This week I’ve been reflecting on the importance of consistency. Showing up every day whether we feel like it or not. Running a business is a marathon not a sprint. But how do you keep that motivation going, day after day. How do you stay focused on what’s important and avoid distractions? And how do you stay consistent on the days when it doesn’t feel worth it?
“Success doesn’t come from what you do occasionally, it comes from what you do consistently.” Marie Forleo
How do you ensure consistency?
Most people can have one good call or meeting, one good pitch or presentation. Most people can raise the bar and excel every now and then. But doing so consistently illustrates something special. One of the most important, and difficult lessons I’ve learned in my business journey is that it’s not the smartest or most organised or most talented people who succeed. It’s the ones who show up and do their thing, day in, day out, consistently.
One of my mentors once told me, “Being average consistently will always beat being amazing sporadically”. It offended me then and it still offends me today but he was so right! Consistency means that the people around you – your team, your clients, your investors – know what to expect. You are reliable. And whenever people trust you, space is created for opportunities. Consistency means that your brain doesn’t go into caveman mode and freak out. It means that you keep your promises to yourself, whether it be around family time, health goals or your business. Consistency means that you prioritise doing what will lead you to where you want to be, rather than allowing yourself to be distracted by all the shiny-shiny.
Developing consistency actually goes against human nature. It takes a lot of energy and patience. It can be mastered but it takes practice. You need to replicate positive behaviour or performance until it defines you.
Here are my Top 10 Tips to help you achieve consistency:-
🌟 One goal. Pick one goal to focus on at a time. Otherwise you’ll get overwhelmed and give up. What’s your biggest issue or most damaging inconsistency? Start with that and get it stable before moving on.
🌟 Increments. Focus on small, incremental improvements. It won’t happen overnight. It takes time and effort and energy and perseverance! Celebrate your achievements along the way, however small, to keep yourself motivated.
🌟 Fight. We naturally avoid things that are hard. Your brain will tell you you’re tired, that you don’t have to do it today, that you can have a day off. Don’t fall for it. Push through and build a new habit! Otherwise you’re back to square one.
🌟 Be kind. You will fall off the wagon and that’s OK. Tomorrow is another day. So be kind to yourself. Yes you need to fight, but being too hard on yourself is counter-productive. Getting back on track quickly is key.
🌟 Use routines. Deciding what you’re going to do, wear, eat ahead of time is hugely powerful. Having a positive start and end to the day makes you feel in control and helps you embed positive practices.
🌟 Be intentional. Build a system around what you want. Routines, people, tasks, tools – everything needs to support your goals. If it’s not aligned then get rid of it. Avoid distractions. Focus is key.
🌟 Avoid self-doubt. It’s the ultimate consistency-destroyer. Trust the system, the process that you’ve designed to get you to your goal. Then head down and do the work. Only after you’ve done the work should you review your progress.
🌟 Decide. We are what we do, so you need to decide to be a person who does XYZ consistently. It needs to define you. It needs to be who you tell yourself you are. It’s a decision and you need to decide!
🌟 Improve. One of the things about consistency is that it’s boring. Especially if you like variety. Your creativity yearns for an outlet and all this consistency keeps getting in the way. So keep improving. Be consistent at improving.
🌟 Enjoy. If this all sounds like a lot of hard work that’s because it is! But that doesn’t mean you can’t enjoy the process. Review your progress, celebrate and then onto the next goal….
It’s completely unrealistic to expect yourself to know everything or be able to do everything. Please be kind to yourself and if you’d like to talk through the choices you’re facing or any blockers in your business, let me know.
Lisa Zevi – May 2021