The Power of Consistency: Building Habits Brick by Brick
John Heywood was an English playwright who lived hundreds of years ago.
Today, Heywood is known for his poems, proverbs, and plays. But more than any one work, it’s his phrases that have made him famous. For example, here are some popular sayings that have been attributed to Heywood…
- “Out of sight out of mind.”
- “Better late than never.”
- “The more the merrier.”
- “Many hands make light work.”
And there is one phrase from Heywood that is particularly interesting when it comes to building better habits:
“Rome was not built in one day.”
Just Lay a Brick
Typically, people use the phrase “Rome wasn’t built in a day” to remind someone of the time needed to create something great.
And it’s true. It takes time — sometimes years — to master a skill, craft, or habit. And while it’s good to keep perspective on your dreams, I think it’s better to remember the other side of this story:
Rome wasn’t built in a day, but they were laying bricks every hour.
The problem is that it can be really easy to overestimate the importance of building your Roman empire and underestimate the importance of laying another brick.
It’s just another brick. Why worry about it? Much better to think about the dream of Rome. Right?
Actually Rome is just the result, the bricks are the system. The system is greater than the goal. Focusing on your habits is more important than worrying about your outcomes.
Of course, there’s nothing necessarily impressive about laying a brick. It’s not a fantastic amount of work. It’s not a grand feat of strength or stamina or intelligence. Nobody is going to applaud you for it.
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But laying a brick every day, year after year? That’s how you build an empire.
You can start small. You can focus on improving 1 percent each day. You can simply put in another rep.
You don’t have to build everything you want today, but you do have to find a way to lay another brick.
Originally appeared in JamesClear.com.
Featured photo credit: three half bricks waiting to be built into a structure via shutterstock.com
**Tags:** John Heywood, English playwright, poems, proverbs, plays, phrases, Rome, building habits, consistency, goals, systems
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The Power of Consistency: Building Habits Brick by Brick
John Heywood, an acclaimed English playwright from centuries ago, is best known for his poems, proverbs, and plays. While he has created numerous noteworthy works, it is his phrases that have solidified his fame. Some of the popular sayings attributed to Heywood include “Out of sight out of mind,” “Better late than never,” “The more the merrier,” and “Many hands make light work.” However, there is one particular phrase from Heywood that holds significant relevance when it comes to cultivating better habits: “Rome was not built in one day.”
Typically, this phrase is used to emphasize the time and effort required to create something remarkable. Undoubtedly, it takes an extended period, sometimes years, to master a skill, craft, or habit. Consequently, it is necessary to maintain perspective regarding our aspirations. Nonetheless, it is crucial to also acknowledge the other side of this story: Rome wasn’t built in a day, but they were laying bricks every hour.
The challenge lies in the tendency to overestimate the significance of building a grand empire while underestimating the importance of laying individual bricks. It is easy to downplay the value of a single brick, considering it just another minor contribution towards the greater goal of Rome. However, in reality, Rome is the mere result, while the bricks represent the system. The system holds greater importance than the goal itself. Instead of fixating on outcomes, we should focus on developing positive habits and routines, for it is these consistent actions that truly shape our success.
Naturally, laying a brick is not an inherently impressive act. It doesn’t entail an extraordinary amount of work or showcase exceptional strength, stamina, or intelligence. No one is going to applaud a person for these individual efforts. However, when we consistently lay bricks day after day, year after year, that is when we build an empire.
Therefore, it is crucial to start small, as even the tiniest actions can set incredible changes in motion. By focusing on improving just one percent each day or striving to achieve one more repetition of an activity, we can gradually build the foundations of our desired empire. We must remember that it is not necessary to construct everything we desire in a single day, but it is essential to find a way to lay another brick.
In conclusion, John Heywood’s phrase, “Rome was not built in one day,” serves as a powerful reminder of the time and dedication required to achieve greatness. While dreams and grand ambitions may provide inspiration, it is the consistency of our daily actions that truly shapes our destinies. Each brick we lay contributes to the construction of our personal empires. So, let us not underestimate the significance of these small acts, for it is through their accumulation that we can bring our dreams to life.
**Tags:** John Heywood, English playwright, poems, proverbs, plays, phrases, Rome, building habits, consistency, goals, systems
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