Slow Is Smooth, and Smooth Is Fast: A North Country Strategy for Business and Life

I first heard the phrase “Slow is smooth, and smooth is fast” during Search and Rescue training. We were preparing for a nighttime navigation drill—tension high, gear packed, everyone ready to sprint into the woods. That’s when the instructor stopped us and said:

“You’re not in a race. Move with intention. Slow is smooth. Smooth is fast.”

That stuck with me.

At the time, I thought it was just about staying safe on rescue missions. But over the years, I’ve realized it applies just as much to running a business—especially here in Northern New Hampshire, where we’re often juggling too much with too little.

Chasing Dreams at Full Speed

If you’re running a business in the North Country, your days might look like this:

• Answering texts between client calls and snowplow runs

• Posting on social media while heating up leftovers

• Squeezing in bookkeeping after the kids are asleep

We move fast because we have to. Resources are limited. Schedules are packed. And no one’s coming to save the day—we do it ourselves, because that’s what we’ve always done.

But going fast isn’t always going well.

The Hidden Costs of Constant Hustle

Without space to pause, things start to unravel:

• Important details get missed

• Your online presence stops reflecting who you really are

• You feel scattered, even when you’re working nonstop

• Systems grow around the chaos, not around the clarity

And before long, you’re telling yourself, “Just one more week of this pace.” But that week becomes months. The weight builds. The joy fades.

What “Slow Is Smooth” Looks Like for Businesses in the North Country

Slowing down isn’t about stopping or giving up. It’s about making space for smoothness.

And smoothness? That’s where everything changes.

It means:

• Taking one morning to clean up your digital presence

• Saying no to one opportunity that doesn’t fit your goals

• Streamlining a task so it supports instead of drains you

When you move with intention, things begin to flow. Conversations go better. Decisions get clearer. You stop spinning and start steering.

A Local Example

One business owner I worked with had a great service, a loyal customer base, and a deeply rooted presence in town. But her online visibility? Chaos. Inconsistent listings, outdated reviews, and a website that didn't reflect the value the business was offering.

We paused. Took a breath. Cleaned things up.

And you know what happened? Her business didn’t slow down—it sped up. Because now it was smooth. Easier for people to find her, trust her, and support her.

That’s what “smooth is fast” really means.

A Thought to Carry With You

If your days feel like a runaway train, maybe this is your sign to pause.

Not forever. Just long enough to ask:

• What’s feeling unnecessarily hard?

• What would make this season smoother?

• What can I let go of to make room for what really matters?

Because fast isn’t the goal. Flow is.

“Slow is smooth. Smooth is fast.” Not just in search and rescue. In business. In life.

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If this landed for you, pass it along to someone else who’s been in go-mode for too long. We all need the reminder sometimes.

You’re doing enough. And you deserve a pace that lets you breathe.

-Amanda