I’ve written before about the paralysis of analysis. We get so overwhelmed by the “bigness” of a goal that we just shut down.

Just start. It doesn’t have to be good – it probably won’t be. You will be embarrassed, you’ll look back later and laugh at yourself, you will probably wish you’d done it better, different, sooner, whatever.

Just. Start.

There are a whole lot of areas where consistency is more significant than quality or excellence.

1. Investing. Yet again I will shout to the rooftops about the amazingness of compound interest. There are a million calculators that can show how investing small amounts over a long term is substantially better than investing bigger amounts over a short term. Here is a fun compound interest calculator to play around with to show you the value. $25 a month for 50 years means you’ve saved $15,000. You’ll wind up with $85K at a 6% interest rate (which is super low and way lower than the average rate of return for the US Stock Market) https://www.investor.gov/financial-tools-calculators/calculators/compound-interest-calculator A little bit for a long time means BIG improvement and big success.
2. Dieting. Yep. Consistency is way more important to long-term success than big changes in any given area. Every running coach talks about loooong term progress in cardiovascular efficiency and endurance. Every strength coach talks about slow and steady progression to build injury-free strength. Every dieting coach talks about a calorie deficit but not too big of a calorie deficit. For long term actual change and health, there’s no short term solution. There is slow and steady process. A little bit for a long time makes big change.
3. Whatever change you are trying to make. Trust the process. Embrace the process. That is where you learn. That is where you grow. The end result is the victory lap. The process is where the building happens.

It’s important to surround yourself with people that are there for the process. The valuable people are the ones that love us at our least capable, least beautiful, least available, least useful. Because as we grow and improve and change, they supported us at our worst and will continue to support our improvements. Think long and hard about the people that aren’t supporting your growth. What are they taking away from your success and what are they adding to your life?

Think about the story of the little red hen. No one wants to help her gather the grain, make the bread, clean the dishes, or help her in any way. But they’re all lining up to eat that delicious bread she worked hard for. We don’t have time for that anymore. If people aren’t willing to help you get to your victory lap, they don’t get to share in the victory. Just that simple.

Surround yourself with people that lift you up. Surround yourself with people that support your consistency; people that encourage your growth. Surround yourself with people that understand growth and improvement take dedication day in and day out. It isn’t luck, skill, or magic, it is consistency and dedication every day and people that help you prioritize your goals.

Find those people. Seek out people with shared goals. Focus on consistency, and don’t give away your time and energy to the people that are taking away from your success. You are the main character of your own life.