Michael Jordan, one of the best basketball players of all time, didn’t make it 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 of what career we choose for us. 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 Behavior
A hit-and-trial behavior is when someone shows up enthusiastic about a certain thing and disappears immediately after. If someone thinks of becoming a good musician and shows up at the class the first week and disappears for the next three weeks, this behavior won’t make him/her a musician, not even an average one. Similarly, consistently following up on the assigned projects needs 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. 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 timeframe.
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 make 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 the Volume of Output
The volume of our output should not only be good enough but also measurable. Robert A. Berenson once said: “If you can’t measure it, you can’t manage it”. We can produce so much today but all are worthless if quality isn’t measured. So, volume or quantity per sè isn’t consistent, 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 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 toward personal growth, professional success, and fulfillment in every area of our lives.
