I give you a ton of credit for being able to work out and write for 45 minutes before going to work. Now that’s dedication!

Adam

Good post, I think about what I’m doing now and realize it is for the better. I started seriously working out 3 years ago and can’t stop doing it, it is addictive and am continuing to challenge myself in different ways when it comes to exercise.

I also took this same approach of setting only one goal this year and so far so good, I’m still doing it (writing every day, now up to 45 minutes).

The cool thing about my goals for the day are that I am done before I go to work, so anything else towards these passions is additional cool.

@Anthony – couldn’t agree more about the “overnight sensation” thing and the American auto makers. But I really think you nailed my point on the head with “inconsistency breeds disappointment, which most of the time leads to an extremely unfulfilling life”. I’d say the majority of people I”ve crossed paths with fall into this category to varying degrees, which kind of sucks. I’m not saying I’m consistent at everything I do because I’m not, but I’m also not consistent at nothing, which seems to be a lot of people.

That being said – I think you’re right on with this post, and my comment above only plays into that. People think that just because they’re not being immediately gratified, there’s no use in forging ahead. Didn’t lose 30 pounds in a week? Lost cause. Didn’t become a millionaire CEO in a month? Wasn’t for me. But consistency breeds results, and results breed happiness & fulfillment. And that means the opposite is also true – inconsistency breeds disappointment, which most of the time leads to an extremely unfulfilling life.

There is probably only one point I’d add – consistency only breeds happiness given the right combination of faith and evidence. American automakers have been consistent for decades – consistently doing bad business, that is, and getting more myopic about it every year. Consistency is important, but so is being adaptive, and knowing when to give up or change course *if and when it really makes sense*.

Let’s say that you are going to give away money to a friend. (this happens all the time, right?) And you give them a choice between $10,000 now or having the opportunity to work hard and dedicate themselves so that in three years they could have $1,000,000. What would most people choose?