Consistency > Intensity
In today’s fast-paced world, we are constantly bombarded with the idea of instant success and immediate results. From social media to advertisements, we are told that the key to achieving our goals is pushing ourselves to the limit and hustling harder than ever before. If we work 10x harder than anyone, then, and only then, will we be successful. However, this mindset can often lead us astray from what truly matters—consistency.
There’s something uniquely seductive about intensity. It’s the heart-pounding adrenaline rush, the euphoric feeling of being lost in a flurry of activity. We admire the ‘hustle culture’, the visionaries who burn the midnight oil to forge their dreams. This mindset, however, is beginning to reveal its flaws. Never-ending intensity doesn’t just jeopardize our physical health; it can sabotage the quality of our work as well. It breeds a shortsighted approach that values the immediate impact over sustainable success…and it’s demoralizing because it’s never enough.
Recent neuroscience research confirms what many have suspected: high-intensity work habits can be detrimental to long-term productivity. While the adrenaline rush of intense work may seem invigorating, it often leads to burnout and diminishing returns. Consistent effort, however, builds neural pathways that promote efficiency and resilience. Like a steady stream eroding a rock over time, consistent work habits yield sustainable progress. By prioritizing consistency over intensity, we not only safeguard our mental and physical well-being but also lay the foundation for enduring success.
As we navigate the ebbs and flows of life, it becomes clear that it’s not always the sprinters who claim victory. It’s the ones who maintain a steady pace and value consistency over intensity.
So how do we value consistency over intensity?
1) Calm Down
Leaders must cultivate the ability to embrace consistency over intensity, anchoring themselves amidst life’s ebbs and flows. Often, we find ourselves overwhelmed by pressure, anxiety, and impatience, perpetually in a state of high-strung frenzy. Yet, exceptional leaders understand the importance of maintaining equilibrium and navigating life’s challenges with calmness and steadiness. Instead of oscillating between mountaintop highs and valley lows, they level themselves in the middle ground. In short, take a leadership chill pill and keep calm.
2) Think In Decades
An author I recently connected with, Keith Cameron Smith, writes this in his insightful book, The Top 10 Distinctions Between Millionaires and the Middle Class… ”The Very poor people think day to day. Poor people think week to week. Middle-class people think month to month. Rich people think year to year. And very rich people think decade to decade.” In the context of leadership, I believe leaders who are rich (not just financially) in influence and impact are the ones who think long-term. Keep your eyes on the bigger picture. Think long-term in order to be a lasting success versus a short-sighted burnout. Play the long game of success and trust the process.
3) Take Small Steps
Each day, every action, no matter how small, contributes to our collective efforts. The concept of ‘aggregation of marginal gains,’ championed by Sir Dave Brailsford, holds incredible potential. Author James Clear wrote about this in his famous book Automic Habits (read here for an article on it). Just like compound interest builds wealth, the cumulative advantage of consistent efforts proves invaluable in any pursuit. It’s the small steps that create giant leaps of advancement. Remember the tortoise and the hare…slow and steady wins the race! Make the right decisions today in order to get a return tomorrow.
Always remember that consistency is greater than intensity!
Here are the links to the two books I mentioned above (you should read them)!
The Top 10 Distinctions Between Millionaires and the Middle Class
