Simplicity plus Consistency equals Results

“If you make your bed every morning, you will have accomplished the first task of the day,” Admiral William H. McRaven’s said in his speech to the 2014 graduating class at The University of Texas. “It will give you a small sense of pride and it will encourage you to do another task and another and another. By the end of the day, that one task completed will have turned into many tasks completed.”

As a child, I recall feeling both frustrated and overwhelmed by the long list of things my parents wanted me to do day in and day out: make your bed, brush your teeth, brush your hair, do your homework, fold laundry, do the dishes, take out the garbage.  

They also would say things like, choose your friends wisely, their bad habits will rub off on you.  Back then, I did not understand the value of building strong habits and how these habits and lessons would later carry me through life.

I’ve often been referred to as an overachiever. The truth is I’m always striving to please and perform at optimum levels. Eventually, life happens and slows you down or stops you in your tracks. Both have happened in my life.

For the past six months, I have participated in a mindset class that has been transformational.  So many golden nuggets to share, let me start by saying those childhood foundational habits that were drilled into me had a negative story attached to them. To me, the structure and forming of those foundational habits was viewed back then as more of a box that I wanted to break out of. It was suffocating.

As an entrepreneur, I have always said that I work for freedom and flexibility. I love my work, the people I work with and the community that I serve. Through this training, I recently became acutely aware that having the right habits in place is what gives me the freedom and flexibility that I have said I work for.

The people who are the most consistent WIN more days than not, week after week, month after month, and year after year. Since I’m being 100% transparent, I’ll share this: I get stuck when I don’t have a plan, when I don’t prioritize self-care, when I don’t get enough rest, when my house isn’t in order or when I over commit to please other people. 

Habits are shaped by the systems in our lives and thrive under predictable circumstances.  Habits built slowly over time take root. Put tasks into motion and keep them super simple.  Then just be consistent day in and day out.