It’s no secret that some of the most successful people in the world have mastered the art of consistency.
Whether it’s your favorite entertainer, artist, writer, designer, scientist, or entrepreneur that you admire, chances are that consistency has had a huge impact on their success.
But what does taking consistent action look like?
Well, it’s getting in the habit of showing up no matter if you’re feeling inspired or you’re having a bad day.
I love this quote by Dwayne Johnson…
“Success isn’t always about greatness. It’s about consistency. Consistent hard work leads to success.”
I used to think that people were just born with the gift of consistency, but that’s simply not true!
Years ago I had the opportunity to study several successful entrepreneurs during a series of live events. What stood out to me the most was how every single one of them spoke about the power of consistency. I then started to look around and notice this common theme among people who were achieving at a high level.
I was amazed when I learned that Seth Godin, entrepreneur, best-selling author, and marketing genius, published a blog post every single day for more than 10 years. Now that’s consistency like I’ve never seen before!
When you’re consistent it helps you create habits that shape your identity, build momentum, and increase your willpower. Now you’re not consistent, it not only limits your potential and squanders your creativity but it slows down your progress.
If you’re the type of person who feels like no matter how hard you try you just can’t seem to be consistent with anything, raise your hand! I’ve been there.
One minute you’re on a roll then the next you drop the ball, oftentimes right before the finish line. That’s the worst right?! If this is something you’re struggling with, you can change it starting today.
Whether you want to write more consistently to finish your book, go live on Instagram to increase your engagement, or workout three times a week like you’ve been trying to do for months, developing the habit of consistency will be life-changing!
Even if you don’t believe you have the natural ability to be consistent, I have a few proven strategies that’ll help you master the art of consistency so you can reach your definition of success in business and life.
Here are 5 ways to be more consistent:
1. Block time in your calendar everyday.
This is the easiest thing you can do to be more consistent starting today. It’s simple, but don’t be fooled, it’s powerful. If you want to do more of what will get you results, you must take back control of your day and block out time to get things done.
For example, if you’ve been trying to write your book for the last year but you can’t seem to write consistently to get it done, block off time on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. for uninterrupted writing time. That means no social media, texting, or surfing the internet–just write.
If you take control of your time, calendar, and block time in your schedule to get things done, you’ll develop the habit of being more consistent.
2. Focus on what’s most important, not urgent.
This is easier said than done! When you’re running a business (on top of trying to enjoy life!), there are so many moving parts that you’re responsible for. And as you already know, life will throw you unexpected curve balls that will distract you from what’s most important.
A valuable skill I’ve developed is the ability to differentiate the urgent from the important. Oftentimes things pop up in your business or life that seem urgent but they aren’t important! When you’re clear about what you need to do consistently and can consciously decide what deserves your time, you’ll be able to take more of the right actions consistently.
3. Use systems that save time.
This. will. change. your. life! If you want to save time (and mental space!), work more efficiently, and be more productive you must leverage the power of systems. There are things that you’ll have to do over and over again. What are some important things that must get done in your business or life that can be optimized, automated, or outsourced?
For example, let’s say you know you need to be more visible on social media but you’re struggling to post consistently. Block out time to batch your post creation process and then use a social media scheduler to do the work for you. Easy fix!
Your business should run like a well-oiled machine with or without you. Set up automation tools to help you be more consistent where it matters most. Life is so much easier when you have a repeatable process for getting the most important things done.
4. Find an accountability partner.
There’s nothing like someone you respect holding you accountable for doing what you said you were going to do. You’ll be surprised at what a little social pressure can make you do! If you find yourself struggling to follow-through with your commitments, you need an accountability partner ASAP. This person can be a peer in your industry, mentor, or respected friend. And if you’re the type of person who likes extra external motivation, add some stakes.
For example, if you fail to launch your online course by a certain date, you’ll donate $100 to an organization you hate. It can be infuriating to give your hard-earned money to a cause you don’t believe in, furthermore reason to use stakes if you need them!
5. Show up even when you don’t feel like it.
This is the most challenging thing to do because there will be days when you’re just not feeling it. So how do you bring yourself to action when you’re not in the mood? Here’s something that has helped me!
When I first started my business I learned a powerful concept, act how you want to feel. I know, it’s simple! For example, if you’re feeling drained and have no energy, act energetically. This subtle mindset shift has helped me show up on even my worst days. And it can help you too!
There will be days when you don’t feel like opening up that document, sending that email, working out, or simply getting out of bed! However, one of the things that separate the pros from the amateurs is the discipline to show up every day.
As Tony Robbins said, “It’s not what we do once in a while that shapes our lives. It’s what we do consistently.”
If you use just one of these proven strategies to be more consistent, you’ll create unstoppable momentum, increases your willpower, and achieve more in less time–guaranteed!
With Love,
Noelle
