Personally, I can’t say enough about the virtues of being consistent, especially the “slow-and-steady” variety of consistency, which I blog about it so much. In another recent example of this, for the past two months I have been writing a book, spending a little time every day working on it. I am making steady progress, and I probably haven’t spent more than an hour on it at one time.
I love the idea of taking small bites out of a problem or project. The secret to this is to make a routine out of taking small bites. The one-bite-at-a-time approach really only works when you keep taking those bites over and over again until you get somewhere. It is the repetition of the bites that adds up to something powerful!
Not everyone is built to capitalize on this principle. Nor do they have to be. I wouldn’t tell everyone they should be the way I am, just as I wouldn’t tell everyone they should be a runner.
Speaking of which, a few nights ago I was talking to a student who had recently finished a triathlon. For those who don’t know, a triathlon is a race that typically features swimming, biking, and running. My student was quite pleased with his results. He even PR’d (meaning he got a personal record for)his running segment, which he had been the least sure about!
It was great to hear about his achievement. Yet what struck me most was when he told me that he was glad that he wasn’t bored during the race. He explained that sometimes while going out for a run or biking, he gets bored. Happily for him, the format of the triathlon had enough variety to keep his interest.
Getting bored while running? I find that hard to imagine! Yet this is not the first time someone has told me they find running boring.
Everybody is different. Some people prefer a triathlon over a run. Some people are more spontaneous and adventurous. Some people draw power and comfort from reliable personal routines. My good friend and running buddy Dave calls me “Chronos,” because I’m always on time when we meet up. I think it’s also because of my consistent running habit. Dave appreciates my consistency, and I appreciate things about him, such as his commitment to being of service to others.
While I am proud of the skills I happen to have, I can appreciate the many abilities other people have that I don’t naturally possess. I’m glad we live in a world where people have varying talents, desires, and personal preferences.
Chronos says, “Vive La Difference!”