Which desk looks like yours?

Chaos

Order

I was listening to Justin Roethlingshoefer on The ​Graham Cochrane Show podcast yesterday when he ​said something that hit me like a ton of bricks. When he ​was 13 his dad said to him, “Talent will get you noticed ​but consistency will get you paid.” As a neurodivergent ​individual, the only consistent thing about me is ​inconsistency. (For those unfamiliar, neurodivergent is ​when your brain thinks, behaves and processes ​information differently. People with certain diagnosis’s ​such as Autism and ADHD are neurodivergent.) ​Neurodivergent or not, I think a lot of us struggle with ​consistency. We live in a world that tends toward chaos ​as its natural state. To create order, to create ​consistency is a constant battle. But we also live in a

I world run by machines which can do nothing but be consistent. Whether it’s the clock dictating to us that it’s time to do this or don’t do ​that, or algorithms determining which of our content to deliver to users, it’s as if the entire world is screaming at us to be consistent while ​simultaneously throwing curveballs we have to duck and shooting bullets at our feet to make us dance. So what are we to do about it?

Being neurodivergent means that I often have to trick myself into doing things that I don’t want to or struggle to do in an effort to thrive in a ​world that was not built for me. Things that are relatively effortless for others. The up-side to this is that I’ve figured out a few hacks that ​also work for neurotypical folks. So I’ll share a few with you today.

Creating Consistency ​through Prioritization

Your first step is to prioritize. Not everything has to be ​done consistently, so sit down and make a list of the ​things you feel you should be doing consistently in ​order to achieve your goals. Now you have a clear idea ​of what you’re working with.

Understanding the Impact of ​Frequency on Consistency

The next step is frequency. Not everything has to be ​done daily. Something things can be done weekly, ​monthly, quarterly, or even annually. Now that I’ve ​pointed that out, go back to your priority list. Did you ​miss any that need to be done less often? Personally, I ​find those are harder than the daily ones because I’m ​more likely to forget about them entirely. Note down ​the optimal frequency for each item on your list.

Using Reminders to Generate ​Consistency

Now that you have a list, let’s look for the infrequent ​and easy ones. These are items that a simple reminder ​will be sufficient to ensure they get done on time. Add ​the reminders to your calendar and make sure ​notifications are turned on. I use this technique for ​things like reminding me to schedule an appointment ​with my accountant to get my taxes done.

Creating Consistency with ​Calendar Scheduling

If having enough time to get a task done is one of your ​barriers to consistency, then scheduling out blocks of ​time on your calendar to do that task can be a helpful ​way to ensure it gets done on a regular basis. ​Scheduling time on your calendar isn’t just for ​appointments.

Make it Smaller,

Make it Consistent

There are plenty of times I find myself procrastinating ​because a task feels too big, too intimidating. If this ​feels like you, then break it down into smaller pieces. ​Maybe you don’t need to spend an entire day once a ​month running reports. Maybe you can spend 2 hours ​a week, or 2 hours a day in the last week of the month.

Routines and Processes are the Secret Ingredient to ​Consistency

Maybe you have a task that just feels difficult every time you do it. It’s not frequent enough that you can ​remember all the steps by heart. You find yourself having to “figure it out” every time or that you are “reinventing ​the wheel.” This is the perfect time for a routine or process. A routine is a set of steps you follow in the same order ​to achieve a specific goal. When you have a task that requires multiple steps and it’s not practical to break it ​down into smaller pieces, give yourself some extra time to document your process and write down each step you ​take. This will make it faster and easier next time you do it. Next time, improve your instructions if find that you ​missed a step or something wasn’t clear enough. After a couple of rounds, you’ll have an easy to follow process ​that will reduce the time it takes to get the task done, and reduce your tendency to procrastinate. If it’s work ​related, you might even find that you can delegate the task to someone else now that it’s been documented, ​training them will be faster.

Remember, a routine is only a routine when it is repeatable in the same way each time. The only way to ensure it ​is done in the same way each time, is to document how you do it. This is of key importance for the next tip.

BONUS TIP: Every Windows based computer has a free tool included called the “Snipping Tool”. Just put that in ​your search bar to find it. The Snipping tool will allow you to take a picture of your screen — the entire thing, or ​just a section. Then you can draw on that picture — make a bright red circle around that button or menu item ​you have trouble finding and add it to your documented instructions.

Habits Aren’t Always Bad

Repeat that routine often enough and it forms a habit which is a behavior done automatically, often without ​much thought or planning. Just think, you can go from struggle to automatic! Routines and habits are the ​epitome of consistency. When you reach the level of habit, that task takes less time, less mental effort, less ​emotional effort.

BONUS TIP: One of the easiest ways to create consistency is to piggyback a new task on an existing habit. For ​example, most people have a morning routine. Wake up, stretch, shower, brush teeth, get dressed, feed the pets, ​etc. You do that morning routine every single day, it’s become habit. Maybe you’d like to get more exercise but ​struggle to do it consistently. If you add 10 push-ups, or a 15 min walk to that morning routine, you can short ​circuit all kinds of barriers your brain will throw at you. You’re in automatic mode, you’ll be more inclined to adopt ​the new addition to the routine and fast track it to the status of habit.

True Cost

Inconsistency

of

1

Erodes Trust

From customers, referral partners & prospects

2

Degrades

Brand Recognition

Increases

Stress and Instability

Faux Consistency

Now for my final and most epic consistency hack. Faux ​Consistency. This is where you look like you’re being ​consistent, while you’re not being consistent at all. This ​is only possible in select situations, but when you can ​pull it off — do it. The way you achieve Faux ​Consistency is by drip feeding the end result of your ​efforts over time. For example, maybe you’re ​responsible for posting content to social media to ​promote a business. You might have a goal of posting ​every day. You can sit down and create a ton of ​content one afternoon and then schedule those posts ​to go out every day for a month. To your followers, you ​look like you are posting consistently. They’ll never ​know that you did all the work in one day.

Here’s another example, when I network with people, I always try to introduce them to others in my network who might ​be a good connection. So after a networking call, I’ll draft 1–3 introduction emails, but I’ll schedule them to go out once ​a week for 3 weeks. Faux Consistency.

The wisdom imparted by Justin Roethlingshoefer’s dad, “Talent will get you noticed but consistency will get you paid,” ​serves as a powerful reminder of the value of perseverance and regularity in our endeavors. This holds true for ​everyone, regardless of whether you’re neurodivergent or neurotypical. The strategies outlined here, from prioritizing ​and scheduling to creating routines and leveraging tools for faux consistency, are designed to help navigate the ​challenges of maintaining consistency in a world that often seems designed to disrupt it. By adopting these ​approaches, you can transform inconsistency from a stumbling block into a stepping stone towards achieving your ​goals. Remember, it’s not about being perfect; it’s about making progress through consistent effort. Whether it’s in your ​personal life, your career, or your creative pursuits, embracing consistency can unlock doors to opportunities and ​success that talent alone cannot. Let’s take these insights and turn them into actionable steps that lead us to where we ​want to be, proving that consistency, indeed, is the key to unlocking our full potential.

A lack of Consistency is a red flag that ​your business is at risk from one or ​more Woes on the Wheel of Woe. If ​you'd like to learn more about the ​Wheel of Woe and how you can ​Transform Your Business Challenges ​into Triumphs, check out my free ​masterclass at the Business Witch ​Academy.

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