Slow and Steady Wins the Race – Even for Professors A classic children’s story tells about a race between a turtle and a rabbit. Surprisingly, the turtle won the race, even though the rabbit was a much faster runner. The turtle won because the turtle never stopped. Slowly, steadily the turtle continued moving closer and closer to the finish line. In contrast, the rabbit would run fast for a while but then become distracted and stop running. Towards the end, the rabbit saw the turtle far ahead, near the finish line of the race, but it was too late. Even the rabbit’s fastest running was not enough to bring success. The same slow but steady approach works at university, too, even for professors. In one study (Boice, 2000, as cited in Baumeister & Tierney, 2011, p. 158), the researcher investigated the work styles of professors who were seeking to obtain tenure. When professors gain tenure, they have greater job security. A major way to achieve tenure is to write books and articles. The researcher found that some of the professors striving for tenure were turtles; they worked on their writing regularly, week after week, year after year. However, other professors were rabbits; they did not write often, but when they did write, they would spend long hours, working late into the night, accompanied by many cups of coffee and other stimulants. Which professors were more successful at obtaining tenure and in other areas of their careers? Just as in the children’s story, the turtle professors beat their rabbit colleagues. The same slow and steady approach probably works best for students, too. As we begin a new term, please remember the story of the turtle and the rabbit, and find a couple of other turtles to follow the slow and steady path with you. References Baumeister, R. F., & Tierney, J. (2011). Willpower: Rediscovering the greatest human strength. New York, New York: Penguin.