Having been in this training profession for almost fifteen years, I’ve dealt with hundreds of people and helped them get healthier, stronger and feeling better about themselves.  I’ve helped people lose 100 pounds, complete Ironman triathlons, recover from what they thought were permanent physical conditions, and given people the chance to live longer.  It’s a pretty awesome job.

I get the question all of the time – what’s the big answer?  What’s the key to getting through my barriers, getting the body I want or achieving that big goal I have?  My first answer is usually that goals should never really end.  You achieve one thing and then you keep moving forward towards something else.

Lost the weight you wanted?  Great!  Now, work on using your new body towards something cool like climbing a mountain or taking up a sport.

Completed that race?  Great!  When’s the next one.  Do you want to go longer, be faster or simply perform better overall?

Got through an injury?  Great!  Now, can you get better than you were before and make sure that injury never happens again?

But what is the big answer to all of these things?  It’s actually one really simple word that when applied can actually guarantee that you will achieve what you want.  I’m going to share this powerful word with you in the hopes that it will sink in and resonate and drive you today and tomorrow and from now on towards your goals.  And it’s so simple.

Ready?  You sure?

Here it is:

CONSISTENCY

This one little concept is what has created most of the success in the world.  Thomas Edison when he was inventing the lightbulb (okay, he didn’t invent it but he did develop the first commercially useful one) supposedly made 9,999 mistakes.  And he kept going.  Athletes at a high level train for YEARS – daily – in order to achieve a high level at anything.  Business people who are at the top of the game didn’t get there overnight or by fluke.  They have many, many years of 7 days weeks, no holidays and sacrificing to make sure they get to where they want to be.

Most of us simply aren’t willing to do this.  We want the easy way, we want it fast and convenient like everything in society has programmed us to be.  We want to microwave, not slow cook.  We want to get liposuction, not eat right and exercise.  We want that text message or email response right away.

One act at a time, one simple little thing at a time – done consistently – ensures that you are always moving forward and inevitably one day you will get to where you want to be.  Every workout, every time you cook a healthy meal or don’t eat something you used to, every time you set the alarm early you’re moving forward.  And if you stay consistent and just don’t stop then you’re definitely going to get there.  It’s really that simple.

Success doesn’t come overnight.  It never has and it never will unless you believe in winning the lottery.  Those people who are where you want to be got there through hard work and consistency, every time.  Nobody was born with a perfect body, nobody was born with a million dollar business.  Athletes train since they are children and never take years off.

A pretty simple concept, right?  The hard part is applying it.  So if you’re working towards something you really, really want (and that has to be the case otherwise you simple aren’t going to get there) just stay consistent.  Whatever that means to you.  For some of my clients it is once a week, for some it is several times – but they are consistent about it.

So start with the one simple step.  A daily act or one small step every day no matter how small as long as it is consistent is moving you forward.  And just keep doing it.

I hope this helped you.  Feel free to share, like and tweet me out if you enjoy what I share with you and as always, if you have any questions or comments just share away.  I look forward to helping you!