With the insane pace of the work environment these days, the thing we covet most about NOT working is the chance to slow down. To stop the gerbil wheel frenzy called "career" and just do one thing at a time. We yearn for the chance to simply enjoy the moment--whether it's catching sight of the first daffodil or helping the neighbor move a couch. The luxury of controlling your own time is sweet solace if you've been laid off and what you tend to savor most as you step into retirement.

But it's a bad idea to insist on it all the time.

When we control our own time and are accustomed to taking however much of it we want to decide things, we lose a skill that's hard to reclaim later--the ability to jump at opportunities. In the world of work, being able to do this is essential. You move from writing a white paper to putting out a customer service fire in a nanosecond. You go from teaching to discipline mode instantly.

It's an even more important skill in terms of career moves. I went from teaching college statistics to helping corporate managers build teams in one amazing jump. And from a staff position to line management in another.

I was moving in one direction at good speed before I made the jump and moving in a new one, just as fast, once I landed--without ever stopping to figure out where to place my feet, how to angle the leap, etc. I just said, "Okay. I can do that." And off the new train went with me on it.

Once we get out of that mode and particularly when we retire, we're more laid back about it. We "think about it." We "wait and see"--sometimes until next week, next month, or next year.

Taking the time to study it, even savor it, usually means it moves on before we're ready to move at all. And that means a lot of missed opportunities. That's particularly bad news if those opportunities don't come along as often as they used to.

Telling yourself you need to be able to move fast isn't enough. You need to practice doing it. Otherwise, you won't be ready when you need to be.

Five days ago, I learned an important opportunity--to which I'd made a preliminary commitment months ago--was happening in three days. To take advantage of it, I needed to move fast and do things I've been telling myself I don't have to do any more--FAX a signed document, set things up online to take a required class (which strikes terror into the hearts of most people over 50), and then get on with participating. Pronto!

Did I jump onto that new train with ease? Nope. I hesitated--worrying about not having the textbook, whether I could handle the online learning environment, and the fact that the timing was bad. That was smoke--I almost kissed off a key opportunity because I didn't want to relinquish control of my pace.

That's when having all the time you want to do whatever you want can become a negative. It's easy to forget--when you direct your own time all day every day--that opportunities usually require surrendering to someone or something else's timing. If, instead of jumping at the chance, you stand on the platform of the station ruminating, the engine pulling excitement and challenge will chug off without you.

Let's not do that.

But let's not jump onto every train that comes along either.

Dive at the obvious ones--the opportunities that relate directly to what you want in your life. Dinner with a critical contact. The chance to get involved in a cause you believe strongly about. Time with someone you'd really like to have a relationship with. The perfect job opportunity. But don't take too much time thinking on the ones that just "feel right" either. That's your intuition telling you spring into action. You need to remember what that voice sounds like.

But the rest? Maybe you want to go for a few just to keep your train-jumping skills honed.

An essential part of keeping your life exciting and fresh is taking advantage of unexpected opportunities. Often this means you can't take all the time you'd like to decide. Doing that requires you to let go of control of the pace of your life. At least once in a while. Yes, stop and smell the roses. Appreciate the connection with your canine buddy when you pet the dog.

But when the phone rings and someone offers you the opportunity you've been dreaming of, tell Fido you'll see him later and get going!

Copyright (c) 2009 Mary Lloyd