The tortoise Won (or average happens quickly, great takes work, patience and time)

Once upon a time I used to be a swimmer (I may have mentioned this once or twice).

My biggest failing was controlling adrenalin.

I used to start training sessions like a lunatic, crying in agony by at the end of two hours.

Because I'd used my energy far too soon.

I used to go all out at the start of races, then fade into losing misery before the end.

Every body is only has so many bullets and I always used to fire mine too early.

You could say I was a rabbit losing to smart tortoises. 

I love cycling these days and I'm fascinated by time trials.

Where the skill is to stay somewhere just above threshhold for the whole distance without blowing.

It's basically a long, controlled scream.

I won't mention the hares I've seen in agency Xmas do's who have to be sent home early.

Smashed from too much free booze too early. 

But agencies should try and be more tortoise outside of 'culture building' too. 

Less creatives allowed to let rip without thinking first.

Leading to a cacophony of first page ideas everyone is too tired to improve.

Strategy types who immediately feel they have the answer and won't budge even when the overnight test suggests otherwise.

Average happens fast, you have to get through it to get to great.

Most great ideas actually come from relentless improvement of average.

You start, you find little things to correct and improve and greatness emerges.

You could say it appears gradually and all of a sudden.

Yet so many expend all their energy overdoing average.

Too tired to get to great.

So think about two kinds of enthusiasm, cold and hot.

Starting with hot gets you to lots of stuff quick, but you run cold quick.

Cold enthusiasm is a lot more clinical.

Cold knows it needs to get average out the way before working on great.

Cold always holds something back today to ensure tomorrow is possible.

Cold doesn't get defensive about average, cold encourages good.

Cold manages energy levels.

Cold goes home on time and takes breaks.

Cold has a life outside work.

It's been well researched that working over 40 hours or so REDUCES PRODUCTIVITY.

In other words, the tortoise wins.

Be more tortoise.