Manifesto for Slow Business. Part 2

Here are four more ideas for our Manifesto for Slow Business. On reading these back they perhaps seem a bit glib or obvious but I have found the thought process useful.

6. Consider the long term. This is a fundamental of Slow Business. What we do today matters tomorrow. At G / H we can think long-term about the longevity and usefulness of our products, and ergo, about the world that we want to occupy. This might be considered a luxury by some. But it isn’t, it’s a useful consideration when designing and making something because it makes a clear stand against fast fashion/disposability.

7. Know that most great things take time. Not all -some extraordinary art seems to land in the world, suddenly, as if from space- but most. So many entrepreneurs that I meet, and often mentor, seem to think that you can create a business in a matter of two or three years. And you can certainly get things going fairly quickly; but making a company profitable and robust takes years and years.

8. Attention to detail is everything. Let’s try to only put stuff out there that we are truly happy with.

This applies to everything, be it product, photos, printed stuff, packaging. This means plugging away with determination, which is often counterintuitive, but it definitely pays dividends.

This doesn’t mean we won’t make mistakes, of course it doesn’t. But it does mean that at the point that we put that stuff out there, we feel supremely confident in it. This definitely takes time.

9. Know when to say ‘no’. If it doesn’t seem right, say no. Prevarication is the enemy of progress, so this is a recommendation to trust your gut. Don’t try to please people, be honest.