Speed is vital. You got to strike fast. Fads have short lives

Hear, O seekers of fortune and students of time, the words of Ken Hakuta, who declared: “Speed is vital. You got to strike fast. Fads have short lives, and you got to get what you can – like the case of the Pet Rock.” These words, though born in the world of commerce, resound with the ancient rhythm of opportunity and the fleeting nature of chance. They are a reminder that in the marketplace of life, hesitation may cost everything, and swiftness may secure the crown.

For in every age, there are fads, sudden fires that blaze brightly in the hearts of the people, only to die as quickly as they arose. These are not the slow-growing oaks of tradition, but the wildflowers of a single season. They cannot be nurtured for decades; they must be seized in their moment, harvested swiftly before they wither. Thus Hakuta proclaims that speed is vital, for those who tarry will find only ashes where once there was flame.

The tale of the Pet Rock is the perfect parable. In the 1970s, Gary Dahl took what seemed absurd—an ordinary stone marketed as a companion—and turned it into a phenomenon. For a brief and shining moment, the world embraced the joke, and millions were sold. Yet just as quickly as the fire blazed, it burned out. Those who struck quickly profited greatly; those who lingered found no treasure, only silence. So it is with every fad—the gift is real, but it must be seized with speed.

Consider, O listener, the story of Julius Caesar crossing the Rubicon. He knew that hesitation would be his ruin. Once the chance came, he struck boldly, declaring, “The die is cast.” His swiftness changed the fate of Rome. Likewise, in the realm of invention, Alexander Graham Bell patented the telephone mere hours before a rival arrived with the same idea. In both war and invention, as in business, victory belonged not merely to the strong, but to the swift.

The meaning of Hakuta’s words is clear: life offers moments that are fleeting, doors that open only for a short while. To delay is to watch them close forever. In the pursuit of opportunity—whether in commerce, in art, or in destiny itself—one must cultivate the courage to act quickly. To be too cautious, to wait for certainty, is to let the moment slip away, for fads have short lives, and chance is often a bird that lands only once.

The lesson, O child of tomorrow, is this: train yourself to recognize the moment when it arrives. Do not waste time waiting for the perfect conditions, for they may never come. When the flame of opportunity burns before you, strike while it is hot. Whether it be a chance to create, to invest, to love, or to fight for your cause—act swiftly. Regret comes not from failing after bold action, but from watching the door close because you would not step through it.

Practical action follows: cultivate awareness, so you may see opportunities others miss. Cultivate courage, so you may act when others hesitate. And cultivate discipline, so that when the fire of a fad or fleeting chance appears, you are ready to seize it without fear. Remember that not every chance is eternal; some are like the Pet Rock—strange, brief, but powerful if taken at the right time.

Therefore, remember Hakuta’s wisdom: speed is vital. Strike fast, for hesitation is the enemy of opportunity. Let your life not be marked by the chances you let slip away, but by the boldness with which you acted when the moment demanded it. For those who seize the fleeting flame, even a stone may become gold, and even a passing fad may become the foundation of lasting fortune.