In the Long Run
- Ross Berry
- 7 hours ago
- 7 min read
We live in a world that loves the quick fix. The shortcut. The overnight success. But when we look around at the people we admire most — the folks who build great families, great businesses, great communities — what stands out isn’t what they did in the moment, but what they did in the long run.
The long run is where character is proven. It’s where patience becomes strength. It’s where doing the right thing — even when it’s hard, even when it costs something — becomes the foundation for a life of meaning.
This week, as we transition from Thanksgiving toward the Christmas season, it’s a perfect time to reflect on that bigger horizon. The holidays invite us to zoom out, to look past the hustle of the moment and focus on the values that make life rich: integrity, kindness, perseverance, and love. These are not “quick win” virtues. They’re investments — and every small act adds up over time.
When we choose honesty over convenience, generosity over self-interest, and gratitude over complaint, we’re quietly shaping the kind of life that will stand strong decades from now. We’re building the kind of family that sticks together, the kind of friendships that deepen, the kind of community that lifts people up. People in small towns and communities across New Hampshire and America know this instinctively — we take care of our neighbors not because it pays off today, but because it builds a better tomorrow for everyone.
So, as we look ahead, let’s take the long view. Let’s remind ourselves that the choices we make today — the kindness we show, the effort we give, the humility we practice — are planting seeds. They may not bloom tomorrow. But they will bloom. And when they do, we’ll be grateful we stayed the course.
Here’s to living life with the long run in mind — to building slowly, steadily, and with heart. It’s the surest path to joy, fulfillment, and a legacy that lasts.
The Magic of Doing the Right Thing… Even When No One Is Watching
One of the defining traits of people who thrive “in the long run” is that they consistently do the right thing — often quietly, without fanfare. These moments rarely go viral. They don’t usually make the news. But they make all the difference.
A few years ago in Exeter, NH, a woman accidentally left an envelope containing $5,000 on a sidewalk outside the Stillwell’s Ice Cream shop downtown. It was cash she’d been preparing to deposit — and she was heartbroken when she realized it was gone.
Enter Officer Luis Rivera and the Exeter Police Department.
A local teenager found the envelope and turned it in immediately. No hesitation. No second thoughts. Just the right thing, done without the expectation of reward.
Officer Rivera and his team tracked down the rightful owner the same day, returning the full $5,000. The woman cried tears of relief. And the teenager? He refused any reward.
This wasn’t a theoretical “good deed.” It was real, recent, and deeply human. A young man made a choice that will shape his character for decades. A police department lived out the values of service and integrity. And a New Hampshire town saw, once again, that doing the right thing is never wasted — especially in the long run.
Stories like this remind us why we believe in America’s goodness. Not because everything is perfect, but because so many people choose what is right when no one is watching.
The Long-Run Power of Showing Up
In life, success often goes to the people who simply… show up. Day after day. With a good attitude. With steady effort. With persistence that outlasts obstacles.
Ask any coach of a high school team —— what separates the stars from everyone else, and they’ll tell you: consistency. Plenty of kids have talent. But the ones who make real progress are the ones who show up to practice when it’s raining, or when they’re tired, or when it feels like they’re not improving fast enough.
Adults aren’t much different. Whether it’s building a career, nurturing a relationship, raising a family, or serving in your community, half the battle — maybe more — is staying committed long enough to see things through.
A great American example of “long run thinking” comes from a high school cross-country coach in Valparaiso, Indiana named Mike Killion. For decades, Coach Killion built one of the strongest distance-running cultures in the Midwest, not by chasing talent, but by teaching kids to show up — every day, rain or shine, progress or plateau.
His motto was simple:
“Consistency beats intensity — in the long run.”
And do you know who loves that quote? Coaches right here in New Hampshire. Coach Ed McDonough of Coe-Brown Northwood Academy — whose teams have won numerous state titles — has said that the secret to their success is “steady work, done together, over years.”
It’s a beautiful, distinctly American virtue: showing up, sticking with it, and trusting that persistence will eventually pay off.
Whether we’re raising families, building careers, improving communities, or simply trying to be better people — showing up is the long run personified.
Showing up, over time, creates compound interest in your life. A little effort repeated consistently becomes something powerful. It’s how bonds deepen, skills sharpen, opportunities emerge, and character strengthens. Success in the long run isn’t glamorous. It’s built on the day-to-day decisions to keep going, to keep trying, to keep showing up.
Think Beyond Today: Lessons From a Local Farmer
Farmers might be the ultimate “long run” thinkers. They’re constantly planning seasons ahead, planting when there’s no guarantee of rain, preparing fields no one will see, and investing months of effort into crops that won’t appear until much later.
One of the best metaphors for long-run living comes from Booty Farm in Moultonborough, run by the hardworking Marcus family. Ask them about their success, and they’ll tell you:
“The harvest comes last — but the work comes first.”
They start preparing their fields long before the snow melts. In the heat of July, they’re already thinking about September. Nothing happens by accident. Everything happens by steady effort.
And as any farmer will tell you, you learn quickly that you’re not in control of everything — but you are in control of the choices you make day after day.
Their approach is the essence of American resilience and New Hampshire grit:
work hard, trust the seasons, and believe that good things grow when you nurture them.
It’s a reminder that the same is true for our families, our friendships, and our character.
Life works exactly the same way. Careers. Relationships. Health. Personal growth. You don’t see the results overnight. You don’t reap the benefits immediately. But if you stick with it — if you nurture the good things in your life with patience — the long run will reward you richly.
We all can take a page from the farmer’s book: plant good seeds, tend them daily, and trust the harvest will come.
Great Legacies Are Built One Small Act at a Time
When we think about “legacy,” we often picture something grand or dramatic — a major accomplishment, a large gift, a monumental change. But in reality, the most meaningful legacies are built quietly, through everyday actions that accumulate over years.
Think about the mentors who shaped your life. The teacher who encouraged you. The neighbor who looked out for you when you were young. The friend who stuck by you during a hard season. None of these people changed your life in a single moment — they changed it through steady, caring presence.
Some of America’s greatest figures — from George Marshall to Clara Barton to Fred Rogers — didn’t leave their mark through a single dramatic moment. Their greatness came from thousands of small, steady choices over a lifetime.
The same is true in our hometowns.
Visit the town library in Goffstown and you’ll meet volunteers who have served for 20+ years. Attend a basketball game at Plymouth Regional High School and you’ll see parents who’ve supported the program long after their own kids graduated. Walk through downtown Portsmouth and you’ll find shop owners whose families have been part of the community for generations.
These people aren’t making headlines. But they’re making an impact — the kind that lasts.
The long run isn’t just about what we achieve.
It’s about who we become, and who we help along the way.
Every smile, every act of generosity, every moment of encouragement is a brick in the legacy we’re building. And someday, those small acts will mean more than we can imagine.
Profile of the Week: Warren Buffett — The Master of the Long Run
This week we are delighted to highlight Warren Buffet. Few people embody “the long run” more vividly than the “Oracle of Omaha” whose life, career, and philosophy are built around patience, integrity, and an unwavering commitment to doing what’s right.
Buffett is famous for saying, “Someone is sitting in the shade today because someone planted a tree a long time ago.” That mindset has shaped everything from his investing approach to his personal values. He doesn’t chase fads. He doesn’t seek quick wins. He believes that true success comes from steady discipline, thoughtful decision-making, and keeping your eyes on the horizon.
But beyond his financial wisdom, Warren Buffett stands out for his character. He lives modestly, believes deeply in the power of trust, and emphasizes that reputation — built slowly over decades — can be lost in an instant. He’s spent much of his life encouraging young people to invest in themselves, surround themselves with good people, and cultivate habits that compound positively over time.
Buffett also embodies generosity in the long run. His philanthropic commitments, among the largest in history, reflect a belief that success is meant to be shared and that the greatest impact often comes from steady giving, year after year.
Few people in modern history embody long-term thinking like Warren Buffett.
From the house he’s lived in for over 60 years to his decades-long commitment to giving away the majority of his wealth, Buffett’s life is a masterclass in patience, discipline, and quiet, steady purpose.
He famously said:
“Someone is sitting in the shade today because someone planted a tree a long time ago.”
That’s not just an investing principle — it’s a way of life. Buffett is deeply American in his philosophy:
build steadily
act with integrity
avoid shortcuts
take care of others along the way
Buffett inspires us to think long-term about our careers, our families, our communities, and our character.
In a world that often values the quick win, Warren Buffett reminds us that the long run is where real greatness is found. His life is a living example of what patience, principle, and purpose can create.
Quote of the Week: In the Long Run
“In the end, it’s not the years in your life that count. It’s the life in your years.”
— Abraham Lincoln