SLOW-DOWN CULTURE - an interesting reflection

An interesting reflection: Slow-Down Culture

It has been 18 years since I joined Volvo, a Swedish company. Working
for
them has proven to be an interesting experience. Any project here takes
two
years to be finalized, even if the idea is simple and brilliant. It's a
rule.

Globalization processes have caused in us (all over the world) a
general
sense of searching for immediate results. Therefore, we have come to
possess a need to see immediate results. This contrasts greatly with
the
slow movements of the Swedish. They, on the other hand, debate, debate,
debate, hold xxx quantity of meetings and work with a slow-down scheme.
At
the end, this always yields better results.

Said in another words:

1. Sweden is about the size of San Pablo, a state in Brazil.

2. Sweden has 2 million inhabitants.

3. Stockholm, has 500,000 people.

4. Volvo, Escania, Ericsson, Electrolux, Nokia are some of its renowned
companies.  Volvo supplies the NASA.

The first time I was in Sweden, one of my colleagues picked me up at
the
hotel every morning. It was September, very cold and snowy. We would
arrive
early at the company and he would park far away from the entrance
(2,000
employees drive their car to work). The first day, I didn't say
anything,
either the second or third. One morning, I asked, "Do you have a fixed
parking space? I've noticed we park far from the entrance even when
there
are no other cars in the lot." To which he replied, "Since we're here
early
we have time to walk, and whoever gets in late will be late and needs a
parking space closer to the door. Don't you think?" Imagine my
reaction.

Nowadays, there's a movement in Europe called Slow Food. This movement
establishes that people should eat and drink slowly, with enough time
to
taste their food, spend time with the family, friends, without rushing.

Slow Food is against its counterpart: the spirit of Fast Food and what
it
stands for as a lifestyle. Slow Food is the basis for a bigger movement
called Slow Europe, as mentioned in Business Week. Basically, the
movement
questions the sense of "hurry" and "craziness" generated by
globalization,
fueled by the desire to "have in quantity" (life status) versus "having
with quality", "life quality" or the "quality of being". The French,
even
though they work 35 hours a week, are more productive than the
Americans or
the British. The Germans have established 28.8-hour work weeks and have
seen their productivity driven up by 20%.

This slow attitude has brought forth the US's attention, pupils of the
fast
and the "do it now!". This no-rush attitude doesn't represent doing
less or
having a lower productivity. It means working and doing things with
greater
quality, productivity, perfection, with attention to detail and less
stress.



It means re-establishing family values, friends, free and leisure time.
It
means taking the "now", present and concrete, versus the "global",
undefined and anonymous. It means taking humans' essential values, the
simplicity of living. It stands for a less coercive work environment,
happier, lighter and more productive, where humans enjoy doing what
they
know best how to do.

It's time to stop and think on how companies need to develop serious
quality with no rush that will increase productivity and the quality of
products and services, without losing the essence of spirit.

In the movie, Scent of a Woman, there's a scene where Al Pacino asks a
girl
to dance and she replies, "I can't, my boyfriend will be here any
minute
now". To which Al Pacino responds, "A life is lived in an instant".
Then
they dance to a tango.

Many of us live our lives running after time, but we only reach it when
we
die of a heart attack or in a car accident rushing to be on time.
Others
are so anxious of living the future that they forget to live the
present,
which is the only time that truly exists. We all have equal time
throughout
the world. No one has more or less. The difference lies in how each one
of
us does with our time. We need to live each moment. As John Lennon
said,
"Life is what happens to you while you're busy making other plans".

Congratulations for reading this till the end. There are many who will
have
stopped in the middle so as not to waste time in this globalized world.


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