Show up Today to Shape Tomorrow

A Lesson from Dad

When I was a little girl, Dad was in his vegetable garden at dawn every day before heading to his banking job. Sundays were for deep-sea fishing. With six children to feed, he and Mum refused to buy what they could grow, catch, or make. Dad once told me he’d dreamed of farming; tending that garden became his way to live the dream while providing for us. He kept the routine into his eighties, slowing only when illness forced him to slow down. His steady, daily effort shaped my own belief that showing up, especially when no one is watching, changes lives.

Consistency Beats Heroic Moments

Consistency builds self-trust and habits that move you toward purpose and success. Progress comes from being willing and able to show up every day, act, and engage in activities that will help you reach your goals and aspirations. Scientific evidence shows that we can even improve our sleep by going to bed and waking up at the same time each day. Yes, weekends too! Getting up at the same time establishes a strong foundation for routine, deepens self-trust and improves sleep.

"Success isn’t always about greatness. It's consistency. Consistent hard work leads to success. Greatness will come."

Dwayne Johnson

Persistence can win the prize on any given occasion; however, consistency ensures you keep what you gain. Routines build momentum, fuel self-trust, and anchor you when motivation dips. Routines are how we make decisions today that our future selves will celebrate and be grateful for. Consistency can be your superpower, and having good habitual routines that support you can also bring more certainty to your life goals.

The Law of Consistency

In John Maxwell’s book, The 15 Laws of Invaluable Growth, he highlights that consistency must be one of the essential ingredients to make significant change. He states, "Motivation gets you going, but discipline keeps you growing."

We do not need to settle for anything less than what we are capable of, and the exciting thing is that we often don't realise our capabilities until we decide to pursue something more than what we have been doing. It takes courage, commitment, and consistency to achieve what it is in life that you wish to achieve.

Jim Collins, author of Good to Great, defines a breakthrough as a series of good, well-executed decisions that accumulate over time, and it takes patience and consistency to do this. In simple terms, life will either squeeze you, or you can squeeze life. Your daily choices determine which happens.

Here are Five Ways for Consistency to Give You an Edge

#1—Know what you need to improve.

Identify your areas for growth. Use the 'Wheel of Life' or a similar tool to score your satisfaction in each of the areas. Identify the areas of growth that you want to achieve and pick one or two gaps to close first.

#2—Know why you want to improve

A clear ‘why’ will support and motivate your discipline when novelty fades. Watch Simon Sinek’s Golden Circle if you need a refresher. Celebrate the small wins, as they compound over time.

#3—Learn how to improve

Read books, join a program, or hire a coach to guide you. The right guide will bring out the best in you that you may not even realise is there. Everything you need is within you now. Go find it.

#4—Know when to improve

A famous Chinese Proverb says, "The best time to plant a tree was 20 years ago. The second-best time is now." Waiting for perfect timing is the enemy of consistency. Start now.

#5—Assess your environment

James Clear, in his book ‘Atomic Habits’, highlights that one of the keys to changing habits is to make it obvious. Are you hanging out with the right people? Are you in the right room? If you are the head of the class, it's time to change class, or if you are the smartest person in the room, it’s time to find a different room.

Bringing it all Together to Squeeze Life

We all have choices, and every choice has a consequence. Do not settle for less than what you are capable of. Consistency in making good decisions around habits, goal setting and planning how to achieve the future you want is necessary, and there is no time or age limit on when you can start this. The best time to plant a tree was 20 years ago, and the second-best time is now. Just start.