The Power of Consistency

Would you rather have $3 million or a penny that doubles in value every day for thirty days? Why? For all those who love instant gratification, the answer is obvious. You'll hear famous sayings like "A bird at hand is better than twenty in the sky." But take a second to think about it and consider what that penny will amount to in 30 days!

Let's do the math, shall we?

So, a penny is $0.01, and it doubles every day.

$0.01*2

In 30 days:

$0.01*2^30 = $10,737,418.24

That is $10,737,418.24 if you delay gratification for 30 days. The truth is that the 30 days will roll by anyway. It's not like the world is coming to an end.

Similarly, in our lives, we go through such situations requiring that we exercise patience. And I've said numerous times that patience is a skill worth mastering. There is this obsession in our world today about getting things at lightning speed. We all have seen the billboards on the highway saying speed kills, and not only for drivers of automobiles. It's almost like no one cares about sustainability anymore.

American rapper MC Hammer, according to the Mirror, blew through an estimated fortune of $70 million in under five years. This is a classic example of meteoric rises leading to a precipitous fall from grace. Fast money, whether legal or illegal, can be detrimental to even the most disciplined people in the world. In contrast, real and sustainable success is often achieved through small, consistent actions repeated over a long period.

I once heard someone define integrity as consistency in our thoughts, words, and actions. Meaning there is an alignment in our thinking, the words we speak, and the actions we take. You trust yourself more when you are consistent. Your colleagues, employees, stakeholders, and customers trust you because you're consistent. People usually make hiring decisions based on experience. Why? You guessed right, consistency! It's the same reason you want an experienced doctor treating you.

It's easy to tell someone to remain consistent, but how? Consistency helps to create a robust and recognizable brand image and establish a reputation for reliability and dependability. It stems from the foundation of having a clear set of values and principles guiding your decisions and actions. Your foundation is your root, and it helps you stand your ground even when life throws its worst challenges and obstacles your way.

In his 20th year in the NBA, Lebron James recently surpassed the former all-time scorer in the NBA, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, with an impressive new record of 38,411 points. I can imagine Lebron putting in the work every day, even when he didn't feel like it. I'm sure consistency had a role to play in that.

Another example is J.K Rowling's story which is a testament to the power of consistency and perseverance. Several publishers rejected her, and she could have easily given up on her dream of publishing a book. However, she remained persistent, submitting her manuscript to different publishers until finally, one saw the potential in her work. If she did not stay determined and consistent in pursuing her dream, none of us would have been blessed to read or watch the Harry Potter series as it became a cultural phenomenon, inspiring countless readers and film adaptations.

I will be remiss if I fail to talk about one of my mentors Warren Buffet. He is a mentor to many of my mentors. I call him the mentor's mentor. His success as an investor is primarily due to his consistent and disciplined approach to investing. He has a set of principles and values that he follows religiously, even in the face of market volatility and uncertainty.

A few years ago, Warren Buffet sat on about $100 billion in cash; while many pundits said he was losing his Midas Touch, Warren remained patient. It didn't take too long for him to be proven right again. The market tanked, and here he is again on the market, buying stocks for pennies on the dollar. Time and again, his consistency and steadfastness have earned him the reputation of being one of the most reliable and successful investors of all time.

In my personal life, I've seen the power of consistency pay huge dividends. When I wanted to get in shape in 2018, I knew I needed to be consistent with my workout program and diet. I worked two jobs then, and even though I closed late at about 10:30 PM, I still spent at least an hour in the gym before going to bed. The fact that I was standing all day and was tired wasn't an acceptable excuse, which is why I find it difficult to sympathize with those who use work as an excuse not to take their physical health seriously. I've said it repeatedly, dead men do not walk, talk or even work.

Working from 8 AM till 10:30 PM and standing all day would have been the perfect excuse not to train, and many people would agree that there was no time to work out, but that was just unacceptable. I needed to set time aside for physical activity, and eat a healthy, balanced diet, even when I was busy or tired. Over time, this consistency has paid off, and we all see the results of my hard work in improved health and fitness.

Consistency is a powerful force that can help you succeed in all areas of your life. Do a bit of introspection and try to find out if there is anything you ever got good at that didn't require consistency. I'm 100 percent sure you wouldn't find anything because the evidence just does not exist.

Whether you're a CEO, an entrepreneur, or just starting your career journey, I encourage you to embrace the power of consistency and make it a cornerstone of your success strategy. Remember, overnight successes usually fall from grace fast, but sustainable success results from small, consistent actions repeated over a long period. So, stay consistent and focused, and, most importantly, stay true to your values and principles.???

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I'd love to hear your thoughts; how has consistency helped you achieve success over the years???

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Christopher is the President of Fountain Fleet Solutions, a consulting firm for fleet safety management.

You can find out more at www.fountainfleetsolutions.com.