7 Surefire Rules to be a Better YOU - Part 5 of 7

Rule 5 - Consistency is Key

I have always been blessed with daily chores that end up teaching me important life lessons. One important lesson I learnt about scrubbing floors is consistency.

I learnt, that there are 2 methods to scrub a stubborn stain off the floor:
Method 1 - With brute force
Method 2 - With minimal force, done repeatedly

It's true! Once, when I was in pain and had to scrub some oil stains off the floor (yes, had to, because my 2 little doggies would develop a rash at the slightest existence of stains/ unwashed chemicals on the floor) I knew using force was not an option (plus, I had run out of the woman's best friend - Clorox bleach!), so I calmly started scrubbing the same area over and over again. Though it did take up some of my (precious!) time, it was either that or pink rashes on my terriers' bodies! So I gathered up all the patience I could muster, and scrubbed, over and over and over again. The amount of force used was almost negligible, but eventually, the stain started to disappear. I was literally ecstatic! More because of the life lesson I had learnt that the (almost) squeaky clean floor!

Consistency.

That is an important key to success.

Consistency and Building the YOU Brand

Once, when I interviewed former TV3 personality turned image consultant, Datin Sharifah Shawati about being an entrepreneur, she too had good things to say about consistency. "Momentum and Consistency are really important to an entrepreneur. When I teach people about image, I tell them to be consistent, because a lack of it would mean that you do not have that brand you rave about in your business. When I was in TV3, I would always dress up immaculately - even when I had to cover a flood assignment! Then one day, when there was a show about fashion and they were looking for a host, guess who they asked? ME!"

It's true what Datin Shawati said about how consistency makes or breaks a brand.
When we think 7-Eleven, we think 24 hours accessibility - we know that no matter what, if all the other shops are closed, we could run into 7-Eleven and grab that 10 bottles of Coca Cola we need for the party tomorrow.
When we think McDonalds, we think quick, affordable food.
When we think Hallmark, we think classy.

Why? Because all these brands were consistent in their practise and values.

Consistency makes or breaksMy student once pointed out that Nike shoes were 'unreliable' (his words, not mine, so I would expect that lawsuit to not be on its way!) because the bottom rubber flap keeps coming off. The Quad Squad (which consists of me, my 2 sisters and my husband!) love to go on culinary adventures, and well, KFC is on our list of fave foods. However, unfortunately, we have striked off KFC outlets in some locations here (and put them in the 'Don't Even Think About Bringing This Up' list!), simply because we feel the quality of the chicken, drinks and service are compromised (and we have decided that if we were going to put all that calories in us, we are not going to settle for less than the best in quality and food!). Everytime I switch on the TV and see a (quite aimless and pointless) reality show on girls and guys trying to impress each other (if you're thinking which reality show - here's a clue...ALL OF THEM!) I immediately, without even giving it a second thought, switch to another channel.

So you see, being consistent can affect your brand name in a good or bad manner. So, if you're bad, should you be consistently bad? Well, not at all. But if you're bad, then you change to be good for like a day, and then go back to being bad, you're not going to be customer-magnet of the year, now, are you?
"But change must always be balanced with some degree of consistency"
Ron D Burton

Consistency - A Movie Point of ViewWhy do we connect to heroes in a movie - because they are consistently good. So much so, that even on the rare occassions that they do something wrong, we take his side (Superman, Batman, Spidey)! The same theory applies to villains and comic reliefs. That is why, when an actor breaks into the movie scene for the very first time playing a particular character, we find it rather difficult to accept them in another role:

- After Girl Interrupted, can you possibly see Angelina Jolie acting as a dumb blonde?
- Can you see Nicole Kidman playing a goofy character?
- What do you think when you see Maya Karin after her stint in the Pontianak Harum Sundal Malam?

You see, consistency does matter.

Consistency vs Complacency

BUT, consistency should not be misinterpreted as complacency. Being consistent does not mean that you do not embrace change, but on the contrary, it actually means that if you wish to embrace change, then you must embrace change all the time. It means that if you decide to be a smiley person, then keep smiling, even when things don't go too well. It means that if you want to fight for a dream, then keep fighting no matter what people say, or no matter how tough things can get.

It means that if you have set your mind to do something, whatever it may be, then do it. Just do it. No excuses. No change of heart. Move forward and consistently work at it.

1. Consistency and losing weight - if you want to lose weight, and you're determined to do it, then do it consistently. It should not be a quick fix formula that sees you shedding those pounds in 7 days, only to help you gain it all again the next week. Have a plan that will help you lose weight on a consistent basis - maybe at the rate of 1kg a week.

2. Consistency and work - if you want to be seen as a highly motivated and energetic person at work, then do things that reflect you in that manner, all the time. You do not have to do the same thing over and over, but similar things that will help people think of the word "Motivated" when they see you. Maybe walk into the office with high spirits daily, speak in a pumped up manner. Here's the thing- if you always portray a consistent image at work, people know what to come to you for. If you're always working late, people know they can call you at 10pm for work purposes, and you'd be ok with that. If you're chatty and bubbly at work, people know they can come to you to chat, or when they do not have a lunch buddy. If you're always strict at work, people know to stay the distance. How you are portrayed at work depends a great deal on the amount of consistency you diligently display at work.
"You can't get much done in life if you only work on the days when you feel good"
Jerry West, former professional basketball player for the LA Lakers

3. Consistency at home - we have quite a lot of chores to do at home, and my sisters and I have come up with a system to make it work. So when 1 sister cleans up, the other takes the dog for a walk, and the other is probably working on the prayer room. So when this happens, we know who to approach when something is not done :) Consistency at home can be seen in the responsibilities we hold, and how well we perform at it. Consistency helps run a family.

Just imagine...Just imagine what would have happened if these people decided that consistency doesn't work for them

1- Oprah Winfrey - can you imagine if she had quit being a talk show host after 1 year working at it, maybe because she thought it was hard, and that fighting to prove herself was simply too tiring?

2- Helen Keller's teacher - can you imagine what would have happened had Helen Keller's teacher given up on her consistent lessons to the very stubborn, unruly and almost unteachable visually impaired child?

3- Terry Fox - can you imagine if Terry Fox had stopped his run for cancer because it was too tough, because no one was supporting him in the initial stages, because he was bleeding from his amputated leg?

If all these people had said "Well, it was good while it lasted, but I think I'll stop now", we would not be experiencing all the joys and magic of what they have brought to the world. Wouldn't that be sad?

The ChallengeStart by writing 1 thing you would like to consistently focus on. When you have mastered that, try another, and see the results. You will enjoy it!

"Don't pray when it rains, if you don't pray when the sun shines"
Leroy Paige

Coming up...Part 6 of the "7 Surefire Rules to be a Better YOU"