Slow Down Culture

Kumar, my fellow Yzagite sent me the following excellent write-up on Slow Down Culture. The author, a member of his REC-Warangal alumni Google group , believes that we can tap into our creative energies and produce better work product if we work at a relaxed pace. To support his belief, he shared his experience in working for Volvo for 18 years and the productivity of Swedes. I agree with him 100%. Critics of this relaxed work culture argue that slowing down would adversely affect the productivity and results in higher unemployment.

I sure think that a relaxed work culture nourishes creativity. We can clearly see the fruits of careful planning in high quality infrastructure (roads, buildings, utilities, etc.) available in the West. It is hard think from all angles and come up with a comprehensive and effective solution when jobs are done in haste. This is just one example. Most of the inventions that we are enjoying have originated in the West (at least, until now). I think slow-paced and systematic investigations have a lot to do this.

I think the West should strive to be self-sufficient (in food, energy, and basic needs) in order to preserve its relatively relaxed and distinctly superior work culture. If they are not self-sufficient, they may be forced to compete with nations where relaxed work culture is not valued. The West (mainly the US) needs to realize that they have enough resources to offer food and shelter for their citizens, and start conservation (buy smaller cars, smaller houses, build walkers/bikers-friendly roads etc.) to reduce their dependence on foreign countries (like on Saudi and Venezuela for oil).

So far, in our (esp. Desis and Chinkus) eagerness to get rich quick (which is OK), we are merely running sweat shops (for the most part) to cater to the needs of the West. I hope that we would strive for corresponding growth in the infrastructure to ensure sustenance of this growth - we have no lack of brain power.

For the most in the West, arts and entertainment are an integral part of their lives, which I think is a good thing. It is hard to be creative when we work 16 hours a day under constant deadlines. More and more in the West are in the process of realizing their mistake of identifying material wealth as the source of happiness. We don't have to be rich to be wealthy, richness is just a component of wealth. Au contraire, more and more of us (Desis) are joining the mad dash for material. Hopefully, we all (East and West) would realize the richness of simplicity soon.

Slow Down Culture

It's been 18 years since I joined Volvo, a Swedish company. Working for them has proven to be an interesting experience. Any project here takes 2 years to be finalized, even if the idea is simple and brilliant. It's a rule.

Globalize processes have caused in us (all over the world) a general sense of searching for immediate results. Therefore, we have come to posses a need to see immediate results. This contrasts greatly with the slow movements of the Swedish. They, on the other hand, debate, debate, debate, hold x quantity of meetings and work with a slowdown scheme. At the end, this always yields better results.

Said in another words:
1. Sweden is about the size of San Pablo, a state in Brazil.
2. Sweden has 2 million inhabitants.
3. Stockholm, has 500,000 people.
4. Volvo, Escania, Ericsson, Electrolux, Nokia are some of its renowned companies.

The first time I was in Sweden, one of my colleagues picked me up at the hotel every morning. It was September, bit cold and snowy. We would arrive early at the company and he would park far away from the entrance (2000 employees drive their car to work). The first day, I didn't say anything, either the second or third. One morning I asked, "Do you have a fixed parking space? I've noticed we park far from the entrance even when there are no other cars in the lot." To which he replied, "Since we're here early we'll have time to walk, and whoever gets in late will be late and need a place closer to the door. Don't you think? Imagine my face.

Nowadays, there's a movement in Europe name Slow Food. This movement establishes that people should eat and drink slowly, with enough time to taste their food, spend time with the family, friends, without rushing. Slow Food is against its counterpart: the spirit of Fast Food and what it stands for as a lifestyle. Slow Food is the basis for a bigger movement called Slow Europe, as mentioned by Business Week.

Basically, the movement questions the sense of "hurry" and "craziness" generated by globalization, fueled by the desire of "having in quantity" (life status) versus "having with quality", "life quality" or the "quality of being". French people, even though they work 35 hours per week, are more productive than Americans or British. Germans have established 28.8 hour workweeks and have seen their productivity been driven up by 20%. This slow attitude has brought forth the US's attention, pupils of the fast and the "do it now!".

This no-rush attitude doesn't represent doing less or having a lower productivity. It means working and doing things with greater quality, productivity, perfection, with attention to detail and less stress. It means reestablishing family values, friends, free and leisure time. Taking the "now", present and concrete, versus the "global", undefined and anonymous. It means taking humans' essential values, the simplicity of living.

It stands for a less coercive work environment, more happy, lighter and more productive where humans enjoy doing what they know best how to do. It's time to stop and think on how companies need to develop serious quality with no-rush that will increase productivity and the quality of products and services, without losing the essence of spirit.

In the movie, Scent of a Woman, there's a scene where Al Pacino asks a girl to dance and she replies, "I can't, my boyfriend will be here any minute now". To which Al responds, "A life is lived in an instant". Then they dance to a tango.

Many of us live our lives running behind time, but we only reach it when we die of a heart attack or in a car accident rushing to be on time. Others are so anxious of living the future that they forget to live the present, which is the only time that truly exists. We all have equal time throughout the world. No one has more or less. The difference lies in how each one of us does with our time. We need to live each moment. As John Lennon said, "Life is what happens to you while you're busy making other plans".

Congratulations for reading till the end of this message. There are many who will have stopped in the middle so as not to waste time in this globalized world.