Consistency Is The Key
I started this blog with the intention of using it to get in the habit of writing. The more I write the better I get at writing. My intention was to get in the habit of writing every single day. I wrote for five days last week. Then Saturday came along and I went for a long bike ride with my husband and skipped writing for the day. I have not written at all since then.
A Single Slip
A single slip is all it takes to fall out of the habit. Consistency builds consistency. I have found this in everything I do in life. When I was training for endurance racing, skipping one workout would often lead to skipping the next and then the next again. When I am studying a new language, trying to build a meditation practice, or attempting to eat clean, I have seen the exact same problem. One slip, and I lose my motivation to move forward.
Consistency in Business
The same can be said of most business endeavors. Consider your task manager. Do you check it every day? If not, what stops you? How about your CRM? Do you input new leads or possible leads, consistently? If you are like me, you have spent thousands of dollars on a CRM only to realize it has been months since you entered a new lead.
Consistency Matter
It’s been two years since I finally admitted that I am a type A personality. I fought the idea for years. To me, type A personalities were synonymous with jerks. I still find myself fighting against the tendency. I often force myself to slip because I don’t want to be considered rigid. I don’t want to seem like a tight ass. But the truth is there is a reason for consistency. There is a reason that successful people are often Type A personalities. They control the “controllables.”
Consistency allows for this control. Consistency is the cornerstone of success. If you don’t believe me, look at the world’s most elite athletes. They follow a training plan, manage their diet to the most minute macronutrient, and they measure their sleep. They are consistent in everything they do.
But There Must Be Purpose
There is an important thing to consider in this conversation though. Purpose. Why is it important to the athlete to follow the plan, get her sleep, and manage their nutrition? It’s important because those are the steps that lead to success on the field.
When I fail at consistency, it is almost always because I jumped into a project with both feet before considering why. Why do I want to write every day? Why does it matter that I am a good writer? How will that help me succeed?
My Purpose Today
There are three reasons I want to write daily:
I need an outlet for the thousands of thoughts that circle in my mind daily.
I want to finish my marketing book.
I know that I have a talent for writing but talent isn’t enough. Talent only gets you so far. I want to be a great writer and that only comes with consistency.
Today I am back at the keyboard. I am spilling my guts and sharing my thoughts. More importantly, I am recommitting to writing daily.