I don't think I like the word "urgency"               [ Home ](https://davidharting.com) [ Notes ](https://davidharting.com/notes) [ Media Log ](https://davidharting.com/media) [ Pages ](https://davidharting.com/pages)  [ Login ](https://davidharting.com/login) 

 2026 June 11

I don't think I like the word "urgency"
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In this house, we operate with alacrity

  At every company I've worked at, we've "operated with urgency." I don't think I like that phrase.

For me, urgency is not clean fuel. It burns hot with black smoke. It implies imminent danger and raises my hackles. For me, I am operating with urgency when I'm putting out fires. (e.g., Incident at work, ER trip with the baby).

As a default mode: *Fast* is fun. *Focus* is clarifying. *Impact* is rewarding.

I like to operate with drive, intrinsic motivation, and speed. But for me personally, I am going to save a *perpetual* state of urgency for when my literal life is on the line.

In the meantime, when I get asked to operate with urgency, I am just going to mentally substitute "Operate with alacrity" or "Make haste!" I'll keep trying to find the most important thing to do, do it well, and do it fast.

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