I love the quote “How you do anything is how you do everything.” With a caveat.* It’s essential not to literalize it’s application. You need to absorb the good in this quote and not stress out about all the corner cases. Sometimes, maybe you have to clean your room by throwing your dirty clothes in the closet before company comes over. That doesn’t mean you cut corners everywhere in your life (especially if was just one time). It’s important to to pluck out the good in this quote, and leave behind the literal reading of it.
This blog is about understanding and living your values consistently.
What this quote means to me is the following:
If you cut corners once, you are likely to do so again. I remember on my high school soccer team, we use to do things like walking around the entire field to the bench (not cutting accross it), or always jogging in to get water (not walking). These little habits and actions can go such a long way.
If you lie to others or yourself once, even if small, where do you draw the line? It’s a slippary slope. Honesty and integrity should be everlasting characteristics, not daily choices. I’ll give you an example, it’s much easier to tell a white lie to get out of a meeting that you don’t want to accept. It’s way harder and more awkard to communicate that i) it’s not a prioritiy, ii) you don’t have time or iii) a flat at “no.” But if you can lie in this setting, what other settings are you capable of lying in?
Do you see things to completion? Or do you give up when it gets hard? I’m not afraid of hard work, especially when it’s something I’m passionate about. You know what I’m not passionate about? Fixing things. If I’m trying to fix a home appliance, my propensity to give up is high. Sticking to it, no matter how long it takes, is admirable and is a quality I believe translates to so many other facets. Shout out to my wife who has the strongest sticktoitiveness I’ve ever seen…we could start a project at 830 and by 9, I’m thinking deeply about my pillow. By contrast she will get the job done even if it takes three hours. She finishes the task at hand no matter what. If I’m willing to quit on a small repair job, what will I quit next?
Do you give your FULL effort in every competition? Or do you let the discomfort win?
Do you have good attention to detail?
Are you able to stay present?
Are you a kind person?
Are you empathetic?
Do you keep your promises?
Do you prepare? Or do you wing it?
Do you treat people well when you have nothing to gain?
Do you respect other people’s time? Do you show up on time for meetings?
Can you admit when you are wrong?
When I think about “How you do anything is how you do everything,” I don’t take it as a rule for perfection in all areas. I take it as a challenge to build habits and character traits that can’t be switched on and off depending on convenience. The more consistent you are in the small, unglamorous moments, the more reliable and resilient you become in the big ones.
In essence, this is all to say - hold yourself accountable to the person you want to be. And be that person all the time, not just sometimes.