Have you heard of the phrase ‘winning by volume’ in your worldly travels? It works like this. Study consistently and continuously to gain knowledge so that when you need an answer, it is not the first time you have heard of this subject or concept.
The only common denominator in the many success stories I have read about is summed up in one word: persistence.
However, it is still important that you find a path to the top of the mountain!
I came across a story on the Lifehacker site about a young, ‘starting out’ stand-up comedian who had a gig in a club where Jerry Seinfeld was performing. Backstage, the young newbie comic approached Seinfeld and asked him for any hints that he could use for his career.
Seinfeld shared his secret to developing your skills and following your passion. He told the comic that he needed to write every day, starting today, and at the close of the day, put a big red X on the calendar. No matter how inspired or uninspired he was, he would need to write every day, and after a short time, he would have an entire ‘chain’ of Xs along the calendar weeks.
Seinfeld said, “After a few days, you’ll have a chain. Just keep at it, and the chain will grow longer every day. You’ll like seeing that chain, especially when you get a few weeks under your belt. Your only job is not to break the chain.”
The quality of the work was not a major issue, but the most important factor was consistency in not breaking the chain.
I often encourage my teenage students to ‘win by volume’—that is, to study so much that when I ask them a question, it is not the first time they have heard it.
We see this concept being lived out in many celebrated achievers.
Success is 10 percent inspiration and 90 percent perspiration.
Thomas Edison
Some resources claim that many of Edison’s greatest inventions were accidents that occurred while he was trying to achieve something else, and the sheer shared volume of his productivity developed these results.
Opportunity is missed by most people because it is dressed in overalls and looks like work.
Thomas Edison
Horror book writer Stephen King wrote in ‘On Writing: A Memoir of the Craft’, “Talent is cheaper than table salt. What separates the talented individual from the successful one is a lot of hard work”.
Personally, I have faced many challenges in my learning. I have disabilities that prevent me from being your standard classroom student. I now realise there are no shortcuts to anywhere worth going!
I win by volume all the time by saturating myself in a subject. It is time-consuming and stressful sometimes, and the rewards are rarely instant.
However, I maintain my consistency, and this 9th-grade dropout is starting a second Master’s degree soon. I remind myself that I am in the discernment process toward wisdom, which, like any good recipe, cannot be rushed by turning up the heat!
Time and the compounding interest of experience must be allowed to do their work.
So keep at it, and do not give up! You may not end up where you planned, but often in a better place than you planned.
Choose your ‘community’ and your support team well; life is harder without them. Is your community inspiring and releasing you to go onwards and upwards to new heights in your career or holding you down? Are you getting things done with education and motivation, or just treading water?
This week, win by volume – pound those walls and push them over! Thanks for reading! I’d love you to share your thoughts in the comment space below!
Dave Brebner.
www.davebrebner.com
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About the Author
As a neurodiverse public speaker and presenter, Dave Brebner specialises in using educational neuroscience to explore pathways for professionals and engage in inclusive discussions for diverse audiences. Living with Tourette’s Syndrome, Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder, ADHD, and Anxiety Disorders since an early age, he is married with six children and one grandchild. He recently added a Master of Educational Neuroscience to his qualifications to further deepen his understanding of the neurodiverse mind, including his qualifications in Trades & Training, Adult Education, Vocational and Workplace Training, and a Master of Education degree in Career Development. Dave is a professional member of the Career Development Association of Australia, and you can learn more about Dave’s work at www.davebrebner.com.
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