No excuses this time around…I was Lazy and missed writing this blog a few weeks :(. However, that conveniently brings me to this week’s topic – Consistency!
I have many trainees who work with me, and often I get this question – How does one become good at what one does…This applies not only to surgery but to any other aspect of life, whatever you do! The answer is simple enough but the advice is not easy to adhere to …..Be consistent !!
Consistency is the key to success undoubtedly. Doing something again and again leads to mastery and understanding – we do not have to be a genius to figure that out -It holds true for any skill we practice. For example, when was the last time you drove to work – do you remember anything about the drive at all? The answer is No…While you were thinking of the rising cost of living , raging wars around the world or the case in theatre to do today , your subconscious mind neatly managed the potential hazards and navigated you safely to work !! That is because you have taken that journey hundreds of times in the past ….there is nothing to think !!
Lets change the scenario though- assume you have never driven a car before , or just passed your driving test. You are not experienced , You are not familiar with the roads. You will recall every single stop of the journey! That is because if you don’t concentrate every inch of the way you will likely do a mistake that will end in a disastrous manner !!
So in essence by practicing a certain skill over and over again you become so fluent in that skill that you do not have to consciously think about performing that skill. This holds true for any profession – A sandwihch maker at Subway has made thousands of subs that he or she does not have to think! The same way a pilot with thousands of flying hours under his/her bellt or a surgeon with thousands of operations under their belt would perform seamlessly without the need to stop and think about each step on the way.
How ever achieving consistency is not easy. The enemy of consistency is perfectionism. Infact this is one of those rare instances in life that quantity is more important than quality. If you are a potter it is better to put out one pot a day for thirty days than spend thirty days making one ideal pot…. Ultimately by making pots again and again your pots will get better with time, hence doing it consistently is way more important than getting bogged down by attention to minute details!
The other enemy of consistency is Laziness, Lack of motivation and drive. Then again most of us feel that lack of motivation is what is preventing us for putting out work. How ever that is not always true. We need to change our mindset to shift the focus from external factors motivating us to internal factors motivating us …For example as a professional I will need to go and do my Theatre list even though I do not feel 100% – At times you just need to get on with life , how ever you feel about it !!
So Lets remember that consietncy matters and as professionals weshould not depend on external motivation for us to work! Needless to say I will also try to practice what I preach and cosnstently out out at least a weekly Blog!
Safe surgery till next time!!
LBS
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