Consistency over perfection?
In my 50-plus years on this big blue marble hurtling through space at approximately 67,000 miles per hour, I’ve had my fair share of athletic pursuits. It all started with shooting hoops during the half-time of my dad’s high school basketball games when I was youngin. As I got older, I played competitive soccer and football, basketball, and baseball throughout my high school years. And I have had the opportunity to play basketball in college on one of the top junior college teams in the country in 1989, Polk Community College Vikings.
While I have always loved sports and competing, I have never been a “rah rah” guy. It didn’t motivate me as a player and I wasn’t into it as a coach. There is just something about that mindset that didn’t drive me.
As I have aged, I have continued to set goals for myself in business and health. Goal setting always seems to lead you to new habits or mindset and for every habit there is a guru to tell you how to be successful.
Tony Robbins outlines five steps to success:
- Set SMART goals
- Visualize the desired outcome
- Create a Massive Action Plan (MAP)
- Hold yourself accountable
- Celebrate victories
Tony Robbins “How To Achieve My Toughest Goals”
“Slow down there big guy. I just want to become a morning person.”
On the other hand, James Clear says “forget goals, focus on systems.”
James Clear – Forget About Setting Goals. Focus On This Instead
“Ok, I feel a little better now.”
While both mindsets have been successful for millions, to me they both fall back on the idea of consistency over perfection.
Most people overestimate what they can do in one year and underestimate what they can do in ten years. – Bill Gates among others
Choosing consistency over perfection allows us to break long journeys into small wins. Over time those small, but consistent, wins build and allow us to create momentum towards our ultimate goal.
Consistency over perfection allows us to give ourselves grace when life happens and we can’t or don’t feel like showing up a particular moment.
So whether you are trying to walk the equivalent of the Florida coastline (1350 miles) in a year, increase your following on social media, write a blog once a week or grow your month over month revenue choose consistency and work towards “showing up.” Sometimes, that is the toughest part.
But don’t call Tony Robbins your Guru, “I AM NOT YOUR GURU!”