Secret of Consistency

 Quite often people ask me, “What is the secret behind your consistency?” I am pleasantly surprised by this question; however, I don’t have an answer, because I don’t actually take any special effort to be consistent. But when people acknowledge and appreciate something, I realize that there should be something that I am doing right, to create that impression.

So, my first thought is, “How do people get a feeling that I am consistency?” As I introspect on this, I realize that there are a few things I have been doing more or less consistently.  So, if we look at it, it is just about integrating some sort of discipline into our daily schedule, which shows us that we are consistent. But, it doesn’t come just like that. In order to integrate this sort of discipline into our schedule, we need the following 3 C’s – Conviction, Commitment & Continuity. So, let me elaborate each a little more.

Conviction comes when we whole heartedly believe, that what we are doing is in the best interest of ourselves and others around us. It also needs evidence to support it. For example, my conviction to send a daily “Thought for the day (TFTD) to friends comes from the evidence, that people have periodically responded to my TFTD, saying that it had a positive impact on them on that particular day. It is this good feeling, that has been a motivator for me to stay consistent.

Commitments is not necessarily a promise we to make to others, but most often to ourselves. When we fail in our commitment, we fall before our own eyes, which is not a nice feeling. So, commitment can come only from conviction. When I am convinced that walking for 45 minutes is good for health, then it is easy to commit myself to this daily practice. One marketing mantra, taught by experts related to customer retention strategies, is this:

•     Over Promise and Under Deliver = Customer Dissatisfaction

•      Under Promise and Over Deliver = Customer Delight

•      Deliver what you Promise = Customer Satisfaction

According to me, it is practically impossible to give our customer delightful experiences, all the time, but we can ensure customer satisfaction, if we can just keep up our word. So, “Deliver what you promise” has been my guiding principle behind every organization or business, I lead. It may be the regular monthly programmes I offer through PALMS, the monthly newsletter PALMS PLUS being published or the free awareness programmes we offer through SPARK. It is all just the result of commitment, I make to our clients.

Continuity is another important factor that determines consistency. Anything done over a prolonged time becomes a sort of habit, like brushing our teeth twice a day or saying a prayer before leaving home. However, it takes longer period for the world to notice it. For example, we are organizing regular monthly programme for PALMS for 20 years (there are days there have been only 5 participants, yet the programme happens). So, consistency has to sometime face the challenges of uncertainty too and emerge victorious.

Despite all the C's, I realized that a blow could come to my pride of consistency from an unknown C called COVID lock down. It made me realise that natural force is beyond any human effort to be consistent. We were not able to organize PALMS meeting, which we have not defaulted over the last 20 years.

 D. Senthil Kannan,

  Managing Trustee, PALMS, Tuticorin.

  Author of "Transformational Thoughts" - A Journey of learning 

  Email: senthilkannand@gmail.com