Think Slow, Act Fast: The Real Path to Sustainable Growth

A recent Wall Street Journal article wrote about the new generation of founders working 92-hour weeks. However, this celebration of “hustle” too often ignores its inevitable outcome: burnout.

The idea that we can grind endlessly has always been oversold. We aren’t machines; our willpower is a finite resource that drains with every decision, leaving us prone to costly errors when we’re running on empty.

Looking back at my time at Ola and TaxiForSure, I see this pattern clearly. We chased aggressive targets based on speed and gut instinct rather than deep thought, often wasting immense effort to hit arbitrary numbers.

This isn’t just a big-company problem; it’s an early-stage trap. Confusing frantic activity with strategic experimentation is the fastest way to burn through limited resources while solving the wrong problem.

We often hit our goals after immense pain and trial, but the cost was too high. The fear that competitors will outpace you is real, but rushing to market with a flawed product just means you’re making their mistakes for them.

It’s only now, after reading “How Big Things Get Done,” that the book’s core message seems even more relevant: “Think Slow, Act Fast.” It’s a powerful principle to avoid wasting our efforts on the wrong hustle.

This isn’t about procrastination; it’s about having the discipline to find the right direction before you apply force. This strategic pause is not a luxury you can’t afford; it’s a competitive advantage you can’t afford to skip.

The most successful founders didn’t win because of blind hustle; they won by applying intense effort to the right things. They took the time to solve core problems, often in unscalable ways, before they hit the accelerator.

Personally, I am of the opinion that this is the most sustainable and effective path to building something that lasts.