Chapter 1: The Power of Consistency

When it comes to business, creativity often takes a backseat to financial success.

Photo credit: iStock

By Niklas Göke

Starbucks has offered the same cappuccino since 1986. Each visit guarantees the familiar experience, which surprisingly enhances its value. With a market cap of $100 billion, Starbucks thrives not despite its repetitive offerings, but because of them. Over a lifetime, the typical Starbucks customer spends around $14,000, one $5 cup of coffee at a time.

When patrons enter your establishment and request, “I’ll have the usual,” you know you’ve succeeded. The challenge lies in maintaining this consistency—not just with coffee, but especially in creative fields. Large franchises often experience high turnover rates among entry-level staff, leading to burnout. There’s a limit to how many venti caramel lattes one can produce before feeling overwhelmed.

Transitioning this necessity for repetition into creative outputs like essays, music, or software creates a fundamental tension: While humans crave creativity, producing something original often garners attention. Yet, audiences frequently yearn for more of the same. Succumbing to this demand may bring rewards, but it can also diminish the joy derived from the original creative act.

Some individuals excel in this repetition, consistently producing articles that echo the same few resonant messages. Their style may remain unchanged for years, yet as a small part of the original audience stays, new followers emerge, fueling their growth. The cost of this approach is the potential stifling of personal evolution. The longer they postpone reinvention, the more challenging the process may become, although financial comfort can help mitigate the discomfort.

Conversely, my friend Zulie and I often lament our struggles with “boring stuff burnout.” We remind each other to focus, seeking fleeting moments of creativity before returning to our projects.

The plight of creators often involves jumping from one endeavor to another, always hoping to hit the jackpot without digging deep enough to unearth it. “This worked well; now let’s try something different.” No! Stick to what you know works! At least until you can afford to explore new avenues without compromise—not from necessity, but from boredom.

When a customer pays $5 for a coffee, they rarely ask, “How can I derive $5 from something else?” Business is fundamentally about making money, not merely a creative outlet. The true measure of success is financial gain rather than artistic expression. The objective is to generate revenue that allows for creative exploration. Until that goal is achieved, the question remains: “Can you repeat it?” The answer hinges on determination, discipline, and focus rather than logistics. Each time you affirmatively respond, you move closer to both financial and creative autonomy.

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Chapter 2: Engaging with Repetition

In the video titled "DO NOT SAY 'Can you repeat?' or 'I don't understand' - ask for repetition in this BETTER way!", viewers learn effective alternatives for asking for clarification, enhancing communication skills in various contexts.

The second video, "Can You Repeat That Again - English Expressions Explained," offers a comprehensive look at common expressions used in English when seeking repetition, providing valuable insights for both learners and speakers.

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The original article was published on The Good Men Project.