I’m the worst type of person. I am the type of person who wants to give up on the last half mile of a run, quit a sport my senior year, and throw away the last few ounces of a soda. Finishing strong has been a noticeable weakness in my life. If you struggle with this the good news is that we don’t have to be this way!
What I’ve found that helps me tremendously is rewiring my brain. In The Slight Edge (link at the bottom of the article), the main focus is on the power of consistency. I used “the slight edge” philosophy to program my brain by consistently choosing to stop being a quitter! It didn’t start with huge decisions. It started with the tiny decisions. The ones that no one but me would know I even made. Here are a few that you could give a shot.
Make the end of the race your defining moment:
We’ve all heard the story about the tortoise and the hare. BE THE TORTOISE. When everyone else decides to give up at the end (whether it’s your last two weeks at a job, your senior year, or even a final in a class), take that opportunity to slay. If finishing off strong is a skill that many lack, why don’t you use that time to get ahead? Picking up the pace when others are slowing down is low hanging fruit. It’s easier to get ahead when others are slowing down.
Practicing consistency lowers stakes:
Failing once or twice becomes way less devastating when you know you will pick yourself back up regardless of where you are in your journey. For example, I get horrible testing anxiety. Even if I know the material, when I get the test in front of me I completely blank. One of the most effective strategies I have used to combat this struggle is trusting my own unwavering ability to push through. I started thinking of final exams as an opportunity to surpass others who do not take it seriously. Once I committed to actually investing in my finals, every final I’ve taken has had a positive impact on my final grade since. Doing well does not mean avoiding failure. To me, it means being consistent to level out the lows.
Last impressions are game changers (not first impressions):
If you meet someone and get the worst vibes in the world from them but eventually become great friends, do you still think of that person based off of your initial impression of them? No way! Most of the time I don’t even remember what my first impression was. I just remember whether they came to my graduation party or remembered to send me a “Happy Birthday” text this year. There are people from high school that I was not extremely close with who I greatly appreciate now based off of the last few conversations we’ve had. This is extremely relevant with changing jobs. Once I put in my two weeks notice I’m ready to be late every day, put dirt in the coffee machine, and tell my manager what I actually thought of her (maybe that’s just me). The catch is that one day when you’re applying for a job they might give your old boss a ring. Their comments on your character will greatly be focused on how you carried yourself on your way out the door. This is your time to shine! Take it!
Be the tortoise. Fight testing anxiety. Don’t put dirt in the coffee machine (no matter how much you want to). If I can finish strong, anyone can.
XOXO,
Kay
To learn the power of consistency, read The Slight Edge
