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- The Spice Trader’s Reflections - 5 min read/listen
The Spice Trader’s Reflections - 5 min read/listen
Why you should go slow to go fast in sales
Short on time? Skip to the end for a 60 second recap!
“With people, slow is fast and fast is slow”

The letter trembled in Alaya’s hand. Kareem’s kingdom would no longer proceed with the purchase.
“Months of work, for nothing,” she muttered, crumpling the paper. The spices she had spent months perfecting now felt worthless. She had trusted Kareem’s certainty. Foolishly trusted.
A figure emerged from the shadows, draped in silver and black, an hourglass in his hand. “Who are you?” Alaya demanded, stepping back, her hand instinctively moving to her dagger.
“I am Qadar,” the figure replied calmly. “And I’m here to show you why your deal unraveled.”
Alaya’s eyes narrowed. “It unraveled because Kareem played me.”
Qadar smiled faintly. “Is that what you truly believe? Let me show you.”
The warehouse faded, replaced by Kareem’s palace. Alaya saw her past self seated across from him. The spices were spread out like treasure, but Kareem’s expression was distant.
“Our merchants are losing ground,” Kareem had said. “The markets to the west... they hunger for something new.”
Alaya had leaned forward eagerly. “These spices will quench that hunger. They are rare.”
“You saw only your gain,” Qadar murmured beside her. “You didn’t see his fears.”
Alaya frowned. “His fears?”
“Kareem was not worried about novelty; he was worried about survival. His merchants were slipping away, and you didn’t ask what losing them would mean for his kingdom.”
Alaya’s breath caught. She saw it now—the weariness in Kareem’s eyes, the weight of unspoken worry. “I should’ve asked what truly troubled him.”
Qadar nodded. “Had you slowed down, asked, ‘Kareem, what danger lies ahead if your traders cannot return?’ he might’ve told you. But you rushed, thinking the value of your spices was enough.”
The scene shifted. They were now in Kareem’s council chamber, where he examined the spices with interest. “These are impressive,” he had said, “but my council will need time to consider this.”
Alaya had smiled, confident. “Of course, they will see the value.”
Kareem had continued, “They are cautious. They must align this with our kingdom’s greater needs.”
Checkpoint: You’re halfway through. Keep going—there’s more to uncover.
In the memory, Alaya had waved off the concern. “Once they see how unique these spices are, their hesitation will melt away.”
Qadar paused the scene. “Here was your second misstep. You did not ask how his council reaches decisions. You didn’t ask how they deliberate or what they prioritize. You trusted Kareem to navigate the storm alone.”
Alaya’s face tightened. “I didn’t ask how they decide, or how long they take.”
“Exactly,” Qadar’s voice grew colder. “Had you been patient and sought to understand their process, you might have helped Kareem prepare. But you were in haste to close, and in that haste, you left him ill-equipped.”
The scene shifted again. They stood now in the palace gardens. Kareem’s words from that day hung in the air. “I believe we are close,” he had said, “but the council’s decisions move slowly.”
Alaya had brushed off his uncertainty. “Just let me know when you are ready.”
Qadar stepped forward, his eyes gleaming. “And here, you let the sands slip from your grasp.”
Alaya’s jaw tightened. “I didn’t push him for more.”
“You didn’t anchor the next step,” Qadar said, his voice low. “Had you said, ‘Let us meet your council together,’ or ‘How can I help you present this to them?’ you might have kept the momentum. Instead, you trusted time to move on its own.”
Alaya’s heart sank. “I trusted it would carry on.”
“And so, the deal withered,” Qadar said quietly. “Without a clear next step, the current died.”
The palace faded, and they were back in the cold, empty warehouse. The spices that once held so much promise now felt heavy and burdensome.
“You lost control,” Qadar said, the hourglass in his hand now empty. “Not because of ill intentions, but because you moved too quickly. You didn’t take time to understand what truly drove Kareem, or the process that governed his kingdom.”
Alaya stared at the ground. “I should’ve seen it.”
Qadar’s eyes gleamed. “Now you do. Next time, remember: haste is a merchant’s folly. You must slow down to truly understand. Only then can you move swiftly when it matters. Control the process by uncovering fears, understanding the decision-makers, and securing clear commitments.”
With that, Qadar vanished, leaving only the faint echo of his words.
60-Second Recap: Alaya’s deal fell apart because she rushed through the process. She didn’t take the time to understand Kareem’s deeper fears or how his council made decisions. Finally, she failed to secure a clear next step, letting the deal lose momentum. Qadar’s lesson: Slow down to go fast—take the time to uncover the real concerns, understand the decision-making process, and always ensure the next step is clear.
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