The hardest part of attempting something new isn’t starting. Millions of people every year attempt new things at the start of a New Year. Just take a look at gym memberships, or more specifically, the number of people attending a gym by month. January always records the largest number of gym attendees, and then month-by-month visits fall by drastic numbers. By late spring, very few new members become regular gym-goers. It makes sense if you think about it, because fitness is hard work and you don’t really see any fruits of your labor for about six weeks. If you can make it to 90 days of habitual gym use, the odds are in your favor that you’ll stick with it. By then, you’ve not only seen a difference, but you also feel the difference (more energy, better sleep, improved attitude). It becomes addicting—that feel-good hit of dopamine you receive from an increased physical output—not to mention the improved levels of serotonin (mood).
Of course, there are hosts of other benefits that come from exercise, but that’s not what this post is about. What I want to bring to your attention is the hardest part of succeeding at new goal—whether it be getting your body back or building a new business (or improving your existing one). The same obstacle is present for both and it’s the mightiest one to scale: your ability to be consistent at persistence. Most of us (me included) start off with the best of intentions of going after a new goal only to allow ourselves to get distracted. Our old habits die hard—our brains are cunning co-conspirators in side-tracking our put-out efforts and transforming our energies into put-off schemes. I can write this with authority because I have suffered many a defeat to the eloquence of my excuses—my reasons for not maintaining course and speed of consistent effort.
Don’t beat yourself up, we’re human after all, we’re not machines—life gets in the way, stuff happens and when it does, I want you to remember this blog: it’s not about starting the goal journey, it’s about finishing it that counts. I’m going to go deep over the next few posts on how to help you combat your toughest enemy: YOU. Learn overcome yourself—learn to beat back the demons of doubt and become your own drill instructor of discipline—and you’ll discover that there is no limit to what you can achieve. You will eventually find that your biggest challenge is dreaming up greater goals to go after.
I must warn you, however, that this achieving journey isn’t for everyone because not everyone wants more out of life—there are many who are content in the comfort zone of mediocrity. As you will soon find out as you pass the first 90 days of your building a new habit of persistent consistency, many will put pressure on you to come back into the fold of comfort-zone conformity. As you prepare for achieving your new goals, ask yourself how badly you want it, for that answer is a key component to fuel you to press on. Follow along with my next post.
Alpha Mike – Alden
