Motivation is exciting, but it?s also slippery. One day you?ve got it, the next day it?s gone. That?s why John Maxwell?s Law of Consistency matters: Motivation gets you going, but discipline keeps you growing.
Why Motivation Isn?t Enough
Motivation is like a spark. It can light the fire, but if you don?t feed it, the flame dies out. Anyone can start something with a burst of energy?finishing requires consistency.
I?ve seen it over and over: people start a new diet, a new exercise plan, a new leadership habit. They?re pumped for a week or two, maybe even a month. Then life gets busy, the excitement fades, and the habit dies.
Motivation is great for starting. Consistency is what finishes the race.
The Power of Habits
In 7 Life Lessons from the Trailer Park, I wrote: ?Motivation gets you going, but it takes discipline to keep you growing.? That truth has been carved into my life through experience.
Legendary NFL coach Vince Lombardi said it like this: ?Once you learn to quit, it becomes a habit.? He was right. Every time you quit, it gets easier to do it again. But the reverse is also true: every time you push through, discipline grows stronger.
That?s why habits matter so much. Your habits will carry you when your feelings don?t show up. You don?t need to feel motivated to brush your teeth, pay your bills, or show up to work?you do it. Growth works the same way.
My Wake-Up Call
When I joined the Marine Corps, consistency wasn?t optional?it was survival. Every morning, rain or shine, we were up at the same time, drilling, running, sweating. At first, it felt like punishment. Later, I realized it was a gift.
The Corps taught me that consistency builds strength one day at a time. You don?t get fit overnight. You don?t become a leader after one training. You grow by showing up, again and again, even when you don?t feel like it, especially when you don?t feel like it.
Building Consistency into Your Growth
So how do you build consistency without burning out? Start small. Here?s how:
- Pick one habit tied to your growth?reading 10 minutes a day, journaling, exercising, or intentional reflection.
- Set a time and stick to it. Don?t leave it to chance. Habits need a place on your calendar, not just your wish list.
- Track it. Check it off daily. Wins, no matter how small, build momentum.
- Don?t wait for motivation. Expect days you won?t feel like it. That?s when consistency counts the most.
Remember, consistency isn?t about being perfect?it?s about refusing to quit.
Make It Count
Motivation is good for the spark. Consistency is good for the fire. One will get you started, but the other will keep you moving long after the excitement wears off.
Growth isn?t about what you do once in a while. It?s about what you do day in and day out.
So, don?t just get started?keep going, because consistency is the engine of growth.
? Next week, we?ll cover Law #6: The Law of Environment?Growth Thrives in Conducive Surroundings.