Consistency is a Superpower

There are many examples of how consistency is key to success. One such example is a photography class where a class was divided into “quality” and “quantity” groups. The quality group was tasked with producing a single picture throughout the semester that would be submitted for grading. The quantity group was instead graded based on the number of photos they produced — where a larger number correlated to a higher grade.

Interestingly, at the end of the semester, the teacher found that the quantity group produced the best photos. While the quality speculated about what made the best photo, the quantity group went out and learned what did through trial and error, experience, and ultimately repetitions. This goes to show that quantity eventually yields quality.

I truly believe that with enough time and consistent effort, most things are achievable by most people. Often, what most people lack isn’t the skill or ability required to accomplish something, but the patience and consistency instead. Similarly, others will think they might be failing to achieve something due to a lack of skill, but it’s also possible they’re doing everything right they just haven’t done it for long enough.

The first step to achieving something is doing that thing even if it means doing it badly. It’s comforting to remember that any person who possesses an extraordinary talent once too was a beginner at that very thing. It was only through hard work, consistency, and time that they were able to develop that specific skill.

This was very much the case for me with learning to code. For me, developing the skill of coding didn’t come easily but with enough time and consistent effort, I was eventually able to successfully learn. Learning any skill is simply a function of consistent effort over a period of time.

Take this newsletter for example. It’s not perfect, but I’ve written an article each week for the last 25 weeks. From producing a large quantity of articles quality articles will appear.

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