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"More Haste, Less Speed" — The Japanese Saying Isogaba Maware (急がば回れ)

 

One of my favorite Japanese sayings is 急がば回れ (Isogaba Maware).

 

It literally means, "If you are in a hurry, go around."

 

At first, it sounds backward. When we face a problem, our instinct is often to attack it head-on. We try harder, push harder, fight harder, and force our way through. Sometimes we make a little progress, but often we waste time and energy struggling against an obstacle.

 

The saying teaches a different approach.

 

Instead of trying to conquer every obstacle, ask yourself if the obstacle even needs to be conquered. Sometimes the fastest way to reach your destination is not through the problem—but around it.

 

This applies to business as well. Companies often spend months trying to beat a competitor, convince an impossible customer, or fix a process that simply isn't worth fixing. Meanwhile, another opportunity may be waiting just around the corner.

 

The same is true in life. Not every argument has to be won. Not every wall has to be climbed. Sometimes changing direction is not giving up—it is choosing a wiser path.

 

There is a difference between persistence and stubbornness. Wisdom is knowing which one to use.

 

So the next time you feel stuck, remember this old Japanese proverb:

 

If you're in a hurry, don't always charge straight ahead. Sometimes the quickest way forward is to go around.

 

PS: The proverb dates back to Japan's Muromachi period and comes from a poem by the renga poet Sōchō. Travelers crossing Lake Biwa could choose the Yabase Ferry (shorter but weather-dependent) or the Seta Bridge (longer but reliable). The lesson: the sure path is often the quickest in the end.