The Winner Isn't the Fastest

Have you ever sat on the couch with the remote in hand flipping channels, then suddenly stumble across “The Shawshank Redemption?” You can’t change, no matter how many times you’ve seen the movie. The combination of a great story, a wonderful narrative by Morgan Freeman and interesting characters make this film always re-watchable. 

The lead character, Andy Dufresne, is wrongly convicted of his killing his wife, and no matter how loudly he screams, he cannot gain any traction on proving his innocence.  Dufresne is smart, patient, organized and has no intention of being a lifetime prisoner — especially for a corrupt warden. 

For some, the movie might be about a successful prison break or how those not in prison might be more corrupt than those inside the walls. But the film also borrows from an age-old tale, “The Tortoise and the Hare.” 

We all remember the Hare making fun of the Tortoise because he is so slow, so deliberate. The Tortoise surprises the Hare and challenges him to a race, which is laughable to the Hare, knowing it will be an easy victory. The Hare sprints ahead, so far that he can take a nap. Meanwhile, the Tortoise proceeds slowly but steadily, never taking a break, in constant motion. When he awakens, the Hare realizes he has overslept and finds the Tortoise near the finish line, proving the point that the race is never about being the swiftest. 

Dufresne proved this same notion — spending time digging his tunnel, inch by inch, waiting for the right moment to escape. He never rushed his work, never became impatient even though he longed to be free. 

We all would be wise at times to slow down a bit, to take the Tortoise’s approach. The race we run each day has no finish line. It’s a constant battle to prove our effectiveness and talent. Dufresne understood the rewards would come later. The work required his slow and steady effort. It’s a mentality we should adapt.

Next time we watch "Shawshank,” let’s remind ourselves to slow down, to produce great — not expedient — work. After all, the winner is rarely the fastest.