Otherwise, it’s going to be one hell of a bumpy ride

My copywriting manager used to joke, always tell the truth, just don’t always be telling it.

It’s a powerful mantra about honoring your integrity, but also honoring the needs of the moment.

Because you still have to read the room. There’s a time to be honest, and there’s a time to sell cars. That doesn’t make you a liar, simply discerning about the information you reveal, when you reveal it, and to whom.

I remember first learning this technique while working for a tech firm. Our startup made a text messaging service for franchise owners. And we launched a new throttling feature that customers had been asking about for years.

This is how our company founder explained it to me, and I’ll never forget it.

Imagine you were flying an airplane, and only had two gauges, on and off. That would be a problem. Every pilot needs a mechanism to slowly make the aircraft’s engines go faster on takeoff, and go slower on landing. They need a lever, rather than a button. Otherwise, it’s going to be one hell of a bumpy ride.

In software, throttling works in a similar way. Developers use a lever called a throttle to regulate the speed at which application processing is conducted. It’s a rate limiter.

Who knew airplanes, computers and human beings were so similar? Because the bigger idea here is about human performance.

Throttling relates to bandwidth management. And all can benefit from bigger idea here is about human performance. Throttling relates to bandwidth management. And all can benefit from learning how to regulate the flow of fuel in our own personal engines..

Not only for our own sanities, but for the sanities of those in our proximity.

Tell the truth, just don’t always be telling it.

Have you learned how to regulate the flow of fuel in your engine?