Slow and Steady Wins the Race

One of my favorite episodes of the Simpsons involved the Simpsons family going go-karting. Homer, Bart, and Lisa flew by on their go-karts, going as fast as possible. Marge, on the other hand, was VERY SLOW. All the other go-karts lapped her almost immediately. Then they lapped her again. And again.

As they sped pass her, Marge cried out, “Slow and steady wins the race.”

It was funny because Marge obviously didn’t win the go-kart race. However, I actually think this is a pretty good motto for life, especially when trying to make a big change in your life. Too often people try to go too fast right out of the gate, and end up burning themselves out or quitting. A better strategy is to start slow and small, and make consistent effort over time.

I remember making this mistake when I started CrossFit. I was excited, and wanted results immediately. Because of my urgency, I tried to do too much too soon. I got exhausted, ended up hurting myself, and had to take time off to recover. A better strategy would have been to start slower and smaller, and try to make consistent progress over time. Remember, life is a marathon, not a sprint. Slow and steady wins the race.