Small And Steady Approach Leads To Big Things

By Rick Boxx 

• March 3, 2025

Are you familiar with “The Tortoise and the Hare,” the fable by the ancient Greek storyteller Aesop? It is about a fast-running hare (a relative of the rabbit) that ridicules a slow-moving tortoise. Wearied by the hare’s arrogant behavior, the tortoise decides to challenge it to a race.

The race starts and the hare quickly leaves the tortoise far behind. Confident of victory, the hare decides to take a nap midway through the race. However, when the hare awakens to resume the race, it finds the tortoise – taking slow but steady steps – has arrived at the finish line before him and is declared the winner. The moral of this story is simple: ‘Slow and steady wins the race.’ 

Experience in my own life has taught me how true that statement is. As a young, impatient professional, at times I strived to get rich quickly. Sometimes I took what I regarded as shortcuts to making a lot of money. However, this approach led to foolish decisions that set me back rather than forward. The ‘can’t miss, quick return’ investment strategies I utilized failed miserably.

However, one activity far exceeded my expectations. It started when I was still a youth. A stockbroker persuaded me to invest $25 per month into a mutual fund, a slow-yield investment strategy. This was painful for me at times, especially during college. There were many ways I could have used the $25 I set aside monthly. But I determined to faithfully stay with the plan, saving that small amount each month.  

Years later this small and steady investment approach paid off with a substantial reward. By the time I was ready to buy my first house, I had accumulated thousands of dollars for a down payment. You can imagine how grateful I was for those small, monthly investments I had made over the preceding years.

After I became a follower of Christ and began studying the Bible, I discovered this principle affirmed in the Scriptures. Proverbs 13:11 teaches, “Wealth gained hastily will dwindle, but whoever gathers little by little will increase it.” There is that principle again – small and steady.

Yes, we can find some examples of people who have succeeded in “getting rich quick.” Maybe they have won the lottery, received a huge inheritance from a wealthy relative, or stumbled upon a novel idea for a product that became a huge success. But for every example like that there are literally thousands of people who failed as they tried countless get-rich-quick schemes.

Admittedly, the small and steady approach requires patience – a virtue many of us lack. ‘I want it! And I want it now!’ is a mantra we often hear. You might have said it to yourself. But the book of Proverbs offers other insights that affirm the patient, slow and steady approach to life – and our finances. 

For instance, Proverbs 21:5 tells us, “The plans of the diligent lead to profit as surely as haste leads to poverty.” In my early years I learned this the hard way. And Proverbs 28:19-20 offer this assurance: “Those who work their land will have abundant food, but those who chase fantasies will have their fill of poverty. A faithful person will be richly blessed, but one eager to get rich will not go unpunished.”

If you are considering starting a business someday, you would be wise to avoid chasing get-rich-quick schemes. Instead, prayerfully consider investing monthly. You will find it more fruitful.

© 2025, Unconventional Business Network. Adapted with permission from “UBN Integrity Moments.” Visit www.unconventionalbusiness.org. UBN is a faith at work ministry serving the international small business community.

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