#34 Blissful ignorance
I’m running late, I break into a run, I must catch my train at 6:23 with a 2-minute window to board the vessel from this small train station in the middle of the countryside. I throw my stuff in the car, it’s 5:51 when I finally turn on the engine.
I was so close to surrendering right away because I wasn’t able to honor my sacred “20 min ahead before every departure”. Indeed, the ride is about 15-20 min to get to the train station, not to mention the extra time to park.
5:51 I hit the gas and flirt with the speed limit, I pass 2 cars, my adrenaline is rising.
I never miss a train in my life, and this can’t be the first time. Especially not on a quiet sunny Sunday, with no good reason other than my inability to anticipate the expected-unexpected last minute things.
Almost there… the train station comes into view, this is the home stretch.
The stars align and I somehow manage to park in the very last empty spot.
I run with a suitcase twice my weight, I take the stairs to go down under the rails, then the stairs again to go back up on the other side. The platform is packed.
6:12, I’m drenched in sweat, but I somehow miraculously did it, and I still have a few sacred minutes to spare…
20 seconds later, the train arrives.
How is THIS possible?
Since when does a train leave more than 10 minutes early?
I follow the crowd to board and look at my ticket to find my seat.
After just a minute, the train had left the station, and I watched the empty quay shrink into the distance.
Indeed, this train was never scheduled for 6:23—this imaginary number was just in my head.
1/ There are definitely situations in which not knowing can be better than knowing. The less stressed we are, the more laser-performant we can be and the more prone to take risks we become.
Because of our poor ability to manage stress, we might be grateful for not having all information—even if it is critical— to preserve ourselves from becoming disempowered, or even worse: from dismissing ourselves.
As brilliant Mark Twain said: “They didn’t know it was impossible so they did it”.
If you are a leader it’s worth considering when not to tell your team that the train is actually scheduled at 6:12.
2/ What are your rituals ?
Sophisticated and efficient rituals in normal times (my sacred 20 minutes ahead) can limit you in difficult times or more complex settings.
Rituals set up standards that are hard to be maintained when things get complicated and consequently can generate extra doses of stress. Again, I don’t recommend that you abandon your tried and true rituals, but I definitely invite you to regularly play out some variations so as to not get trapped in stiff habits.
3/Now ask yourself : where are you currently lacking the most time?
Start there; you always are the entry point regardless of how hurried or late you are in your endeavor.
Calming down and relaxing is an indisputable advantage in enabling yourself to be more performant.Convoke yourself to take these precious missing minutes you need to recenter yourself first in order to better manage the costly effects of stress.
By the way, what time is your next train?