Did you know that there is one critical difference between average businesses and super-successful businesses?

Many of the success experts who are quoted time and time again refer to this one common characteristic as the big differentiator between being mediocre and actually unlocking your true potential.

Take a look at the following popular quotes and see if you can identify the common thread that ties them all together.

"I have learned, that if one advances confidently in the direction of his dreams, and endeavors to live the life he has imagined, he will meet with a success unexpected in common hours."

--Henry David Thoreau

"Genius is one percent inspiration and ninety-nine percent perspiration."

--Thomas Edison

"The secret of success is constancy to purpose."

--Benjamin Disraeli

"Let me tell you the secret that has led me to my goal: my strength lies solely in my tenacity."

--Louis Pasteur

All these quotes reference one magic principle...

Consistency!

Consistency is the key. It's up to you to be consistent with your actions every week to realize your true potential. You have so much talent and purpose inside you, just waiting to be unleashed. But the world can't benefit from your gifts until you share them consistently.

As my friend Mike Litman says, "You're either consistent or you're non-existent!"

That's so true, especially in the world of business. Over time, the consistent doers always win out over those who have a "stop and go" approach to their work.

Mike Litman is the bestselling author of Conversations With Millionaires, and he has spent a great deal of time interviewing the most successful entrepreneurs on the planet. If you've heard of Tony Robbins, Brian Tracy, or Jim Rohn, then you can appreciate the level of credibility from which Mike says the above quote.

So what can you do to be more consistent week after week? Well, here is a list of a few suggestions to get you started:

1) You want to develop the habit of writing down your daily "big rocks" on a piece of paper everyday. You can do this either first thing in the morning or as the last activity before you go to bed at night. Note: This concept was reviewed in last week's newsletter as part of Step Four. Take another look there if you want a quick refresher.

2) Commit to wisely use the "Power 15" to your advantage every morning. The "Power 15" is the first 15 minutes after you wake up in the morning. To get your day started right, you want to feed your mind with positive, uplifting material during this time. This information can be in the form of books, audios, videos, or whatever works best for you.

If your mind is telling you right now that you don't have time in your busy schedule for this, then here is a simple solution for you:

Wake up 15 minutes earlier.

Seriously, this is a very important success habit that can help you gain true consistency and unstoppable forward momentum toward your goals. This habit could just be the extra building block you need to unlock your true potential and take your business to the next level.

As an example, the other morning I watched a Les Brown video called "You Gotta Be Hungry!" while I exercised on the treadmill in my basement. And do you think that had a positive impact on my day? You bet it did!

3) Pick one thing you want to do differently this week and do it! This can be one of the first two suggestions above or it can be something completely different. Ask yourself this question:

What is the one new habit that you can start doing this week to improve your business and/or your life in general?

After you have written down a few answers to this question, pick the one thing that will most empower you and make you feel much stronger next week at this time. Then put this item in your day planner or scheduler and plan ahead to make it happen this week. Not only will this build your business momentum and your consistency, but it will also build your overall confidence and belief in yourself.

"Deliberately training yourself into good habits requires stern self-discipline at first. But once those habits become second nature, the payoff is considerable:

Good habits save effort, ease routine, increase efficiency, and release power." (taken from the Executive Exellence newsletter and Supervision magazine, Vol. 59)

The habit-builders listed above will help you to gain consistent momentum and head toward your goals at a much faster pace. Do something new this week and commit to start trying out just one of these success habits.

You'll be glad you did!