Consistency vs Talent

Consistency versus Talent

Do you know the fable of the hare and the tortoise? Here’s my spin on why the tortoise has the winning strategy:

The hare has talent.
He starts something and stops.
Waits to get "in the mood” before he gets going again.
Has a bout of inspiration and gets busy, only to fade when the feeling subsides.
Leaves things to the last minute and scrabbles to get things done.
Gets distracted by a good idea and gives up on the plan in pursuit of the next “big thing”.
The process repeats.

The tortoise is consistent.
She applies herself to her mission one step at a time, day in and day out.
Has a plan and sticks to it.
Knows that results come from actions, not intentions.
That progress is about diligence, not speed.
That success is a marathon, not a sprint.

I think there is a hare and a tortoise in each of us. The hare in us craves instant gratification and hopes that success will come easy. The tortoise in us knows that the only time success comes before work, is in the dictionary.

When I reflect on my successes, all of them are a result of consistently applying myself over a long period of time rather than a single act of brilliance. Interestingly, the more consistent I am, the more talented I become. Over time, consistency equals talent.

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Mark Windust is an influential Thought Leader in the areas of Sales Strategy, Sales Leadership and Sales Performance. Since launching his consulting practice in 2007, Mark has worked with 1000's of business leaders, salespeople and entrepreneurs’ to help them transform their sales results.