Consistency... It’s a simple concept really; create habits that are productive towards a goal, repeat these habits over time and be propelled towards success. Simple things are often the most powerful, and this is certainly true of consistency. It is the trait to which most successful people attribute their success.
In coaching endurance athletes of all abilities, this concept is vital. Great achievements are not born overnight, and it’s usually when athletes really begin to grasp consistency in thought and in action that we begin to see them flourish.
Whilst the concept is simple, humans are inherently complicated so achieving true consistency can require a little more thought and application than it might seem on the surface. Consistency is often mistaken for a state of being constantly perfect. However consistency is really a state of mind and not a state of being, a continuous process of thought and action.
Here are some things we try to think about with our athletes when it comes to being consistent in a positive way.
Purpose
Goals are great they get us going, but to keep us going we need something bigger. We need a purpose. So we switch the focus, instead of looking at “what” you want, think about “why” you want it. This “why” is your purpose and, it’s the “why” that really drives you.
A ‘purpose’ driven mentality creates a much more robust and positive atmosphere, conducive with getting the best effort out of the athlete. By making this our go to thought process, it’s easier to achieve greater consistency in positive actions towards a successful outcome.
Passion
This one’s pretty simple really. It’s much easier to stay on the path if you enjoy being there and you care about where you’re going. Celebrate the wins, no matter how small. Embrace the struggle, because it’s making you stronger. Don’t lose, just learn and move forwards.
Keep the focus on what you can give to the process, not what you’re getting back. Remember your “why” and let that be the thing that drives you.
Patience & Persistance
Be realistic, life isn’t perfect. There’s always going to obstacles and meaningful change is going to take time. The more time you can apply to productive thoughts and action the more successful you’ll be. You will fall down every so often, everyone does, keep faith in your process and get back up as quickly as possible.
As I alluded to earlier, there’s a common misconception that being consistent is about being perfect all the time. Consistency isn’t about being perfect all the time, it’s about being solid enough in thought and action that even when life’s challenges threaten to slow you down they can never really stop you.
Final Thoughts
When we apply these things to how we approach our day we become consistent in a positive direction. Ultimately this will put us on our own individual path to success.
Consistency - “Create small achievable habits that are productive towards a purpose, apply these habits with passion, be patient and persistent in your pursuits, success will come.”
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