Don’t Ride Blind: How Awareness Turns Speed into Clarity

I know a nduthi guy, for those unfamiliar with Kenyan slang, that’s a motorbike taxi rider. He’s hard to miss. His bike is among the loudest on our side of town; you hear him long before you see him. From the comfort of my home, nearly a kilometer away from his route, I always know when he’s arrived and when he’s left.

What I admire about him is his talent, the way he glides through Nairobi’s relentless traffic, cutting through gridlock like a skilled racer. He’ll get you to your meeting just on time while everyone else is still sweating in their cars. However, I recently noticed something that made me stop: he had no side mirrors.

Now, I say he “graduated” from noise to no mirrors because it takes a special kind of confidence to ride like that. I remember once asking him how he manages without mirrors. He smiled and said, “Boss, I listen. I’m aware.”

Not exactly fun to hear: Only 10-15% of people are truly self-aware, but a shocking 95% think they are.

That line stayed with me. Because as I watched him speed away, I realized many of us are just like that. We charge ahead, loud, determined, and eager to prove ourselves. We’re heard, seen, and even admired. But sometimes, in all that forward momentum, we forget to look back.

We forget to check our blind spots.

1.        The Mirrors We Remove

Let’s be honest, we've all done it. We remove “mirrors” from our lives because we think they slow us down. Feedback feels uncomfortable. Reflection feels unnecessary. So, we replace awareness with speed, and humility with noise.

But just like my friend’s missing side mirrors, what we remove for convenience can become the very thing that jeopardizes our safety. Without mirrors, every lane change becomes a risk. Without awareness, every decision becomes uncertain.

In coaching, I meet people who say, “I’m fine, I know what I’m doing.” And maybe they do. But that confidence without reflection can be fragile. Real growth isn’t about knowing, it’s about being open enough to see.

When was the last time you asked for honest feedback? Not the polite kind, but the kind that makes you pause and say, “I didn’t see that about myself.”

That’s your mirror moment.

2.       The Speed That Blinds Us

Speed is addictive. There’s an excitement in making progress, ticking off tasks, chasing goals, and being the first to arrive. But speed without awareness is like driving at night with your headlights off — you feel powerful until you crash.

My nduthi friend rides quickly, but he also bullies his way through traffic. And yes, it gets him there. But it’s risky. All it takes is one pedestrian stepping out, one distracted driver, one unexpected pothole, and his “control” collapses.

We do the same in life. We rush to deliver results, close deals, fix people, prove ourselves, and we rarely pause to ask, "What am I missing?"

Our blind spots often hide behind our strengths. The leader who’s “decisive” may have trouble listening. The friend who “always helps” might avoid setting boundaries. The achiever who’s “driven” may never take a break.

It’s not that speed is bad; it’s that unchecked speed reduces clarity.

True awareness is like a gentle brake. It doesn’t stop you, it helps you navigate gracefully.

3.        The Gift of Honest Feedback

I’ll be the first to admit: feedback can sting. It reveals what we’ve ignored, what we’ve denied, and what we thought we’d outgrown.

But here’s the paradox: feedback isn’t a threat. It’s a gift wrapped in discomfort. It’s life saying, “Here’s what you don’t see, yet.”

When my nduthi guy finally reattached his mirrors after some close calls, he told me something meaningful: “Now I ride with less fear.” He didn’t lose his skill. He gained clarity.

That’s what feedback does. It offers us insight beyond ego. It helps us see behind, beside, and within.

But most of us are afraid of mirrors, not because of what they show, but because of what they confirm: that we’re human, imperfect, and growing.

The key is to view feedback not as judgment but as guidance. Ask yourself:

•                     What truth is this revealing?

•                     What behaviour is this calling me to adjust?

•                     What lesson is waiting on the other side of discomfort?

Growth doesn’t come from flattery. It comes from reflection.

The Joy of Seeing Clearly

In Formula 1 racing or MotoGP, riders reach incredible speeds but always operate within a structured system. Every turn, every maneuver, every mirror, and every signal serves a purpose. They’ve learned that discipline, not daring, keeps them alive.

Life remains the same. Without structure, awareness, accountability, or mirrors, we may move quickly, but we’re riding blind.

The world doesn’t revolve around our anxieties or ambitions. It moves through patterns, people, and perspectives we can’t control. But we can master one thing: ourselves.

When you choose to look through the side mirrors of your life, you don’t lose speed; you gain precision. You begin noticing patterns, relationships, and lessons that were once invisible.

And that clarity? It’s the quiet joy that replaces chaos with calm.

 

Your Next Step

Today, take five minutes to check your mirrors.

Ask someone you trust: “What’s one thing I don’t see about myself?”

Write down their response. Reflect, not to judge, but to understand. Because every glance in your mirror, every act of feedback received, and every moment of awareness gained keeps you safer, wiser, and more grounded.

Don’t ride blind. Life’s too precious to guess your way through.

Call to Action:

Pause. Reflect. Seek feedback. Adjust. Repeat.

That’s how awareness transforms speed into mastery.