Be Consistent. Stay Consistent. Consistency Is the Key!

Want to know the secret to getting ahead? I always cringe a bit when I hear these words “it’s simple but not easy”

The answer is consistency. Our work is extra demanding as female creatives, and we have to put in a lot of effort because it's not just our business we're handling. One thing you can control, however, is your consistency. My topic today is consistency, and why it is important.

Why is Consistency Key?

Consistency builds reliability and trust with your customers, partners, employees, and relationships. Let me share a cool story that I came across while researching for this post. Look up Newsette, a company that built a multimillion-dollar business on an email newsletter. The company founder attributed her success to consistency, simply showing up every day. They send a daily newsletter to ambitious businesswomen, providing them with top news and exclusive interviews. They've built trust by consistently showing up in someone's email box, and delivering quality content every day. I'm a subscriber myself, and I can attest to the quality of their work.

Consistent action over time will lead to tangible results and progress towards your goals. This concept reminds me of a fable we all know, "The Tortoise and the Hare." In the story, the tortoise won the race against the hare not because he was faster, but because he was consistent. He kept moving forward, no matter how slow his pace was, while the hare took breaks and underestimated the tortoise. The tortoise's consistency led to his victory.

When you're facing challenges, consistency can even help you overcome obstacles. A math problem from Twitter illustrates how .01% of effort makes a huge difference, which I am going to post here. 

Take a look at the differential in those two math problems. That's a huge difference. Those tiny little decimal points don't seem like much. Look at how much more momentum you got from that small little change. 

Struggle to Be Consistent

We've established that consistency is important in achieving success, but it's not always easy to maintain. Even though consistency is one of my superpowers, I still struggle with it on some days, and I know many of you do too. So let's explore the reasons behind this struggle, starting with motivation.

Sometimes, we're simply not motivated to show up consistently, whether it's posting regularly on social media, making time for a relationship, or reaching out to a certain number of clients for sales calls on a weekly basis. When we lack motivation, we struggle to maintain consistency. If motivation is your struggle, the key is to find your "why" - why are you doing it? Why do you want to show up on social media consistently? It needs to be more than just growing your brand. You need to have a deep desire to help and educate others, to find joy in the process of creating those social media posts. It's important to get really clear on your purpose and your "why," so that on the days when you're struggling, you can connect with that purpose and push through to maintain consistency.

Another reason why we struggle with consistency is a lack of inspiration. As someone who has been researching sleep lately, I've come across some interesting information about how we can tap into our dreams for inspiration and creativity. Leaders, artists, and industry titans throughout history have used the power of dreams to inspire their work, and you can do the same by paying attention to your own dreams. Some people have even gone so far as to sleep with a pen in their hand so that when the pen falls and wakes them up they can jot down their dreams.

While you don't necessarily have to go to that extreme, keeping a dream journal by your bed and jotting down what you remember each morning can help you tap into your subconscious and draw inspiration from your dreams. Oftentimes, the problems we're working on in our lives are being worked out in our brains while we sleep, so paying attention to our dreams can provide a natural source of inspiration.

One of the biggest challenges we face when it comes to being consistent is distraction and time management issues. And let me tell you, I've been there. But there's a simple solution that can make all the difference. Have you tried using the focus feature on your Apple iPhone or a similar feature on your Android? It only takes a few minutes to set up and can help you stay on track and avoid those pesky interruptions that can derail your productivity. I've actually created a video on how to focus, so check that out if you want more details.

Now, let's talk about another obstacle that can get in the way of consistency: self-doubt and fear of failure. I know this all too well. But the truth is, you have to find a way to overcome it and show up anyway. In fact, I recently made a video on this very topic, so make sure to check that out too. We delve into the root causes of our fear of failure and provide practical tips to help you move past it.

Overcoming Obstacles to Consistency

Let's talk about how to overcome these obstacles through the power of consistency. The first step is to establish a routine and stick to it. You may have heard me talk about the reset routine before, but there is real power in having a routine. However, it's important to remember that you need to be specific with your action steps. Simply saying you want to work on a project from 10 am to 11 am is not enough. You need to break it down into more detail.

Let me give you an example. I was working on a video for the Life After Busy Bootcamp and I had set aside time to work on it, but what I failed to realize was that I needed to get ready before recording the video. Since I usually work from home in my sweats and messy bun, I didn't have my hair and makeup done for the video. This caused me to skip a day of filming and delayed the project. That's why it's important to establish a routine and be clear on the specific steps involved.

There are different types of routines you can establish, such as a morning routine or a bedtime routine, but what's most important is that you are consistent with it. When you establish a routine, it becomes a habit, and it's easier to stick to it.

The second step is to find accountability. Whether it's a friend, a coach, or a group, having someone to hold you accountable can be a game-changer. When you know that someone is expecting you to follow through on your commitments, it can motivate you to stay consistent.

The third step is to focus on progress, not perfection. It's easy to get caught up in trying to be perfect, but that can lead to burnout and frustration. Instead, focus on making progress each day, even if it's just a small step forward. Celebrate your wins and learn from your setbacks.

By establishing a routine, finding accountability, and focusing on progress, you can overcome the obstacles that get in the way of consistency and achieve your goals. Remember, consistency is key to success, so keep pushing forward!

Consistency is a critical factor in the success of female entrepreneurship. By remaining consistent in your efforts and actions, you can overcome obstacles and achieve your goals. So, stay consistent, stay focused, and keep pushing toward your dreams.