Hey Leaders! I’m so excited you’re here! Welcome to episode 80. Today I have a consistency challenge just for you.
It may be directly related to your business. It doesn’t have to be. The benefits are still there.
First I’m going to share how this came about. Second, I’ll share the benefits. And third, I’ll help you choose your own challenge. By the time we get to step three, you’ll likely already have an idea you want to focus on for your own consistency challenge.
First, how did this come about? This consistency challenge came about unplanned, although intentional from my personal experience in starting this podcast almost two years ago.
I did not plan on doing a podcast. But because I have, and I’ve learned a lot about sticking to something for 80 weeks, I am intentionally creating a consistency challenge for you!
I was working with my business coach and she suggested a podcast. I immediately said no. It wasn’t on my radar and I didn’t know the first thing about creating a podcast from scratch.
The whole idea sounded daunting, like a ton of work and time, and not in my strengths zone.
Well, here we are almost two years later. So you’ve heard firsthand that I’ve done it and I’m still here! 80 episodes later.
With the direction of my business coach, I learned how to do it all myself. I created the intro and the trailer. I learned how to record, edit and publish. I learned the time-efficient ways to go about a weekly episode tempo. And I’m sure I have lots left to learn.
Although I started without any intention of creating a podcast, once I decided and committed, it was fun! Yes, work. A lot of work. But also quite fun! I really enjoy it. I find it to be rewarding in a creative way to share what I feel is high-value content for you.
The surprising thing I learned about committing to a podcast was that doing it weekly and almost never missing a week, brought surprising benefits I didn’t know I would gain when I started out on this journey.
The consistency I’ve had over 80 weeks is the biggest benefit I’ve experienced. I’ve only missed a few weeks. Once I had laryngitis and no voice at all. And another missed week was when I was admitted to the hospital 2 months early to have my preemie baby. He’s doing great.
What I’ve learned along the way is that when I made the commitment to do this podcast I didn’t realize the determination I had to be able to be so consistent. I can’t think of many things I’ve done for 80 weeks straight with no interruption.
I surprised myself for sure. I truly did just take it one episode at a time. When I started this podcast I was pregnant. He recently turned one. So I’ve continued it with a newborn preemie. That’s not a small accomplishment.
It’s taken some creativity for sure.
Planning definitely.
And occasionally, I’ve had to arrange care for my kiddos. But mostly I get super creative in order to create, record and edit this with regularity in a quiet space. With two energetic boys, it’s rarely quiet in my home office.
Another undeniable benefit is the sense of accomplishment I have. It’s been quite impactful.
I know more about what I’m capable of.
The two things that have helped me along the way were that I truly find this fun and I decided to make a commitment to do this. It wasn’t just, we’ll see how it goes. If I was going to invest the time and money to learn it and launch it, I was going to see it through. Making the decision and the commitment were important.
Today I’m inviting you to embark on your own consistency challenge.
Step 1. Pick one thing you’ll do on a weekly basis.
I find weekly is just the right amount of frequency. Daily is too big a commitment and I feel not setting up for success. Certainly, it depends on what you choose and your readiness.
Monthly is a little too spread out to experience the fullness of the consistency benefit and that sense of accomplishment. Really learning what you’re made of.
One of the most remarkable things you’ll take away is how powerful your ability to follow through is. So many times we’re there for others. We drop everything for someone else and other people in our lives.
But when it comes to the follow-through for ourselves, it’s easier to justify other things getting in the way. This is why I’m giving you this consistency challenge. I want you to experience and feel what it’s like to give yourself a level of commitment and follow through that you’re already capable of. You do it for others. This time you’re going to direct it toward yourself.
So, maybe something’s already popped to mind that you’ll choose to do on a weekly basis. Maybe you need a little time to think about it.
It may be directly tied to your business. It doesn’t have to be to experience these benefits. Hopefully, you see that.
Ideally, it’s something that gets you a little excited. It could be fun. You look forward to it.
To help guide you to choosing complete this statement: One year from now, one thing I want to have is___________________?
What is that for you? Is it something within your business? Is it something for you personally? And it doesn’t have to be something tangible. Ok. Maybe you want more peace. Maybe you want better sleep.
Whatever you choose, you’ll have to break it down so it’s specific on a weekly basis. For example, If I were listening to this message before I started my podcast I may have completed the statement with “One year from now I want to have my own podcast.” Great! The weekly specific focus I would have worked out would sound like “One year from now I’ll be publishing a weekly podcast.”
Make sure you have something you truly want. And then pick one thing you’ll do weekly that helps you accomplish it. There may be multiple things you’ll actually do weekly to accomplish it. For our purposes, I want you to identify one thing. The rest will happen along the way en route to realizing what it is you want.
Step 2. Commit. Make a commitment to yourself and ideally one other person. The other person is a source of supportive accountability.
I knew when starting this podcast that it was going to be work, it was going to be a lot to learn and so I wanted to make a commitment.
Sure, I’ve missed a few weeks, so not perfect. Initially, that kinda bugged me I’m not gonna lie. But when I look back, I truly showed up for this commitment and that feels remarkable.
The best is yet to come, always.
