The Profound Power of Consistency
Michael Jordan, one of the best basketball players of all time, didn’t make to his university team on his very first attempt. Throughout his career, he counted the number of times he failed. But rather than let his disappointment derail him, he used it to motivate him. Along with being persistent, he was consistent — practicing day after day, honing his skills and getting closer to reaching his goals. His consistency was the key to his success.
Difference Between Persistency & Consistency
Harvey Mackay, a renowned American businessman and author once said: “If you are persistent, you will get it. If you are consistent, you will keep it.” This quote applies to all of us, regardless what career we choose. The people who have made a real impact and left their mark are not necessarily the most talented or the most intelligent; they are the most consistent. This means to be reliable and steady in actions and behaviors, while persistent means to continue firmly in spite of all odds or difficulties.
In this article, we are going to discuss a few pointers that will tell us if we are NOT consistent.
1. It isn’t Hit & Trial Behaviour
A Hit & Trial Behaviour is when someone shows up enthusiastically for certain things and disappears immediately after. E.g. If someone wants to be become a good musician and shows up at the class the first week and disappears for the next three weeks, this behaviour won’t make him/her even am average musician. Similarly, consistently following up the assigned projects need passion and some smartness.
2. It isn’t about Day Dreaming
We should all dream and aspire for things that we want to achieve in our lives. We should also dream big about the life we want to lead and the difference we want to make to the society around us. We must dream big because we might surprise ourselves and we have to dream big because until we do, we’ll have no idea what we’re capable of but we can’t be consistently building castles in our dreams and nothing in reality. Consistency is not inaction and laziness; it is not just a dream. It is a hard reality with some actionable items that we must accomplish in a given time frame.
3. It isn’t Inflexibility
Firmness in our pursuit is an important element of consistency. But being inflexible in our schedules doesn’t automatically equate to consistency. There are other variables that must be taken into consideration. Also, there are times when certain changes are needed to maintain quality and regular output to achieve consistent results. So, staying flexible to some acceptable levels would fall under Consistency.
4. It isn’t Exaggerated Flexibility
Flexibility and Adaptability to whatever comes up in the pursuit of our goals are important qualities. But when flexibility is exaggerated, it becomes inconsistent. Exaggerated flexibility takes away regularity which is an important element of consistency. It could even result in continuous postponement and changes in schedules that sometimes makes our goals unachievable. To me, it’s more than that. In fact, the lack of direction and clarity of purpose falls under exaggerated flexibility.
5. It isn’t Volume of Output
The volume of our output should not only be good enough but also measureable. Robert A. Berenson once said: “If you can’t measure it, you can’t manage it”. We can produce so much today but all worthless if quality isn’t measured. So, volume or quantity per sè isn’t consistency, except when there is a target volume that we meet irrespective of the number of days we effectively contributed to the assigned tasks / projects.
Final Word
In short, Consistency is a powerful force that can transform our dreams into reality. It is the unwavering commitment to daily actions, routines, and habits that drives success in all aspects of our lives. By building habits, developing discipline, making consistent progress, building trust, overcoming setbacks, and aligning our actions with our goals, we position ourselves for remarkable achievements. Embracing consistency as a guiding principle empowers us to make significant strides towards personal growth, professional success, and fulfilment in every area of our lives.
About the Author
Muhammad Sajwani is a C-Level HR, Transformation Leader, Board Advisor, Business Coach & Organisational Consultant working in the capacity of Managing Director, Evolve HR. He is an author, columnist and a contributor who besides writing for other platforms also regularly writes at BizCatalyst 360. He brings along 30+ years of local & international experience. He is a change catalyst specializing in unleashing the human Dreamgenius through Leadership, Creativity and Change Management. Muhammad has been instrumental in helping organizations come to terms with organizational changes like right-sizing and business process re-engineering. His innovative approach & high personal competence encourages people to not only accept change, but also to excel in it. Muhammad has diverse experience in conducting strategic & management development programs, conferences & events for organizations across sectors.
