The Accelerator Trap: When Speed Sends You Off Course

Lately, I’ve been thinking about the word accelerator—one of those buzzy, well-intended terms that keeps showing up in business, education, and innovation spaces. It suggests momentum, progress, getting somewhere faster. But where, exactly?

It makes me think about when I’m playing a popular racing game—the kind with cartoon characters bumping along chaotic tracks, dodging obstacles, and scrambling for power-ups. All of a sudden, you get the star. That golden, flashing burst of invincibility kicks in, and suddenly you’re flying forward at breakneck speed. But if you weren’t ready for it—if you were on a tight turn or a narrow bridge—you’re just as likely to go careening off the track as you are to take the lead.

It’s easy to be seduced by speed—especially when it can be bought or superficially generated. In an age of paid promotions, social media algorithms, and venture-backed scaling, acceleration can feel manufactured rather than earned. Viral moments, follower spikes, and overnight funding create the illusion of progress, but without a strong foundation, they often collapse just as quickly—leaving people further behind than where they started. It’s like hitting a speed boost in a racing game, only to spin out on the next turn, watching as others pass while you scramble to recover. Speed alone can launch you forward, but without control, it just as easily sends you crashing.

We live in a culture that celebrates hustle, fast growth, and instant success. We hear about entrepreneurs who “skyrocketed” to success, businesses that “scaled quickly,” and artists who went viral overnight. But what we don’t hear as often are the stories of people who accelerated too soon—who hit the gas before they had control of the wheel, only to spin out, burn out, or lose their way entirely.

For artists and entrepreneurs, this lesson is especially important. Creative careers and independent businesses aren’t built on a single breakthrough or a sudden burst of momentum—they are shaped by steady, intentional effort over time. Chasing the fastest route to success can be tempting, but longevity comes from building something with a strong foundation. We’ve all seen stories of someone who “blew up overnight” or whose work went viral, but what happens after that moment? Without direction, it’s easy to burn out, lose creative control, or pivot so quickly that the original vision gets lost. The artists and entrepreneurs who build meaningful, lasting careers are the ones who take the time to develop their voice, test their ideas, and make adjustments along the way. They understand that sustainable growth isn’t about rushing to the finish line—it’s about making each step count.

This kind of sustainable growth offers a different kind of momentum—one that values direction over speed. The classic fable of The Tortoise and the Hare has endured for a reason. The hare, confident in its speed, rushes ahead without thinking, assuming victory is inevitable. The tortoise, slow but steady, keeps moving forward with intention. And in the end, it’s not the one who moved the fastest but the one who stayed on course who wins.

This principle isn’t just an old fable—it’s backed by research. In Peak: Secrets from the New Science of Expertise, psychologist Anders Ericsson and journalist Robert Pool argue that real, sustainable progress comes from deliberate practice—focused, intentional work done over time. Their studies show that experts in almost any field don’t reach mastery by accelerating wildly but by steadily honing their craft, making thoughtful adjustments along the way. Success isn’t about how quickly you move; it’s about how intentionally you improve.

The pressure to accelerate is everywhere. The expectation to create more, produce faster, and constantly be moving can feel overwhelming. But true progress isn’t about how quickly you get there—it’s about knowing where you’re going. Slow and steady doesn’t mean stagnant; it means thoughtful, deliberate movement toward something real.

So when I hear the word accelerator, I wonder: Are we accelerating toward something meaningful? Or are we just speeding up because we think we’re supposed to? Fast isn’t always better. Growth isn’t always about scale. And sometimes, the real key to getting ahead isn’t a power boost—it’s knowing where you’re going and taking each turn with clarity.