Consistency Creates The Confidence Which Builds Success
Posted on June 13, 2008
If there is a single characteristic that leads to wealth building and financial security, it is consistency. People are drawn to you if you act consistently, and they are repelled if you act inconsistently. It’s a concept that takes only seconds to learn, but it may take a lifetime to fully appreciate its power.
Why do we admire this characteristic so much? Our need for consistency comes from the tremendous need we have to develop a predictable world in which to live. Our most basic and intense need is survival. This is the key reason why humans, above all other species, have survived and prospered on earth. When our backs are against the wall, we will adapt, change, or do almost anything to assure our survival.
Our next strongest instinct is the need for security in our lives. Security is the assurance that we can continue to survive.
Imagine if you were vacationing on a beautiful tropical island in the South Pacific when a giant tsunami wave rolled in and destroyed everything in sight. You survive, but it looks as if you are now alone on the island. Wouldn’t your first concern be to figure out if you could survive on the island? Is there enough food and fresh water? Once you have established that you can survive on a short-term basis, wouldn’t your next concern be to assure your continued survival? You might develop a system to store rainwater so you wouldn’t run out of drinking water. You might construct a shelter in which you could store food and be protected from the elements.
The same basic need for survival and security, which is obvious if you were on a deserted island, is the same need that drives city people to seek a stable and predictable environment in which to live. Instead of foraging for food on a day-to-day basis to assure their survival, they buy it in quantities and store it in huge freezers. Instead of daily looking for ways to make money, most people accept jobs that offer security and predictable wages, because the human mind equates consistency with our two most basic needs: survival and security.
When faced with inconsistent people and circumstances, we feel insecure. In relationships, we admire people who act with consistent patterns of behavior. We revere those who behave consistently and are more likely to be influenced and persuaded by them. The people we despise and fear are those who act erratically.
Imagine being examined by a heart surgeon who told you that you needed triple bypass heart surgery, and you said, “I think I can get by with just a double bypass.”
If he said, “Okay, let’s try a double and see how it works,” how would you feel about him? Would you let him near you with a knife? I don’t think so!
On the other hand, suppose he said, “I’m sorry, but you need a triple bypass and unless I can do what I know is best for you, you should find another doctor.” Wouldn’t you feel much better about letting him cut on you?
One of the most beloved presidents of the last century, Ronald Reagan, was brilliant at projecting the power of consistency. You never had a question in your mind about where he stood on an issue. You can project this power too, by developing a core set of values and sticking with them throughout your life.
You don’t have to be born with a proverbial silver spoon in your mouth to build wealth and become financially independent. Lenders, investors and others who can help you achieve this status are looking to help people who demonstrate consistency. They want to invest in people they can count on when the going gets tough. That’s why consistency is the characteristic that has more to do with wealth building and creating financial security than any other single trait.
Here’s a tip! Whether your goals include achieving financial independence or something else, this tip will enable you to become better at whatever you choose to do. Develop a value blueprint to guide your life and make it part of your psyche. Let it be the guardrails that keep you on the road to success. Start early! The younger you start, the more time you will have to develop a consistent behavior pattern and the fewer mistakes you will have to overcome.
A part of your monetary value blueprint might be that you always save and invest 10 percent of your earnings. Another part may be that you don’t go in debt to buy things that goes down in value. Still another part may be that you don’t obligate yourself for bills you can’t pay within 5 days of receipt. Can you see how the longer you consistently followed these simple guidelines, the more your financial condition would improve?
And the good part is, you can institute this type of value blueprint for virtually everything you do in life. Just establish a pattern of actions that people know you will consistently take under certain circumstances. The longer you follow your value blueprint, the more reliable you will appear to others. The more reliable you become the more opportunities will come your way. Taking advantage of these opportunities is what brings success.
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