ACHIEVING THE SUCCESS YOU REALLY DESIRE
- E. Ken Harmon
- Jan 14
- 3 min read
Your 'why' should guide your 'what.' Most people rarely pause to ask, "Why am I doing this?" Everyone is a winner at whatever they keep doing consistently. Even if it's not exactly the outcome they wanted.
One year, we received a lot of rain, so I decided to turn off my sprinklers. A few weeks after the rain stopped, I arrived home and noticed the grass was quite brown. I was confused, wondering why my grass was so dry despite all the rain we had. Then it hit me—I hadn't realized it hadn't rained in weeks. Over the past two to three weeks, it had been extremely hot, and I forgot to turn my sprinklers back on.
Upon reflection, the reality is that my grass thrived due to consistency (rain) and perished due to consistency (lack of water). By consistently neglecting to water it, I reaped the results of my consistency: dead grass. So, what's our life lesson?
Whatever you consistently do, you consistently get! This means you will be successful even if you don't like what you're successful at!
Are you achieving the success you desire? A better question is, are you doing the things necessary to achieve the success you desire? Real success is all about getting the results of your actions, whether you like the results or not. Technically, everyone is a winner at whatever they keep doing consistently. Even if it's not exactly the desired goal you want, you've still achieved the goals of your actions.
What are you saying, Ken? Picture it like this: the commercial says you absolutely can't stop at just one potato chip. This consistency will cause you to eventually gain the weight—or extra weight—of your dedication. So, in a scientific sense, you're a success story because you've achieved the results of your actions, even if those results are not quite what you had in mind.
Regardless of whether you desire the extra weight emotionally or cognitively, the extra sleeping on the couch, or the extra debt, actions determine outcomes. Consistent studying leads to consistently better grades—success. Similarly, if you frequently speak without thinking, your relationships will consistently suffer—success. If you habitually spend money on material items, you will consistently experience stress during financial emergencies—success. Consistency over time equals success (C/T=S), even if the results are not desirable.
If you want a desirable success, versus an undesirable success, start by asking, "What is it that I want to accomplish?" This is your mission, objectives, and goals. Now examine what you are doing daily. Will it help you accomplish your goals?
James stated confidently, "You see that a person is considered righteous by what they do and not by faith alone" (2:24). Your actions directly lead to either desirable or undesirable outcomes. When you consistently engage in behaviors that contradict your goals, it's typically referred to as a habit. If you find yourself unable to stop these behaviors, despite them opposing your desires, it is generally known as an addiction.
Here's the second question you must ask yourself: "Why do I want to do it, or why do I continue to do it?" Your why should guide your what. Most people rarely pause to ask, "Why am I doing this?"
Colossians 3:23 states, "Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord." The Lord is your why. He is the reason I vote based on my faith, not my race. He is why I maintain my body/temple. He is why I avoid frivolous spending. He is why I learned to honor my wife. He is why I have conquered anger, depression, and addiction. He is my focus and constant.
Consistently water what you want, not what you don't want. Either way, you'll be successful. Time to go....I have to water the grass.
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