Don't Expect Crockpot Results
From A Microwave
Ah, finally – October is here. Fall has arrived. The air is cooler, the leaves are turning, and there’s something about this season that makes me want to retreat indoors, cozy up, and enjoy some good warm food (preferably with lots of melty cheese and some carbs – ha!). One of my favorite weekend routines is meal prepping for the week ahead.
In the summer, you’ll find me on the deck, grilling and soaking in the sunshine. But as the days get shorter and the evenings turn chilly, I move my routine inside, usually with football humming in the background. It’s crockpot season, friends. Soup season. Comfort food season.
Of course, there are those weekends when life just doesn’t allow for it. You know the ones – when you’re running behind, errands take longer than planned, and dinner ends up being something microwavable. A black bean burger, a Lean Cuisine, whatever gets the job done. And sure, you look at the label and think, Okay, this isn’t that bad. Fast. Easy. Done. But does it actually satisfy you?
For me, the answer is always no. Microwave meals get the job done in theory, but they never leave me feeling nourished. I’ve learned that when I take the time to plan and cook with intention – I feel grounded. I feel good.
And honestly, there’s just something magical about a crockpot.
Fun fact – the crockpot was actually born out of one man’s desire to recreate his grandmother’s slow-cooked stew. In the 1940s, Irving Naxon invented a countertop bean cooker inspired by his grandma’s recipe for cholent, a traditional Jewish dish that simmered all day for the Sabbath. A few decades later, the Rival Company bought his design, renamed it the Crock-Pot, and the rest is history. (source: Smithsonian Magazine, “How the Crock-Pot Revolutionized Home Cooking,” 2015).
So maybe it’s no wonder I’m drawn to it. The whole thing is built on patience – on trusting that good things take time. The process of chopping, seasoning, and letting everything come together low and slow is deeply satisfying in a way that five minutes in a microwave will never be. The aromas fill the house, the meat turns tender, the flavors meld. It reminds me to slow down.
One Friday night, while I was prepping my crockpot recipe, a phrase popped into my head: “You can’t use a microwave and get crockpot results.”
And it hit me – that’s not just about food. It’s about life.
We live in a culture obsessed with fast, cheap, and easy. In marketing, I see it constantly: “Just get it done. Quick.” And look, I can move fast when I need to. But the truth is – the work I’m most proud of, the relationships I value most, and the growth I’ve experienced personally and professionally have all come from the slow, steady kind of effort.
You can’t shortcut your way to something meaningful.
Here’s how the crockpot principle plays out in different parts of life:
1. Skill-Building
Fast/Easy: You can binge-watch YouTube tutorials or take a weekend crash course and feel like you’re learning – but it fades fast.
Slow/Consistent: Real mastery comes from doing the reps. Daily practice, curiosity, and feedback turn information into instinct.
2. Career Growth
Fast/Easy: Jumping jobs for bigger titles or chasing quick recognition looks like progress – until it burns you out.
Slow/Consistent: Showing up, building trust, learning from mentors, being self-aware, and stacking small wins compounds into real, lasting success.
3. Health & Fitness
Fast/Easy: Crash diets, “magic” supplements, and extreme fitness challenges might give quick results – but they don’t last.
Slow/Consistent: Balanced meals, consistent movement, and giving your body time to adapt build lifelong health and strength.
4. Relationships
Fast/Easy: Instant chemistry and surface-level connection can fade quickly.
Slow/Consistent: Listening, showing up, and small acts of care build depth and trust.
5. Financial Growth
Fast/Easy: Gambling, trends, and get-rich-quick schemes are exciting – and fleeting.
Slow/Consistent: Saving, investing, and letting time and discipline do their thing builds stability and financial peace.
6. Creative Projects / Business Success
Fast/Easy: Rushing a launch or glorifying the social media ‘hustle’ might look impressive – but it rarely lasts.
Slow/Consistent: Thoughtful research, strategy, testing, pivoting, and patience build brands that actually last.
7. Learning
Fast/Easy: Cramming for a test or copying someone else’s notes might get you through the moment.
Slow/Consistent: Taking time to understand, apply, and question what you’re learning builds wisdom – not just memory.
The difference between a microwave and a crockpot couldn’t be clearer. With a crockpot, you prepare yourself mentally – you know it’s going to take time, but it’ll be worth it. You can’t lift the lid too early. You have to trust the process.
With a microwave, you hit start and get impatient when it doesn’t cook fast enough. The edges are molten, the middle’s still frozen, and somehow you’re surprised every time that it’s not what you hoped for.
Fast and Slow… The Combo That Works
The truth is, sometimes you do need a quick fix. Not everything can be slow-cooked – sometimes you need a same-day turnaround on a project, a campaign that reacts to breaking news, or dinner in ten minutes because you’re starving and it’s already 8 p.m.
In life and in business, you need both. The crockpot meal is your main dish – the long-term, strategic work that builds real depth and flavor over time. But those quick sides? They’re your short wins. A clever idea, a spontaneous post, a fast pivot that complements the big picture.
The key is balance. Move fast when you have to – but don’t forget what’s simmering in the background. Don’t forget the work that takes time. Because that’s the work that fills you up.
And as I watched my crockpot bubble away that night, it hit me that dinner wasn’t the only thing cooking – the patience, consistency, and intention I was practicing in the kitchen are the same ingredients that create fulfillment in everything else.
Quick “microwave” shortcuts don’t produce lasting results – in the kitchen, in your career, in your relationships, or in your health. Sometimes, the slow way really is the best way.
— Jessica
Your Next Move
Personal:
Where in your life are you trying to “microwave” something that really needs time to develop?
What daily habit or small routine could you commit to this month that would move you closer to your long-term goals?
When was the last time you felt proud of something that took a long time to achieve?
What’s one area where you could show more patience – with yourself or with others?
If your personal growth were a meal, what would be in your “crockpot” right now?
Business:
Which parts of your business strategy require more time and attention to develop effectively?
Are you prioritizing short-term wins over long-term brand building?
What “microwave habits” exist in your workplace that might be holding back quality or creativity?
How can you better balance quick-turn projects with slower, foundational work?
Who or what in your career deserves a little more time on “low and slow”?
Let’s discuss together on the chat!
-J
