Fast and Steady Wins the Race

Abstract

In Aesop's famous tale, a hare was making fun of a tortoise for being slow, so they decided to race. Early in the race the hare had a big lead, so it decided to take a nap. While it slept, the tortoise passed by and won the race. I've been told the moral of this story is “slow and steady wins the race,” but I've also seen it explained as “the race is not always to the swift.” But I have issues with both of these interpretations. While some industries can be thought of as races, ours is a responsibility. Fast and steady wins races. In fact, the fastest and most consistent are the winners of every race. In the end, it's the definition of a race that whoever (or whatever) wins is deemed the fastest. While Aesop's rabbit was fast, it was not so swift—intellectually, that is. Unless the rules of the race aren't fair, the race is always to those who are most mentally swift and talented. The issue here is that not everything should be described as a race. And here's where water professionals are concerned, because although “slow and steady” is important for making progress, the water industry isn't a race. It's an unending duty that's never “won.” There's no starting gun or finish line to cross—just people who need safe water every day. While some industries can be thought of as races, ours is a responsibility. And when water professionals retire, they hand those responsibilities off to the next generation, with each working steadily—fast or slow—to make things better. Like most situations, things aren't always so binary, and we all fall somewhere between a tortoise and a hare. Wherever you fall on that spectrum, just remember that sometimes you have to walk, but when you can, get out there and run. You'll win if you are the swiftest—just be smart about it. This issue of Journal AWWA features articles on potable reuse, utility resiliency, capital planning, conservation, and much more. If you are interested in submitting an article, please contact me at journaleditor@awwa.org.