Consistency is the engine of authority
Whether you’re taking up a new interest, studying or thinking about losing weight there is one ingredient that you will need throughout.
Consistency.
If you look at any of the major financial firms that are operating within the mortgage & protection space right now you will see one major factor that binds them all. They are consistent.
Not just consistent with delivering good outcomes for their clients, but they are consistent with how they approach every aspect of their business.
Areas that they are most consistent in include:
- Hiring of human capital
- Marketing and branding
- Customer Service
- Customer Complaints (hopefully not many)
- Compliance
- File checking
They have, in essence, set a standard that they not only aspire to have, but one which is constantly being developed and grown.
Studying Consistently
I’m not a newbie to planet study, although the last time I really embarked on any kind of studying was back in 2008 whilst working on my BSc in Computing.
When it comes to studying outside of the realms of a formal educational institute, university, you are left with a kind of DIY approach.
There is no classes to attend on how you should study, when to study and there are no cosy nights down at the student union bar whilst you debate how great life will be once you’ve obtained your degree.
However, you do have an online community that you can reach out through forums and today, thanks to technology, we also have WhatsApp.
The key metric to studying is consistency, deciding on a set time of the day or night where you will show up and study.
Accountability
Granted studying consistently requires discipline and an ability to hold yourself to account.
Who are you when nobody is watching?
This is a common question that you should be asking yourself. Do you get up early and knock out that 10km like you said you would, or do you crumble and bury yourself under the duvet?
The same is true when it comes to studying, building a business or anything in life, holding yourself to account.
Do you sit at your desk and study that module to help you understand financial services more or are you on the sofa, Netflixing and chilling?
My approach to this is that first hour of the morning is mine to do with what I will. In most cases it will involve some form of physical training, running, a walk and once my intercostal torn rib cartilage is healed, lifting heavy.
Who holds you to account?
Depending on your age, but by the age of 30+ you should be holding yourself to account.
The mirror that you look at every morning is going to tell you your story, so do you want to look at the mirror with pride knowing you did what you said you would, or do you want it to talk back at you?
Consistency, Accountability ultimately leads to authority
Consistency is about getting up and doing the same thing day after day.
Accountability is holding yourself to account, think of it like the guides that help you maintain consistency.
Ultimately if you combine the two, you will be rewarded.
- For financial firms that could mean more clients, better reviews, greater top line and also bottom line profits.
- For the man/woman looking to run, it could mean finishing their first 5km run
- For the weight lifters it could mean passing and getting onto a higher weight set
- For the intellectual, passing that course and coming out on top.
- For a marketer it could mean more people reading your blog, subscribing to a newsletter or just leaving a comment.
For this blog, it’s going to mean bringing in a new blog post every Thursday evening.