Killing Mediocrity by Unlocking Consistency
Here's an unpopular opinion:
I believe everyone already knows how to achieve their dreams. And if they don't, they know how to ask Google or ChatGPT for advice.
So why do 90% of people not pursue their dreams?
The #1 reason hides in plain sight. It's consistency. And I'll show you how to learn it soon.
Like many of you, I was:
Always writing essays the night before they were due.
Starting projects but never finishing them.
Promising myself "I'll start tomorrow" (but never did).
It was frustrating. I knew consistency was key to success, but I couldn't crack the code.But here's the thing: I couldn't give up. I became obsessed with learning this fundamental trait. And what I found will change your life if you struggle with this. You see, almost everyone has an ideal version of their life. Half of those people dabble in their dream. Few go all in. Even fewer stay in. Friction kills consistency.
What causes friction?
There are several reasons (that commonly overlap):
You Have No Purpose.
If you don't have an emotional connection to the goal, it's harder to achieve. It's easier to stick to a goal once you have a constant higher purpose.
For example, if you're a door-to-door salesman, you might quit after a few harsh rejections.
You'd stay longer if:
You have a family to feed.
It's your own product you're truly proud of.
You've made a bet you can sell more than your co-worker.
Ask yourself: What's the emotional reason why you're pursuing your goal?
You Quit After a Lack of Immediate Results (aka Unrealistic Expectations)
99% of "overnight success" consists of unseen smaller successes. If you stick around and improve, you will absolutely see results.
You can't do one sit-up and expect a six-pack.
You’re Goals are a Low Priority
I've met people who tell me their passion and what they want, but then do absolutely nothing about it.
If the dream is big, the effort shouldn't be small.
You Have Fear of Change (aka Discomfort)
Change is uncomfortable. As a longtime spectator on social media, I remember the odd feeling of gaining newsletter subscribers and Instagram followers.
The good news is that discomfort is a sign of growth.
Exactly like growing pains.
You Have Poor Time Management
If you're doing too many things, you're at risk for failure.
You can't expect one plant to grow large if you're dividing the water among 20 different plants.
You’re a Perfectionist
You don't need things to be 100% perfect to start.
You don't need to worry about step 20 when you're realistically on step 1 or 2.
Strive for progress, not perfection.
The consistent minimum is more than the inconsistent maximum.
You Have Low Self-Beliefs
They say comparison is the thief of joy. But in this case, we're going to test the quality of your work.
Think about all the things you hate — that became wildly successful.
Either way, you will always be a continual learner.
You may think you're not good enough.
Think about all the things you hate — that became wildly successful.
I dislike Michael Bay movies, but guess what? They're insanely popular. You don't have to appeal to everyone.
You’re in a Negative Environment
The problem may not even be you. It could be the people who discourage you.
Say you want to become a pro tennis player, but you're in a town where no one else plays or even has a tennis court. You're going to have to leave in order to achieve your goal.
You’re Burnt Out
I've been guilty of this before. I think most people will experience this. But this also falls in line with discomfort.
The important thing is to refer back to your strong emotional purpose to get you back running.
BONUS HACK
If you have ADHD and you need game-changing life hack, I got something for you..
It's the Pomodoro technique with my own twist.
The Pomodoro Technique is a time management method developed in the late 1980s.
The traditional technique breaks work into focused 25-minute intervals, separated by short 5-minute breaks. After completing four intervals, you take a longer 15–30 minute break.
Here's my twist:
Set a challenging time limit.
Give yourself a challenging timeframe to complete a task. If writing an essay takes two hours, put the timer for one hour.
Set the stakes.
You're betting on yourself now. You could bet money, a chore, and so on.
If you can't write the essay in one hour and thirty minutes — you have to give your $50 to your friend.
Rephrase the task.
Instead of saying "I have to write an essay," say "Can I write my essay within 1 hour — or else I pay my friend $50?"
This turns your boring task into an exciting challenge.
