Benefits of Slow Productivity

In this episode, Brian Miller and Brian Tracy continue January's theme of resisting the tyranny of the urgent by exploring why "moving fast" isn't the same as "moving forward." They talk about Sabbath as a spiritual act of trust, Cal Newport's Slow Productivity, and how focus, rest, and even fun are not distractions—they're fuel. The conversation keeps circling one core idea: if you want to do better work, you may need to do less of it.

Key Highlights

• Brian and Brian open with playful banter, then pivot quickly into a serious tension: January goal-setting in a world where the future feels harder to predict.

• They name a common trap: false urgency—working really hard without clarity about what you're actually trying to achieve.

• Sabbath gets reframed as a non-optional command (yes, it's in the same list as "don't murder," which is… awkwardly clarifying).

• They unpack principles from Cal Newport's Slow Productivity: do fewer things, work at a natural pace, and obsess over quality.

• A practical leadership moment: both share examples of delegating what you're not gifted for (pastoral care / follow-up calls) so others can shine—and people actually like the care they receive.

Takeaways

• Speed is not a strategy. Clarity about where you're going beats frantic motion every time.

• Rest is a leadership discipline, not a reward. If you won't stop, you're basically telling God, "I got this," which is adorable… and wrong.

• Do less, better. Limit projects, double time estimates, and protect "recovery time" so your best work isn't squeezed out by your busiest work.

• Stay in your sweet spot. Stop trying to become "average" at what you're not built for—delegate it to someone who's a rock star.

• Quality makes you stand out. Whether it's a sermon, a weekly email, or coaching sessions—slower, more thoughtful work is often what creates real value.