The Momentum Paradox
Momentum drives success in sports, business, and life. It's the power that keeps things moving forward when obstacles appear.
Athletes know ‘being on a roll’ helps win games. One good play leads to another.
Companies build momentum through small wins that create bigger opportunities. Apple's iPod success led to iPhone dominance.
Personal momentum works the same way. Starting a new habit needs energy to make continuing easier.
Momentum can be fragile, though. Interruptions can stop your progress.
But is losing momentum always bad?
I feel the 'don't stop' mindset can create unnecessary pressure, especially in corporate environments. The fear of standing still because of uncertainty is sometimes palpable.
In these times, I take a leaf out of the creatives' playbook. They understand that magic happens in the pauses. We all know that moving at any speed in the wrong direction wastes energy and authenticity. As the Japanese proverb points out:
'If you get on the wrong train, get off at the nearest station. The longer it takes you to get off, the more expensive the return trip will be.'
The creatives have baked this into their processes to avoid those missteps, and this is where we find the business advice of 'trust the process'.
Any good facilitator or speaker will ensure a quiet moment for self-reflection and a pause for effect throughout the process. These intentional pauses stop the sleepwalking. It's a wake-up call that demands attention. At first, the silence is generally uncomfortable as internal voices try to drown out the need for something different.
But, in my experience, trust the pause.
I've paused multiple times in my life. These pauses led to course corrections that brought more interesting opportunities than I could have imagined. There are also days when I cling to my to-do list to feel like I am moving forward. This is why I enjoy tracking the daily 1% improvements. Sometimes, progress is a tiny step en route to the bigger goals that can be overwhelming and opaque when looking at them in the distance.
However, trusting the process ensures those goals remain relevant, allowing them to mould as we progress.
Dan Nicholson, author of Rigging the Game, challenges our tendency to seek more of everything (time, money, resources) when what truly matters is getting closer to our desired direction. To build on this, trusting the process means asking if each decision brings us closer to how we want our work and life to operate, keeping us aligned with our true north. This requires a flexible mind that values direction over rigid outcomes.
I feel Tim Minchin, in his 2013 UWA address, said it best:
"be micro-ambitious. Put your head down and work with pride on whatever is in front of you… you never know where you might end up. Just be aware that the next worthy pursuit will probably appear in your periphery."
I've realised that momentum matters most when aligned with one’s internal compass. This alignment requires both presence and the courage to pause.
Where do you need to gain momentum today? Where might you benefit from standing still?
First shared on LinkedIn, 1 May 2024
MEET ROSE, STRATEGY CONSULTANT
Ready to find your rhythm between momentum and a strategic pause?
I help leaders identify when to accelerate and when to trust the process. Let's have a practical chat about aligning your transformation journey with your true north.
