One day last week Michelle asked me to estimate how many chicken dishes she has prepared since we got married twenty years ago. We have eaten a lot of delectable chicken meals. Michelle’s question about chicken dishes caused me to start thinking about the benefits of repetition to achieving our goals and success. Repetition increases proficiency, save time when transitioning to other tasks and enhance your efficiency.

1. My Wife’s Delectable Chicken Dishes
One day last week Michelle asked me to estimate how many chicken dishes she has prepared since we
got married twenty years ago. We have eaten a lot of delectable chicken meals. We have at least one
meal per week that includes chicken. A crude estimate would be that Michelle has prepared about 1,040
chicken dishes over the 20 year period.
Michelle’s question about chicken dishes caused me to start thinking about the benefits of repetition to
achieving our goals and success. Throughout our 20 years of marriage we have enjoyed all kinds of
chicken dishes prepared by Michelle. We have had whole chicken, half chicken, quarter chicken and
even Cajun hens. We have had chicken in pineapple, chicken in lemon, chicken in orange, barbecued,
curried, spicy and hot, baked, fried, stuffed and grilled. We have had Italian, Chinese, Asian, Indian and
chicken done in styles I can’t even pronounce the name without biting my tongue. My point isyou name
it Michelle has prepared it.Michelle chicken dishes are delicious and delectable and some are succulent,
mouth-watering and simply finger-licking.
Chicken dishes are relatively easy and quick to prepare. This is due partially to the high frequency with
which we repeat the process of preparing chicken dishes. The high frequency reduces the amount of
mental effort required for each dishes. The high frequency with which the dishes are prepared makes
the process routine and almost automatic. It reduces the complexity of preparation and increases the
efficiency.
Depending on the nature of one's endeavors, the repetition of preparing chicken dishes provides useful
benefits that are applicable in pursuing our goals and success. In the professional sports and the military
repetition is used to prepare athletes and military personnel to respond instinctively when under stress.
In the 1984 movie “The Karate Kid”starring Ralph Macchio as Daniel LaRussoand Pat Moritaas Keisuke
Miyagi one of Daniel’s first lessons is cleaning and waxing his master’s car. His master tells him to "wax
on, wax off". Daniel at first failed to see any connection to the repetitious movement involved with wax
on, wax off to his karate training. When he expresses his frustration, Miyagi reveals that Daniel has been
learning defensive blocks through muscle memory learned by performing wax on, wax off. A core
benefit of repetition is that it builds memory and helps us to discover our personal rhythms necessary to
performing tasks tied to our goals.Another example, in 1960, the Beatles played in Hamburg, Germany
for very long hours sometimes performing for four and a half hours each weekday night and for up to six
hours on Saturdays. This helped the Beatles perfect their craft and becoming one the world’s most
famous and legendary music group.
When the repetition of tasks is tied to our goals it helps to reduce the costs or time we need to
transition from one task to another. Occasionally Michelle will prepare one of her fancy delicious side
dishes such as scalloped potatoes or broccoli cauliflower casserole to accompany our mouth-watering
chicken meals. The preparation of these side dishes involves transitioning which entails an expenditure
of time and efforts. They require an adjustment in Michelle’s state of mind to fit the task of involve in
her fancy dishes. This is important key factor for success and for us to achieve our goals to flourish and
succeed is our ability to multi-task. In this day and age we have to perform a multiplicity of tasks to

2. succeed. Repetition allows us to perform a specific task extensively so that we become proficient and
therefore reduces the costs of transition to other activities.
I enjoy watching Michelle prepare some of her finest chicken dishes. At her best she is like the youthful
national figure skating champion Kaetlyn Osmond performing the triple-triple tricks that are now
mandatory for elite females in international competitions. At her best, Michelle appears in a zone that is
best described as automatic. This is the default mode of functioning that professional athletes and
military personnel are accustomed whenperforming under stress. It is best called the "state of flow" or
the "groove." I usually know when Michelle is in this zone. For example, if she is preparing chicken in
lemon sauce accompanied by one her fancy side dishes she will listen to music and dance. When she is
in her default more or “state of flow” or “groove” these days she just throws in a CD from Nat King Cole
or some other hit music from the 1960s or 1970s and she just dance away. At that point I know that
what she is doing based purely on memory. When she in the “groove” it reduces the amount of mental
effort required. She is fully immersed and this saves time, maximizes her energy and creativity.
Today, I would like you to think about Michelle and her plethora of chicken dishes and the benefits of
repetition to achieving your goals and success. Remember, repetition lubricates creativity, increases
capacity, and helps develop effective working patterns that result in higher efficiency. No matter what
your goals be sure to reap the benefits of repetition. Repetition increases proficiency, save time when
transitioning to other tasks and enhance your efficiency.
What tasks do you repeat frequently? Does repetition help you achieve your goals?
Mark McKenzie is a leading Subject Matter Expert in financial services regulation and supervision as well
as a professional motivational speaker, corporate trainer and youth mentor. He can be contacted by
email mastbmckenzie@gmail.com or by telephone 647-406-4622. Read my blog
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