Go Slow to Go Fast

Building an encyclopedic base of knowledge enables individuals to transition from slow, deliberate learning to rapid execution and decision-making. Founders like Sam Walton exemplified this approach by dedicating years to mastering the retail sector through focused effort on a single store, which later allowed him to capitalize on new opportunities with remarkable speed. Similarly, Lee Liu emphasizes the importance of extensive reading and research early in one’s career, pointing out that foundational knowledge can later streamline the evaluation process. This principle is echoed by Warren Buffett, who over decades of reading annual reports has honed his skills to identify critical information quickly. The process of going slow to build a depth of understanding serves as a preparation phase, facilitating faster and more efficient actions as opportunities arise, reinforcing that significant learning may not yield immediate results but proves invaluable over time.