The Art of Consistency and its Path Toward a Perfect Effort

New Year’s Resolutions – how many of them are kept? How many are actually achieved? Who knows – but if I were a betting man, I would guess the majority slide away into a forgotten memory or maybe a subconscious that really doesn’t want to make the effort to meet the goal. It could be that most are made on a whim – when asked at a party or in passing conversation. They aren’t accompanied with an actual strategy, a plan and a process.  And therein lies the key ingredients to being successful in a commitment to achieve something. A strategy, a plan and a process gives us the foundation to employ consistency – which increases the potential for us to meet our goal.

2023 found us still in the throes of restoring ourselves and our operations from the chaos of Covid, the loss of government funding that saw us through caring for the most vulnerable patient population during a global pandemic and a nod from the state legislature that skilled nursing care is deserving of better support through Medicaid reimbursement. All of those events did not happen seamlessly, at the exact right time or without uncertainty as to the future. We are coming out of a transition from hanging on in fear to one I believe will signify growth and success.

“In any team sport, the best teams have consistency and chemistry.”

Roger Staubach, Dallas Cowboys quarterback and US Naval Academy graduate

Sports – even if you’re not all that interested in them – have a great parallel to life.  In football, the quarterback – though often receiving the most laudatory recognition – cannot win a game based just on his skills. He has to be consistent – as do his players. Every single one of them. If everyone shows up giving a perfect effort to practice and a perfect effort for the game, there will be success.  They are not guaranteed to win every time – but they will be successful. They will chase victory with every ounce of determination and they will catch it – much of the time.

“Sustaining an audience demands a consistency of thought, of purpose and of action over a long period of time.”

Bruce Springsteen, “The Boss” and lead singer of the E Street Band

There is a tendency in human nature to relax after the storm or crisis has passed – and certainly we need to in order to regenerate. Relaxing in quiet, driving in the car, taking a walk or talking to a friend is absolutely essential. Sometimes that state of mind can seep into our work and responsibilities and tease us into trying to move from A to C quicker by skipping B in the process. That breaks down our consistency and fealty to the process – which we know if we follow with discipline and regularity will get us closer to that perfect effort and that perfect effort is what helps us achieve the best outcomes for our residents. The expectations of residents, their loved ones, Focused Care as a company (in rock and roll band terms “your audience”) is that you will put forth your best effort in your job every time.  That builds faith and trust in your performance.

“It’s not the will to win that matters – it’s the will to prepare to win that matters.”

Bear Bryant – Coach Bryant won six national championships over 25 years with Alabama, and retired with a record 323 wins in 1982.

Preparation is part of the process – following every step in the process is the mark of consistency. Following every step well with care to detail is what can make the perfect effort. Success and greatness are bound to follow.

As we begin a new year – which really feels more like a new era – I ask you to strive for consistency and to make the perfect effort – knowing there are outlier outcomes possible even in the best process.

I’ll leave you with one last quote  – not from anyone in sports, or the music industry – in fact it’s not clear who said it first – but it encapsulates my message to the Focused Care Team – “Consistency is what transforms average into excellence.”

Let’s strive for the best outcomes with every patient experience, flawless surveys in patient care and process and fortify our collective wills to make the perfect effort.

Enjoy your time with family this holiday season and please accept my gratitude for staying the course and remaining true to Focused Care’s mission.