20 Minutes > 0 Minutes

“Perseverance is not a long race; it is many short races one after another.”

— Walter Elliott

One of the hardest things to do for any project or habit is to keep going.

A habit is a collection of automatic small actions done consistently. It doesn’t take much to derail a habit though. Inconsistency kills habits and derails creativity.

No matter how much we may want it, if we don’t continuously work at our habits, they’ll eventually be replaced by something else (something easier and more convenient).

There’s always going to be something new and shiny to distract us. Not to mention that everything that can get in the way, will get in the way.

This is especially true when it comes to creative habits. Making stuff takes intentional work.

Sitting down to code your app, taking time to write a few pages of your novel, grabbing your iPad, and spending an hour drawing — these things may sound simple, but they are far from easy.

Consistency is what it takes to succeed.

There’s a natural ebb and flow when it comes to the quality of our daily habits. But the key is to keep going AND strive for high quality. Maybe today that means only 20 minutes of work. Well, that’s still 20 minutes more than nothing (compared to if you decided to skip today). 20 minutes might not seem like a lot (and perhaps it’s not from a granular perspective). But 20 minutes adds up when looked over time.

Persistence is a mindset. To have a strong mind, we must cultivate it daily, like our own personal mental garden. We are in control of what we allow to grow in our garden. Every little act or way of thinking that allows our garden to flourish, do it immediately. No to-do lists, only do’s. Anything that takes us in the opposite direction, we stop and resist. Pull out enough weeds and all you’re left with is fruit and flowers.

I’ve learned this the hard way when it comes to my podcast, Renaissance Life. I love interviewing people and have talked to some great guests, but I haven’t been as consistent as I would like to be (and honestly need to be if I want it to be successful/sustainable). I could come up with a million excuses (like it being a side thing, versus my main job) but it ultimately doesn’t matter. If I want to be better and continue to have great conversations, I need to put in the time and be more consistent. Even if that’s just 20 minutes a day.

Masters are made, not born.

You don’t need to be great already to learn to be great.

Some might be born more talented or more financially secure, but that doesn’t mean it’s over for you.

You can always be the one who optimizes. Or the one who works harder than anyone.

Even a little more effort done consistently goes a long way toward greatness.

I don’t care what your genes say, or how much talent you have or don’t have.

Mastering a skill requires effort and persistence.

If you practice those and are willing to put in the time, greatness is inevitable.

Vincent van Gogh has said it best, “Great things are done by a series of small things brought together.”

Daily habits and continuously challenging yourself make the master.

Plus, we actually need to put our work out there helps. It’s hard to sell something if you don’t sell it. Or get better at writing if you don’t write. Or become an illustrator if you don’t draw. Or entrepreneur if you don’t connect and build.

Okay, but how do I start?

Put in the reps.

Set a timer and focus on the task. It’s like what Anne Lamott says on how to write: “Butt in chair. Start each day anywhere. Let yourself do it badly. Just take one passage at a time. Get butt back in chair.”

Thanks for taking the time to read this article. What have you found helpful to be consistent? (Feel free to suggest other topics you’d like me to write about as well)

Find more of my writing on creativity and mastery at RenaissanceLife.com and check out my newsletters