I remember a riddle I used to enjoy as a kid. I’d ask someone if they’d rather get $1,000 today, or receive a penny on day one, two pennies on day two, and keep doubling it for 30 days.
Almost everyone (especially other kids my age) would say, “Well duh! I’ll take the $1,000!”
Of course, this is the wrong answer. What starts out small—just a penny—when doubled and doubled and doubled again becomes a LOT of money.
On day 10 you’re only receiving $5.12, but by day 15 you’re receiving $163.84. By day 20, the payment has grown to $5,242.88. On the final day, you’re receiving $5,368,709.12 for a total of $10.7 million over the whole month.
Looking back on little Chris hitting “X2” 30 times on his calculator explains a lot about my love of spreadsheets today! 🤓 But looking past my cringy childhood fascinations, there are several great lessons in this riddle.
If you had to sum it up, it’s about the importance of consistency. Whether you’re working out, starting a business, or learning a new language, you won’t see the results at first. You’ll feel like you’re spinning your heels and not making any progress. But don’t give up!
After a while you may start to see modest returns and want to claim, “Mission Accomplished.” Keep going! When you continue to build on your previous success, there is so much more that can happen!
Think about a baseball player that strikes out most of the time, but every once and awhile hits a home run! Now think about a player that hits a double or a triple almost every time they’re up to bat. I think most managers would take the consistency over the sensational.
As you think through your own situation, ask yourself these questions:
- Have I settled for mediocre results when I should have kept going?
- Am I willing to commit to consistently “showing up” to reach my goals?
- What aspect of my life could benefit from increased consistency?
Remember, consistency will always achieve greater results in the long run. So, keep at it!