What are you rushing through?

Mastery in a world obsessed with speed.

One of my favorite parts of the day is our morning coffee ritual. Right after breakfast, my husband and I team up to brew a fresh cup. We've got our duties down to a science: I set the moka pot on the stove with water, while he carefully weighs and grinds the coffee beans. I warm the milk, making sure it doesn't go above 150°F, and he froths it to perfection. Then, the final act—he pours the milk over the freshly brewed coffee in our mugs. ☕️

We savor the aroma, enjoy the ritual of making it together, and settle in for a chat. It's the perfect, relaxing start to our day.

But today, we were out of coffee beans! 😱 Our usual supplier delayed the shipment, and we were beanless. In our world, that's a catastrophe! Thankfully, we found a jar of instant coffee hiding in the pantry. We got our caffeine fix, but the flavors were flat—just bitterness, no subtle notes or layers.

This got me curious about what really goes into instant coffee. Do you know how they make that stuff that fills supermarket shelves? They use a cheaper coffee bean called Robusta, brew it by immersion, then dry and seal it for a longer shelf life. It's all about quantity over quality. A teaspoon of instant coffee might have 4 grams of caffeine, but it lacks the flavor complexity of freshly ground beans.

Why do we reach for instant coffee?

Convenience. No grinding, no brewing—just hot water, and you’re done. But what are we compromising for convenience?

What are we trading for convenience?

When we start digging deeper, we see how much we sacrifice for convenience. And it's not just about coffee.

Think about an Italian grandma, rolling fresh pasta dough by hand. For her, pasta-making is a cherished tradition, an art passed down through generations. To her, store-bought pasta feels like an insult to that art, a shortcut that skips the heart of the process.

Think about startups that aim for rapid growth. Instead of building a solid foundation—like investing in customer research or refining their core product—they might rush to scale up too quickly. They could be using quick-and-easy marketing hacks instead of creating genuine value, just to see a bump in their metrics. Sure, it might bring some short-term gains, but over time, the lack of depth shows. Customers start to feel that the experience is superficial, and the brand's credibility suffers.

Look at the world of fitness. Many people choose a "magic pill" or a quick-fix diet over long-term habits like consistent exercise and balanced nutrition. They want instant results—a beach-ready body in two weeks—without understanding that true health is a marathon, not a sprint. When the quick fix doesn't work, they end up right back where they started, or worse.

Or take the tech industry, where speed is often prioritized over quality. Apps and software are rushed to market, filled with bugs, and lacking in user experience. Customers grow frustrated, and developers end up spending more time fixing issues than they would have if they'd taken their time in the first place.

Think about our daily communication. We've moved from handwritten letters that people kept as cherished memories, to instant messaging and emails that are quickly sent and forgotten. We’ve traded thoughtfulness for speed.

Is it worth it?

Sometimes, yes. Convenience has its place in our fast-paced world. We can't master everything; we don't have the time or energy. We should at least be aware of what we're giving up for that ease.

We need to recognize the value of slowing down, of committing to craft, to the joy of doing something well rather than just quickly. It's about choosing where to invest our time and energy: knowing what deserves our full attention and what doesn’t.

Imagine a life where you pick just one or two areas to truly excel in. Something you can be proud of—whether it's perfecting your homemade coffee, writing a book, building a meaningful startup, or nurturing a lifelong relationship. The rest can have shortcuts, but for those chosen things, give them everything.

Let’s respect the art of mastery. Let’s make intentional choices about where we accept convenience and where we push for excellence.

So, what's that one thing for you, where you won’t compromise? The thing you'll choose to craft with care, to learn deeply, and to do not just well, but exceptionally?