One Question that Will Help You Become Consistent

“Can I keep doing this, in the same way, for a year?”

That’s the question you ask yourself if you’ve been struggling to stay consistent. And then, you adjust your process until the answer is yes.

I just gave you what was promised in the title. Someone would waste 10 minutes of your time to get to the point. I got to the point and now I'm inviting you to keep reading if you want me to unpack this for you and make it more practical.

I know a thing or two about staying consistent in my own pursuits, as I’ve been writing daily for 5 and a half years. But I’ve also been helping others with consistency and think it’s better to use another person as an example because I’m not a fan of this being about me.

A couple of months ago, I had a conversation with a lady who was looking to start doing YouTube. She was battling the usual obstacles. Like anyone starting a new project, she was dealing with imposter syndrome, perfectionism, and just overall confusion on how to structure her creative process. It always seems like there are too many things to figure out before even starting. So she asked for my help.

But the main thing to address was consistency. Because that’s the purpose of overcoming internal barriers like imposter syndrome or perfectionism - to start and be able to keep doing the thing.

I said she was looking to start doing YouTube, but she had already recorded her first two videos. And for both of them, she rented a studio to record the videos. Although the topic of her videos allowed for a more minimalist style, she was dedicated to making the watching experience as engaging as possible. It wasn’t only the studio that made the scene more aesthetic and professional - she also had props to explain certain points more tangibly.

I was impressed with her dedication. However, I had to remember our main mission - consistency. So, I asked her how frequently she planned on uploading videos on YouTube. Three videos per month was the answer. Then, I asked the question:

“Can you keep doing this, in the same way, for a year? Can you rent out a studio and get the props you need, then record the video and edit it three times per month for twelve months straight?”

Her face looked defeated for a moment. It was clear the answer was “no.” I wasn’t happy to take away some of her initial enthusiasm, but it was for her long-term good. She had already told me that the whole process for the first video, from preparation to editing, was 10 days. It meant that she would need to devote all of her time to YouTube to maintain the output of three videos per month. And she just couldn’t afford that, financially or time-wise.

What’s the solution? As I said at the beginning, adjust your process until the answer is yes. She had two main options: reduce the frequency of videos or reduce the time and effort needed to make one video. More specifically, that meant settling for one video per month or settling for more minimalist-style videos that would be easier to prepare for and shoot.

This same question and solution applies to any single thing that you are trying to be consistent in. Writing, training, playing an instrument, learning public speaking - anything.

For anyone starting out and trying to learn more about their chosen project and how they feel about it, I suggest adjusting the process so that you can maintain a high frequency of output. Focusing on maximum quality at the expense of frequency makes no sense at the beginning of your journey. You don’t even know what quality is since you haven’t received enough or any feedback. But, at the end of the day, it’s a decision you have to make on your own.

Some of you might wonder why the question is about maintaining the same output for a year. Why not one month of 100 days to “try it out” first? Why make such a big commitment? It’s because if the idea of one year of effort without a guaranteed payoff is too much for you, then you shouldn’t even bother starting.

I wrote every single day and posted multiple times per day for one year and eight months before reaching my first 10K followers.

I wrote every single day and posted multiple times per day for two years and nine months before I made my first dollar from my writing.

I wrote every single day for three years and four months before the monthly income from my writing matched the income from my regular job, which I had quit over a year prior.

Five and half years into my journey, I don’t regret one second of effort.

This is not to say you can’t accomplish your goals, whatever they are, way faster. I know you can, and I hope you do. But this is to say that, sometimes, things take longer than expected. You must always be ready and willing to play the long game.

If you’re wondering what happened with the YouTube lady, she didn’t take my advice. Just like most people reading this won’t. It’s the unfortunate reality. So I’m asking you to prove to yourself (not to me, or your friends, or your parents) that you’re different than most people.

Thank you for reading.

P.S. If you are an ambitious but anxious overthinker who has many ideas but struggles to take consistent action on them because you lack structure and have self-sabotaging tendencies - book a 1-1 call with me to see how I can help you. Click here to book.