Slow and Steady Wins the Race

As a child, I was always fascinated by the story of the tortoise and the hare. I never could understand why the rabbit would race out to a lead, then get lazy and/or lose his competitive drive and ultimately end up losing the race to the tortoise. The tortoise, never flashy, maintained the slow and steady pace. His consistency, while unspectacular, was very effective.

Last night, as I was mowing, I found a turtle making its way through our backyard. He was a long way from home and heading the wrong direction. He had been making his way through the yard, unnoticed, for some time. In recent weeks, a few rabbits have made appearances in our yard. One friend on an adjacent street has even had horses (who had escaped from a nearby farm) and deer (roaming wildly through our subdivision) make appearances in her yard. In each case, these animals were noticeable. The turtle, not so much. But even though the turtle didn't generate much attention, it was still very productive and had accomplished a great deal.

Here's The Point: How many times in life are there celebrities or athletes or fashion trends that arrive on the scene in a blaze of glory only to fizzle away or flame out into obscurity? And yet, in every facet of society, there are people who carve out long, productive careers and styles are developed that are considered timeless. They endure and succeed. Slow and steady wins the race.