Category Archives: Repitition

We’re wired for novelty, but rewarded for repetition

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“We’re wired for novelty, but rewarded for repetition.”

—Shane Parrish, Author of the Farnum Street Blog

Image from Unsplash by Nubelson Fernandes

Humans are wired for the rush of novelty — our brains crave new experiences, surprises, and stimulation. This impulse fuels creativity and curiosity, yet it often distracts from the true rewards hidden in repetition.

Life doesn’t shower us with achievement every time we chase something new. Instead, real mastery, deep connection, and personal growth come through the steady rhythm of repeated effort and consistent behavior.

Repetition builds skill, transforms habits, and fosters meaningful relationships. Those daily rituals — showing up, practicing, listening, trying again — unlock compounding rewards far beyond the excitement of novelty.

What if the next breakthrough isn’t somewhere new, but in showing up again and again, for what matters most?

EXERCISE:

Investigate the books Atomic Habits by James Clear and Tiny Habits by BJ Fogg to learn how little repetitive steps can eventually become giant leaps in your life.

Repeat Back Report Back

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“Repeat Back / Report Back”

—Tony Mayo, Executive Coach

Image from Linkedin.com

Image from Linkedin.com

Effective communication is perhaps the number one priority for most companies or organizations. It is also a top priority in virtually all our personal worlds as well.

Consider all of the shortcomings and outright failures of communication you observe on a daily basis. In general, the problems are caused by misinterpretation, misconception, and the ever popular assumptions we all have.

When working with others, repeating back to them what you have heard and what you understand will enhance the communication and assure all parties are on the same page. Reporting back to one another allows you to modify plans and efforts along the way, to keep you from getting off track.

EXERCISE:

Where and with whom in your personal or professional worlds would practicing Repeat Back / Report Back improve your communications and overall effectiveness? Consider making this a habit by using this technique daily.

“The pleasure of doing a thing in the same way at the same time every day and savoring it should be noted.”

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“The pleasure of doing a thing in the same way at the same time every day and savoring it should be noted.”

Arnold Bennett, English writer

450Image from Flickr by North Charleston.

Loyal readers of The Quotable Coach will know that coaching often has a lot to do with breaking patterns so that new worlds will emerge. (See my recent audio post for more on this: https://www.thequotablecoach.com/coaching-2/patterns-change-time-audio.)

Bennett’s quote has an appeal in that doing the same thing over and over again the same way at the same time each day can have considerable merits. A daily rhythm of behaviors to provide consistency, stability and a general foundation for the rest of our diverse and wildly varied lives can be compared to a strong building’s foundation or a tree’s root system and trunk.

Exercise:

What current daily habits and behaviors do you currently have that simply work well for you?

What new or additional daily rituals can you embrace or engage in that will make you feel even more centered and happy?

Please reply to this message with some of your current daily rituals that work for you.