Thinking Deep. Thinking Slow.

The unexpected beauty of deliberate thinking in business and art.

I don't know about you, but I watch a lot of comedians on Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok. I'm always blown away by how quick they are on their feet, coming up with perfect retorts to audience feedback (heckling) time and time again. I'm jealous!

Often, when I'm in a meeting, I feel the pressure to come up with a good answer as quickly as possible. Ideally, it should feel like it took me no thought whatsoever... that I just intuitively know the right answer.

But the truth is, I'm not a fast thinker. I rarely come up with the best response on the fly. It takes me time.

I often feel like Marge Simpson: "Why do I always think of the perfect thing to say when it's too late?"

According to a study in Nature Communications and written about by Big Think: "Intelligent people take longer to solve hard problems."

In other words, the smarter you are, the more likely you are to take your time and think about problems deeply before responding.

("Take that, Becky," I imagine Marge retorting, eventually.)

This may come as a surprise to many people. After all, if you've ever taken an IQ test, you know a major component of the test isn't just how accurate your answers are, but how quickly you answered in the first place.

Yep, the smarter you are, the more you take your time to ponder deeply before responding.

But in the fast-paced world we live in, where everyone wants instant results, marketers and creative folks should treasure the art of slow, deep thinking.

Marketing and creativity aren't about rushing out immediate solutions. They require analysis, consideration, and looking beyond the surface. Slow thinking gives us space to contemplate and explore, diving into the complexities of problems and ideas.

For marketers, taking the time to think deeply pays off. It helps craft strategies, develop impactful campaigns, and truly understand target audiences. Superficial insights won't cut it. We need to dig deeper, uncover consumer motivations, spot emerging trends, and create innovative solutions. Thorough research and analysis make all the difference.

Creatives, whether artists, writers, or designers, benefit from slow thinking. The creative process thrives on reflection, ideation, and iteration. Groundbreaking ideas, unique perspectives, and imaginative solutions are born when we take the time to ponder. Rushing stifles originality and limits true innovation.

Deep thinking allows for critical evaluation and refinement too. Rushing means we miss important details and overlook flaws. Slowing down lets us critically assess our work, identify areas for improvement, and ensure our strategies align with our objectives.

Plus, slow thinking brings mindfulness and intentionality. We're bombarded with distractions and information overload, making shallow thinking and reactive decision-making the norm. Slowing down cultivates mindfulness, taps into intuition, and creates work that deeply resonates.

So let's challenge the idea that "working faster is working smarter." Embrace the power of slow thinking in your quest for marketing excellence and creative brilliance.

Take your time. Think deep. Think slow. Boldly create your best work. Even if you're the last one to the party. No one will remember who got there first if you get there best.