“The plans of the diligent lead to profit as surely as haste leads to poverty.” Proverbs 21:5

I can’t count on both hands the number of times someone asks me for “a number”. “Just tell me how many times a day I need to do this exercise, and I will do it.” The question unearths the expectation that some arbitrary number of reps will lead to success.

“Productive” is my favorite way of describing a “successful day.” Maybe it is the result of 15 years working for companies where your “worth” was measured by an arbitrary “productivity metric.” Or it could be that I just really like checking things off a to-do list. Whether hitting a certain number on the treadmill, editing a set number of videos, or plowing through a task list, the sweet satisfaction tastes the same.

Until last year, when I decided I wanted to learn Japanese.  For the first time in a long time, “plowing through” an arbitrary number of Japanese verbs, nouns, and conjugations only left me feeling frustrated when I had to have a Japanese conversation.

Unfortunately, brain rewiring doesn’t occur by attending a weekend course on the subject matter.  Whether that be learning a second language or learning a new motor skill. Case in point: It takes Americans 12 years to learn 26 letters, string them into words, and eventually string enough words together to communicate an idea effectively. But I digress…

Learning (verb) is to gain knowledge or understanding of or skill by study, experience, or instruction.

Acquiring knowledge or a skill takes diligence.

You see, hastily “plowing through” a list of tasks is effective if “being productive” is the end goal. And yes, being “productive” is a great way to measure success if you are an assembly line worker in a factory where your value is measured by the number of products you can produce in a given amount of time.

Diligence is steady, earnest, energetic effort; devoted and painstaking work and application to accomplish an undertaking” (Merriam-Webster). Prosecuted with careful attention and effort. (workwink)

Learning.

Neuroplasticity.

Accomplishing a meaningful and worthwhile undertaking.

These are not for the “hasty”. For as the proverbs teach, will only lead to poverty of time, effort, and sometimes resources.

“The plans of the diligent lead to profit as surely as haste leads to poverty.” Proverbs 21:5

Nope. It requires painstaking, earnest, energetic effort.

Try to think of the last time you were concentrating on something (new) so intently it hurt your head. That is painstaking effort.

Brain rewiring is not the result of being “productive”. It is the result of diligent effort starting with letters, turning letters into words, and eventually stringing words together to communicate an idea effectively.

Restoring a “normal movement” is not the result of being “productive”. It is the result of diligent effort starting with a muscle twitch and eventually moving the body in a smooth, coordinated, efficient manner.

As I get older, I find that “plowing through” a to-do list is losing it’s appeal. There is something extremely satisfying about “deep work” (attribution: Cal Newport). Whether that be thinking through the structure of a Japanese sentence, or looking at a “movement problem” from a different angle, the satisfaction tastes a little sweeter.

I am fully aware that rewiring after a neurologic injury might not be something you have “chosen”. But here you are. If you want to continue to move the needle forward, it will require deep work. And I can’t help but think that if you choose this path, it can produce sweet satisfaction.

“The plans of the diligent lead to profit as surely as haste leads to poverty.” Proverbs 21:5