Small Steps, Big Wins: Applying the Consistency and Persistence Formula to Achieve Your Goals
There are many ingredients for success. Whether you are thinking of business success or personal success, there is a formula that can ensure that you reach the goals you establish. Consistency plus persistence multiplied by situational urgency can be applied to almost every scenario and help you achieve your loftiest goals.
Consistency + Persistence x Urgency = Desired Outcome
Persistence — pushing through when obstacles arise. When things get challenging, that is when persistence is needed.
Consistency — meaning doing something repeatedly. It is about building habits and cycles of doing what is necessary to achieve the desired outcome.
Situational urgency — what does your situation require in terms of timing? Consistency is great in every regard, but knowing the timeline for you to achieve the objective can define the effort level, the changes required, and the resources required to get to the level you are looking for.
Progress and performance are not the same
Progress cannot always be a substitute for performance. This is where situational urgency comes in to play the most. If you are addressing a substantially underperforming situation, you cannot rely on a slow and steady approach. The urgency in which the performance improves must match the situation. It still requires the consistent actions but performed at a higher level. The persistence to push through is critical in the early stages.
Once the acceptable level is achieved, then resources can be reviewed and potentially reallocated. But your consistent improvement should continue, albeit at a different pace than you initially implemented.
Tipping Points
Think of a pot of water on the stove. Once the heat is applied, it continues getting warmer. Consistently having heat applied raises the temperature slowly and steadily (depending on your heat setting — urgency). But, once it reaches the 211-degree level and moves one step further forward, then the entire situation changes. Suddenly, the water is excited and now boiling. What a difference a degree can make. SimpleTruths has a great motivational video that uses this exact example, 212 The Extra Degree. They have a corresponding simple to read book as well that is worth having as a reference tool.
The idea of one more degree, pushing through the last hurdle, staying consistent in approach can have magnificent results. Taking the steps one at a time leads to better extended performance because everyone knows it can be done. Consistency pays off.
Apply to all areas of your life
Leading with a consistent and persistent approach is not limited to any one area of your life. This is an excellent approach to anything you do. Using another common example, losing weight, applying the consistent and persistent concept will ensure that you achieve your goals. You must be consistent in your exercise activity and persistent in managing your calorie intake. There will be those temptations around you every day to eat something that is not in your best interest when seeking your goal.
One small step…
Doing a little bit every day will be far better than doing a couple of bigger things every once in a while. Those have no chance of building momentum or connecting to create the longer-term value you need. Reference our earlier example of boiling water. What would happen if you turned the heat on ‘high’ for a few seconds then turned it off, then waited a few minutes and turned it back on? You repeat this cycle over and over, yet the water never boils. However, when applied steadily, the goal is reached. By controlling the energy expended (the level of heat applied — situation urgency and persistence), you can determine how quickly you achieve your set outcome.
The saying may be “slow and steady wins the race,” but as a leader, you determine the best approach necessary for your desired outcome. The steady is an absolute. Consistency is a requirement for long-term success. Persistence will move you through the encountered obstacles. Combined, they ensure you can achieve the goals you set for yourself and your team.
How can you apply the consistency and persistence formula to your life?
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