Sustain the Change

It’s easy to start a change, but sustaining a change is a different animal.

Think about it. Anyone can hit the gym in January. Anyone can write a journal for three days. Anyone can have one tough conversation. Anyone can regulate their emotions one time.

But sustaining change? That’s where most people fall off.

Recently, I got the opportunity to record an episode of the John Eades Podcast with a mentor and friend, Scott Cornwell. He is an executive coach and author of The Present Executive. He said it this way:

Sustaining behavior change requires three things:

1. Shift must occur in the mindset around the behavior

2. Structures are put in place to support accountability for the behavior change

3. Practices are developed and executed consistently to achieve results

Think about it. If you don’t shift your mindset, the new action will eventually revert. If you don’t have accountability, you’ll stop when it gets hard. And if you don’t put the change into practice daily, it will never become a habit in your life.

So that’s the recipe. That’s the special sauce to sustaining behavior change:

• Mindset.

• Structure.

• Practice.

It’s not just about willpower; it’s about a formula. So what's the change you're trying to sustain right now? Eating healthier, writing more, speaking up more in meetings, being more present at home, or making your bed every day.

Pick one and shift your mindset, build a structure, and commit to daily practice.

Because real sustainable change isn’t about starting, it’s about staying.

You can listen to the whole podcast conversation with Scott on The John Eades Podcast here.

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