Over the years, consistency and I have had a few run-ins and we haven’t always hit it off so well.
world map
Someone who is super consistent is Chris Guillebeau. He has traveled extensively and is actually on route to travel to every single country in the world by the time he turns 35!
This guy is cool. He sets big, ginormous goals and then figures out a way to make them happen (reminds me of my Michael). 😉
Consistency according Merriam Webster:
1: possessing firmness or coherence
2: marked by harmony, regularity, or steady continuity: free from variation or contradiction
Yup, Chris fits the Webster dictionary definition very well and it has lended to his success. He is unrelentingly consistent.
I have always respected consistency in others. Deep down I longed for consistency in my own life.
I have treated consistency like a pair of cheap jeans picked up at Goodwill. Those are the jeans you stuff in the corner of your drawer and only pull out when all your other jeans are dirty.
I guess you could say my relationship with consistency was bipolar. I donned it when I felt it was necessary but otherwise left it sitting in a corner gathering dust. There were times, even seasons, that I embraced it with open arms and then, on a whim, would toss it aside.
Thus, inconsistent has described consistency and me.
Some months ago, I listened to an interview of Darren Hardy. He was asked 2 questions that caught my attention.
1. “In one word, describe one attribute of a successful person” the interviewer asked. Darren answered quickly, “Authenticity.”
2. “In one word, describe one attribute of a successful entrepreneur” the interviewer then asked. “Consistency” Darren said, without hesitation.
I thought to myself, “Ok, there are just two things, this can’t be too hard.” “Authenticity, check, no problems there.” And then I thought, “Consistency. Oh rats!” It had cornered me and even had the audacity to wink at me too!
Consistency is gutsy!
It is disciplined and it says “no” when it needs to. Consistency sets healthy boundaries, sticks to goals, and does the things it says it is going to do.
Consistency is put together and predictable, yet bold and takes calculated risks. It doesn’t let other people run it over. It takes wise advice to heart and throws the unwise out. It knows it’s role in life and goes after it with die-hard, well, consistency.
I realized consistency is necessary to be the person I want to be.
“So,” I said to myself, “How do I become consistent, consistently?” Is consistency just something someone picks up and puts on like a backpack?
It dawned on me that I had already become unyieldingly consistent with a major thing in my life, writing here on this site.
Putting forth the mountain-high goal of writing a post for 365 days straight has done something I never imagined it would. It sat me down and said, “Claudia, meet consistency. I think you two will get along just fine!”
Writing here has held me to a schedule of consistency like I have never had before and I love it!
And guess what? It is spreading to other areas in my life as well. I am learning consistency. I am embracing it and not stuffing it in the dark corner of my drawers anymore.
I guess you could say that consistency has given me wings to fly. It has helped me achieve more in one year than I ever thought possible. In fact, I think I am going to march right over and give it a big fat kiss right on its consistently wise brow!
And as for Chris Guillebeau, I have no doubt that consistency will continue to take him to the heights and beyond.
Question: What is your relationship with consistency?
Oh, Claudia! I just love reading your writing! I believe this consistent blogging has paid off in dividends as far as sharpening your writing skills! Keep it up!
Thanks so much Annette! You are very kind to say so 😉
Great post, Claudia. Consistency is one of those things I don’t seem to have a problem with – plenty of others, but not this one. I like how you describe that becoming consistent with your writing has begun to spread to other areas. That’s so true! I tell my clients that want to lose weight – if you begin instituting one habit, say walking 30 minutes every day, soon drinking more water becomes easier. I believe consistency is a habit and the only way to build in a good one is by taking baby steps every day. (But that IS consistency isn’t it lol!!!)
Awesome Ann!
That is something I appreciate about you… you are indeed very consistent. 🙂
It has spread to other areas, which I have found to be a huge blessing. That is great advice to tell your clients… I can attest that it works!
hahaha yes, I guess you would call baby steps every day consistency as well! 🙂
Consistency is probably hardest for me in the physical fitness realm – well, I guess you can say I have “consistently” eaten too much pizza and ice cream over my 40+ years. Does that count? 😉
I’m a “routine’ kind of person, you know and for years I would wake up at 5am, and do my morning rituals of reading/praying/listening to motivation tapes/CD on the way to work. Since being a dad, that has been thrown out the window somehow. It’s hard to establish a steady routine for me these days it seems, but I continue to try and find a way to work those details out.
I also find if I know others are dependent on me, or I am a part of a team – I am extremely consistent there. Another good reason to be public and make yourself know to others.
I hear ya Michael! When you figure out consistency with young children, let me know 😉 This has been challenging for me as well. I am working on just staying consistent with my habits knowing that some days, things just won’t go as planned.