A Slower Pace, A Fuller Life: Intentional Work
- Bethel Francis
- 6 days ago
- 4 min read
As we head into 2026, I’ve been doing a lot of quiet reflection — not just about business goals, but about how I want to work, live, and move through my days.
Like many people, I love digital tools.
They’re efficient.
They’re fast.
They’ve made working from home possible in ways we couldn’t have imagined years ago.
But recently, a simple conversation reminded me of something important.
I reached out to a business I partner with, hoping to explore a service option that fit my
workflow a bit better. Their response was polite and clear: everything they offer is fully digital. No alternatives. No flexibility.
And while that’s not wrong — it’s actually very modern — it made me pause.
Loving digital… without losing perspective
I’m grateful for digital convenience. I love seeing payments land in my account instantly. I love automation. I love efficiency.
But I also don’t want convenience to replace intention.
There’s something grounding about certain slower processes — even something as simple as receiving a cheque, knowing the funds are there, and allowing time for it to clear. Not because I don’t already have provision, but because waiting teaches perspective. It reminds you that not everything has to happen right now to be secure.
Patience isn’t a weakness in business — it’s a discipline.
When everything becomes “boom, boom, boom”
One thing I’ve noticed in modern entrepreneurship is how quickly everything moves:
Boom.
Rush.
Deadline.
Launch.
Next thing.
And when we rush, mistakes happen.
Those mistakes then require correction — often taking longer than if we had slowed down in the first place.
Somewhere along the way, many of us stopped valuing patience.
But patience builds clarity. It protects quality. It creates space for wisdom.
When urgency disguises itself as opportunity
Recently, I had a conversation with a couple of businesses that were interested in partnering with me. The calls were positive, encouraging — and familiar.
One of them said something like:“
You’ll want to take advantage of this now, especially during the holiday season. This deal won’t be there anymore.”
After the call, I paused.
Not because the offer was bad — but because I recognized the pattern.
We hear it all the time:
“This won’t be available later.”
“Business owners will only be looking at the start of the new year.”
“You want everything ready and firing so you don’t miss out.”
And slowly, without realizing it, urgency becomes the decision-maker.
That’s the trap.
When everything is framed as now or never, we stop asking better questions:
Is this aligned?
Is this the right timing?
Am I building intentionally, or reacting?
Rushing can feel productive. It can even feel responsible. But over time, it trains us to move without reflection — and that’s usually where mistakes begin.
I don’t believe good business is built on constant pressure. I believe it’s built on clarity, patience, and trust that what’s meant to grow will grow — without forcing it.
Art taught me this long before business did
My creative life taught me this lesson years ago.
Albums aren’t made overnight.
Songs are written, rewritten, tweaked, produced, revisited.
Time is part of the process.
Even now, with AI and rapid production tools — which can be helpful — there’s a tension. Speed has its place, but when everything is rushed, we unintentionally create a culture that values output over depth. And then we wonder why some things feel hollow.
We helped build that pace. Now we get to choose differently.
The power of small, human moments
This reflection also brought me back to something very simple: presence.
Walking to the coffee shop.
Sitting down with no immediate deadline.
Enjoying a cup of coffee.
Being able to walk there at all.
Those moments are gifts — and they’re easy to overlook.
For me, being at a café doesn’t mean I’m avoiding work. It means I’ve created space to focus without pressure. One or two hours of intentional work in a different environment can reset your entire day.
Then I can go home, lock in, and work deeply again.
My intention for 2026
As I look ahead, I don’t want my entire life — or business — to exist inside one room, one screen, one pace.
I’m aiming for balance:
Mostly working from home, focused and disciplined
Intentionally stepping out — walking, mailing documents, meeting people, interacting
Allowing patience to shape decisions
Valuing accuracy over urgency
Choosing presence over constant acceleration
This isn’t about slowing down because I’m tired. It’s about slowing down because I want to build well.
Growth doesn’t always mean faster.
Sometimes it means deeper.
Sometimes it means steadier.
Sometimes it means human.
And that’s the kind of growth I’m choosing for 2026.
Upcoming Event: MACCAM Art + Work — Tax Info Session (January 8)
As part of this season of reflection and intentional growth, I’ll be participating in MACCAM (Multicultural Artist Coalition) on Thursday, January 8, facilitating an Art + Work — Tax Information Session.
This gathering brings together artists, creatives, business owners, and community members for thoughtful conversation, connection, and shared learning. It’s exactly the kind of space that aligns with what I’ve been reflecting on — building relationships intentionally, exchanging ideas without rushing, and growing together in a way that’s sustainable and grounded.
During the session, I’ll be guiding a practical and accessible discussion around taxes for artists and self-employed creatives, with the goal of helping participants gain clarity, ask better questions, and approach the new year with confidence rather than pressure.
Full event details, including registration, are available here:
If this resonates with you, I’d love for you to join us.
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