Slow Down Culture

An interesting reflection sent by a friend...

It's been 18 years since I joined Volvo, a Swedish company. Working for them has proven to be an interesting experience. Any projects here takes 2 years to be finalised, 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 other 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 are some of its renowned companies.
5. Volvo supplies NASA.

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 closed to the door don't you think?". Imagine my face...

Nowadays, there is a movement in Europe named Slow Food. This movement establishes that people should eat and drink slowly with enough time to taste their food, spend time with the family and 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 work weeks and have seen their productivity been driven up by 20%. This slow attitude has brought forth the US 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 re-establishing family values, friends, fee 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 of products and services without losing the essence of spirit.

In the movie Scent of a Woman, there is 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".