instinctively resist it due to outdated perspectives and irrational fears. Poscente emphasizes the need to change these perceptions to avoid conflict with a fast-paced world. Embracing speed does not mean compromising on valuable experiences but rather focusing on speeding up the mundane aspects of life.

Smelling the Roses

The key is to differentiate between repetitive chores and passionate pursuits. By speeding up tasks that lack intrinsic value, individuals can make more time for activities that bring joy and fulfillment. This approach allows for a balance between efficiency and savoring meaningful experiences.

“When we speed up the drudgery, we have more time to cherish significant experiences.” - Vince Poscente

A Love Triangle: Time, Quality, and Cost

The traditional trade-offs between time, quality, and cost are changing. Technological advancements have created shortcuts that save time and money while maintaining or improving quality. By embracing speed, individuals and organizations can do more, be more, and live more without necessarily increasing busyness or stress.