Consistency

Consistency, Consistency, Consistency.

“Consistency is Key”

“Consistency is more important than perfection”

“You don’t have to be extreme just consistent”

I’m sure you have heard many more quotes about consistency but it seems to me that it really is the last resort. - if you've 'tried everything else'

When I was training clients the ones who showed up regularly to the gym over a long period of time reaped the rewards.

When I was working in Social Media the clients who stuck to the schedule and consistently put out content and engaged with their clients grew in business and reaped the rewards.

In my last newsletter I wrote about taking action - I feel the follow up to this is consistency.

Consistent Action - Even in the smallest steps add up.

It is the last thing on the list to try.

I feel it is the last thing on the list that I have been trying to find a shortcut for.

We are the guilty ones...

The ones who have multiple online courses gathering digital dust...

The ones who have multiple to do lists of the amazing things we are going to accomplish - one day ...

It's time to realise that consistency is the key!

Consistency over Intensity

My problem is that I have always fallen into the intensity trap. I cannot tell you how many times I have put up challenges on my wall ready to 'Change My Life!'

Get all psyched up

Only to hit about day 3 or 4 and have it all fall apart because I've tried to change too many things all at the same time.

If you burn out, or get injured or stop you loose your progress.

Consistency is the only thing that will help you achieve long term goals.

100 Day Challenge

When I came across The Artist’s Way and read about morning pages - basically a form of journalling but with some rules, you can check out the book here

I decided I was going to challenge myself to 100 days of writing. That seemed like a HUGE number at the time.

[Side Note] Writing is one of the foundational tools I have come across for building a one person business, so I knew that starting this habit also aligns with my bigger goal.

But honestly I was just fed up of starting from Day 1 again that this time something had to change.

Instead of thinking about this huge outcome that I wanted, I let go of the outcome all together.

This morning it dawned on me as I wrote down day 75 and finished the notebook I was writing in...

It was full.

3 pages a day and I had a full notebook.

It was something so silly, but just by taking that small action daily I now have 225 pages of writing in front of me.

What if that were chapters of a book?

Or a painting?

Or project you've been thinking about?

Or a new business proposal?

By taking the time daily to work on it - separating yourself from the outcome - especially if this is what's keeping you from starting - you would be 75 days further ahead.

I've always loved this quote:

"Never give up on a dream just because of the time it will take to accomplish it. The time will pass anyway.”― Earl Nightingale

If I had waited or delayed on starting my journalling I would once again find myself today in the same position.

With nothing but the grand thoughts in my head to show for it.

The end of the year is approaching. This is usually a time for general reflection, people write new years resolutions. Realise they have gone another year without completing the things on last years list. You know how it goes.

Don’t fall into the intensity trap!

Use the rest of this year to start something small - prove to yourself you can stay consistent and the new year will come with excitement in the air.

Start something now.

You have 27 days left of 2022

Move into the new year 27 days into your new venture.

If you don’t know where to start. Start writing!

3 pages a day.

There is no wrong way to do this, it is a brain dump process. Write whatever comes to mind.

Just write three pages…

And write three more pages the next day.

Start now and enjoy the holidays excited to continue into the New Year.

Don’t give yourself the time to let the project grow out of proportion in your own head.

Each day just get something done.

Consistency is your friend.

It is so simple yet THE most difficult thing we seem to grasp.

If you're still not sure where to start shoot me a DM on twitter. Let's have a chat.

You got this. Remember, the time will pass anyway - why not try!

Maja Howard.