How do you measure the lack of something? There are a lot of speed constants we become aware of as we go through life. We know that the speed of light is really fast and Einstein really cared about it. We all have seen something happen way off in the distance and noticed how long it takes before we hear it (probably the most famous is thunder, after seeing the flash of lightning). This gives us an idea about the speed of sound. We may have some idea as to the speed of smell. You may hear something and then you get an idea on long it is before your olfactory senses notice. But how do we measure the speed of something that does not exist?
How long does it take for you to hear a clap of thunder that never happens? How long does it take for your light to come on if you never turn the switch on? How long does it take for you to smell limburger cheese if you have no cheese?
The answers to these questions are wrapped up in the age old idea of is your glass half full or half empty, or said another way, are you expecting something or not?
If you are not expecting something and it never arrives, you remain very happy and oblivious to the speed of the non-event’s arrival. If you are expecting something and it never comes you are very frustrated and the speed becomes infinite. If your glass is half empty and you expect it to become empty, you are very content in your position. If your glass is half full, but you expect a full glass, you are going to become agitated in your predicament.
From this you start to realize that it is not a question of the actual speed, it is a question of the expectation that you hold. Frustration comes in the form of the event not meeting your anticipated desire. This is why in all of life it is so important to set expectations correctly. How do you do that?
Communication, communication, communication.
You must correctly set your own, your customers, your friends, your family, anyone in your circle’s expectation and then you must communicate so they know where you are in meeting those expectations.
Never let the expectations get overcome by the “Speed of Dark”.