HOW TO WIN THE BATTLE OF INCONSISTENCY

In a world where everyone has a desire to achieve their goals and get closer to their dreams, having an intention to succeed is not just enough when compared to the opportunity cost of non achievement. I once came in contact with a quote that says “To Dream Is Free But The Hustle Is Sold Separately”.

Based on research, the cyanide that destroys the fruition of any dream or the achievement of any goal is INCONSISTENCY. For those proficient in baking, you will know that the consistency of the stir dictates the taste and outcome of the dish being made.

Inconsistency in the past has driven a wedge between a leader and his followers. Scott Mautz once said that “Our visible actions should always match up with our words or else people will become confused and begin to tune out. Relatedly, a brand that doesn’t follow through on its promises will never be bought again. And managers who don’t follow through on what they say they will do will never have anyone buy into them, their decisions and direction, again, either.”

The malady of inconsistency one can say ranges from denied promotion, damaged relationships to most importantly the demise of one’s dreams, for it is in the attainment of a desired goal that the fulfillment of life lies. Stephen King- The prolific writer once quoted that “Talent is cheaper than table salt. What separates the talented individual from the successful one is a lot of hard work”.

Consistency is one key trait of the hard working that even King Solomon, the author of the Book of Proverbs– a fantastic book on wisdom suggested that it is the diligence of one in his business, that causes him to stand before kings and not mean men (paraphrased). This statement in effect poses the question- “What can I do to be consistent? But before this is addressed, It is imperative to highlight that the root cause for inconsistency lies with FEAR. Fear of failure, the fear of not being equal to the required task as when compared to others. This is what I would regard as the “Not Good Enough Syndrome”- N.G.E.S. But the truth remains that everyone who achieved their set target wasn’t necessarily based on the premise of competency alone but on dedication, for its in the dedication one’s craft gets sharpened.

So how can one remain consistent in a noisy world with various things calling and competing for our attention and time. For some it may be the attention demanded from parents by children. For others it could be the demands of their day jobs in other to keep the ship of life afloat and while others it may be the attention that is  demanded by a spouse in order to keep the marriage aflame. Regardless of what these seeming demands may be, below are suggestions that I have observed in the life of those who have threaded this same path and reached their promise land.

1.  Make The Decision
2.  Write the Vision
3.  Be Accountable
4.  Revisit the Vision

1. Make a Decision

Indecision is the cancer that spreads over the dreams of a person and in no time, such a dream is dead. Dreams are like babies and if not fed, in no time, they die. A decision must be made on taking actions towards the achievement of a set target. Many people celebrate their intentions at the expense of not taken relevant actions towards the realization of their intent. One may play it safe for so long at the shores of indecision, but until one deeps their foot into the ocean, one may never know how deep the water is. No matter how lofty an intention may be, until a decision is made to take forward steps, it will remain a mirage. This is why it is said that “A dream written down with a date becomes a GOAL. A goal broken down into steps becomes a PLAN. A plan backed by ACTION makes your dreams come true- Unknown”. Actions must always be in tandem with the vision at heart or the dream in mind.

2. Write the Vision. 

It is believed that there is a correlation between goals written down and its accomplishment. Dr Gail Matthews, a psychology professor at Dominican University in California, did a study on goal-setting with 267 participants. She found that you are 42 percent more likely to achieve your goals just by writing them down. So in a bid to ensure that consistency is maintained, pen that goal down.

3. Be Accountable.

The importance of accountability can never be over emphasized. Quite recently, I set a goal of losing 20 kg in 90 days and I tell you that the reason why I have been progressing is only because I made myself accountable to the people whose opinions matter to me. This in effect put me in a position of not giving excuses but putting in the relevant work required to achieve my goal. Excuses remain as the road blocks to the achievement of our set goals.

4. Revisit The Vision

As the saying goes “Out of Sight, Out of Mind”. A goal you do not constantly review will in no time fade away. In order to ensure consistency, put the written down vision in plain sight, for this serves as a reminder of what needs to be done and this as well, enables the mind to deduce ways of achieving them.

In conclusion, always remember that “Until you are consistent, No one will take you serious.-Unknown”. Consistency is an art that when often practiced leads to the opening of doors that lead to the fulfilment of destiny.