The consistency lie: The missing ingredient for long-term success #5

Consistency alone will take you only so far.

You need to add in purposive gradual change for long-term improvement

A modern lie has been spreading across the internet. Everyone is talking and writing about consistency as the key to success.

In the gym, many say simply show up daily and you will develop a great sporting habit and build your body.

I wonder: How come the gyms are full of the same people each and every day and still not everyone there has an insane physique?

Consistency without guidance is pure insanity

For writing, the same applies: Many say simply post a story a day, and you are guaranteed success.

Sounds similar? It reminds me of this old quote:

Insanity is doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results.

This quote, often attributed to Einstein, puts it concisely into words: Simply repeating the same thing doesn't make it good.

So what is it that we are missing?

The missing ingredient

Yes, many successful people are highly consistent. But it is not consistency alone which helps them stand out from the crowd and be successful.

They combine consistency with one highly valuable habit: Purposive gradual change.

They sit down and review their action. They adapt their approach based on their experience. They sit down again, next week, and do the same.

Successful people do not simply believe they have found the one right approach. Instead, they are open to evaluating their own (failed) actions and learning from other human’s successes.

Each week, they may make one purposive change to their actions.

Gradually, they improve. With each week, they eradicate one more flaw in their approach.

Such consistent calibration gives back control of your actions. It empowers you and keeps you from burning out.

Consistency combined with purposive gradual change leads to long-term improvement.

Sometimes, less is more: Do take the time, sit down and evaluate their you are headed.

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More by Amir Mohsenpour

Here on Substack, I have set up the Therapeutic Thursdays publication. Once a week, I post one concise story of value to the reader. I write on all things public (mental) health, working in psychiatry and productivity for mental well-being.

Over on Medium, I write on various topics. I love to play around and try out different formats and different topics.

Hit me up on Twitter and LinkedIn, too. I promise to be more active on those platforms in the future.