“Slow excellence is about doing the same thing every day but finding a new nuance in it. It is about loving something so much you want to teach it.”
Episode Transcript
Hi there, my name is Cameron Conaway. Welcome to 3-Minute Reframe.
So for decades, Jiro Ono was considered the world’s greatest sushi chef. His restaurant, located in a Tokyo subway station, held three Michelin stars despite only seating ten people. Now 100 years old, when asked the secret to his longevity, he simply replies: “To work.”
But if you watch the documentary Jiro Dreams of Sushi, you see that “work” for him isn’t just grinding. It is a relentless, decades-long curiosity. It is about doing the same thing every day but finding a new nuance in it. It is about loving something so much you want to teach it.
I call this “Slow Excellence.”
This is a radical concept in an era where we have more tools than ever to distract us, pushing us toward a path of “Fast Averageness”—where we use tools to know a little about a lot, but master nothing.
Professionally, I’ve been working to apply Slow Excellence to two areas of my life. First, in studying the infinite intricacies of feedback—not just how to give it, but how it fuels innovation. And second, as I recently transitioned from corporate to teaching full-time this year, I am trying to slowly improve my craft as a teacher, day by day, lecture by lecture.
If you haven’t seen it, the film Jiro Dreams of Sushi is on Netflix. I’ve linked it in the notes.
And our invitation today: Where in your life—perhaps in a hobby, a relationship, or a specific work skill—might you be able to apply the concept of Slow Excellence? Notice if you feel resistance to slowing down. That resistance, too, often contains some deep lessons. I’ll see you next week.
Show Notes
Don't Just Keep Up.
Define the New Rules.
3-Minute Reframe isn't just another newsletter. It’s where new language for modern leadership is forged. Explore some of the frameworks shaping the future of personal and professional growth.