Speed is not Progress

We live in a world obsessed with speed: of innovation, execution, response time, and market entry. But here’s the twist: speed isn’t always a signal of success. In fact, it often distracts from it. So let’s talk about what happens when speed is confused for progress; in business, in society, and in ourselves. Speed is not progress.

Image courtesy of WIX Media

PART I. In Business: Speed vs. Velocity vs. Progress

Defining the difference

• Speed is how quickly something moves. It’s raw pace. You can sprint in circles at lightning pace and still end up nowhere.

• Velocity is speed with direction. You’re not just moving, you’re moving towards something.

• Progress is sustained, intentional movement toward a goal. It’s about results, not just motion.

  
  

Speed gets attention. Velocity gets alignment. Progress gets results.

Where businesses go wrong

1. Confusing Movement with Momentum: A startup launches fast, gets press, raises funds. But internally, the team is misaligned, the product unfinished, and the churn rate brutal. Sound familiar? It definitely is so for me, just check my LinkedIn profile for examples of when that happened with my startup ideas. This is movement, not momentum.

   
   

2. Equating “First” with “Best”: Uber was first. So was Netscape. So was Friendster. But first-movers often fail. What matters more? Product-market fit, timing, operational scalability. Being ready, not just early.

   
   

3. Speed as a Proxy for Innovation: Shipping quickly isn’t the same as innovating meaningfully. Many companies reward shipping speed over customer feedback loops or iterative design. That’s not innovation, it’s output.

   
   

When it backfires: some examples

• Quibi: Raised $1.75B, launched in record time, shut down in six months. Speed killed strategic patience. The market didn’t need bite-sized content during a pandemic.

• Theranos: Sped past validation, due diligence, and ethics. The fall wasn’t due to bad luck. It was speed over substance.

• Meta’s Metaverse: Billions spent, rushed PR cycles, unclear demand. The pivot wasn’t progress; it was a distraction.

  
  

Principles for real progress

• Validate before you accelerate

• Build feedback loops before launching features

• Align cross-functionally before chasing growth

• Celebrate clarity, not just speed

  
  

Real business progress is not a sprint. It’s a relay. And direction matters more than distance per hour.

PART II. In Society: Speed vs. Progress in the Age of AI

The race to rule AI

The world’s leading economies are in a race. A race to build faster models, smarter machines, and more dominant infrastructure. And while there’s innovation, there’s also chaos.

• The US prioritizes private sector competition and disruption

• China leans into centralized infrastructure and surveillance capabilities

• Europe pushes for regulation but lags in implementation

  
  

Everyone wants to move fast. But who’s steering?

Historical parallels: the Industrial Revolution

Remember the first time the world went through such a transformation? The Industrial Revolution brought trains, machines, and factory systems. But it also brought child labor, unregulated pollution, and massive social inequality.

Speed outpaced ethics. Growth outpaced governance.

We’re seeing the same risks now with generative AI, algorithmic bias, and data monopolies.

Why this matters

• Surveillance tools are normalized before regulation catches up

• Digital platforms shape elections faster than we can build civic literacy

• Global South nations are pressured to leapfrog without foundational access

  
  

Progress, in contrast, is measured not by how fast we evolve, but by who gets to come along.

Building a more equitable future

Progress must:

• Be people-centered, not platform-led

• Embrace global parity, not just national supremacy

• Marry technical advancement with moral leadership

  
  

What good is AI if it solves for convenience but not for community?

PART III. In Ourselves: The Human Cost of Speed

The burnout economy

Speed sells. It’s sexy. It’s celebrated. Hustle porn floods our feeds. “Rise and grind.” “Fail fast.” “No days off.” But this culture comes at a cost:

• Rising burnout rates across industries

• Shallow accomplishments chasing external validation

• A loss of purpose masked by a flurry of productivity

  
  

We’re not tired because we work too hard. We’re tired because we’re constantly rushing with no clear direction.

Grit > Rush

Angela Duckworth’s Grit reframed success: it’s not about genius or speed. It’s about passion and perseverance.

• Grit is quiet. It shows up when no one claps

• Grit is slow. It builds over years, not overnight

• Grit is sustainable. It compounds

  
  

Success isn’t built in bursts. It’s built in seasons.

Reset, don’t react

In a speed-obsessed world, slowing down becomes a power move.

• Daily rituals > productivity hacks

• Clarity > speed

• Boundaries > burnout

  
  

It’s not laziness to pause. It’s wisdom.

Final toolkit: choosing progress over speed

Dimension	Pitfall of Speed	Progress-Oriented Mindset	Practical Tip
Business	Scaling chaos	Scale what’s working	Validate before acceleration
Society	Tech-first mindset	Human-first approach	Co-design policy with communities
Personal	Burnout	Grit, rituals, patience	Prioritize recovery like you prioritize growth

Progress happens when we pause, recalibrate, and move again. With intention.

Conclusion: don’t chase speed

Chase clarity. Chase resonance. Chase a version of yourself and your work that lasts.

Because when you move with purpose, progress is inevitable.

Here’s to what comes next: slow, steady, and strong.