Play the Long Game for Real Results

Real results show up when consistency outlasts impatience.

“Short-term actions create long-term breakthroughs—if you stick with them long enough.” — Eric Wiley

We live in a short-attention-span world

It’s easy to get discouraged when progress isn’t immediate. In business and in life, we’re conditioned to expect fast results—fast sales, fast wins, fast growth. And when it doesn’t happen right away, people start questioning themselves, their strategy, or whether they’re even on the right track.

The truth is simple: meaningful outcomes almost always take time. Not weeks… months. Often 3–6 months before the work you’re doing today shows up in a visible way.

Consistency compounds

One workout doesn’t make you fit. One healthy meal doesn’t make you healthy. One early morning routine doesn’t create a habit. One sales call doesn’t create a pipeline.

But repeat any of these for a few months, and the results are undeniable. Incremental gains stack into something that feels “sudden” from the outside but is anything but sudden from the inside.

Why leaders need this reminder too

I’ve had countless conversations lately with leaders who feel like they’re doing the right things but aren’t seeing immediate lift. They’re frustrated. They’re tired. They’re questioning the path.

This is exactly why I do the work I do—because everyone, regardless of their role or title, needs someone to remind them that the long game is normal. Progress is happening even when it’s not yet visible. And honestly, this applies to me too. After nearly 30 years of coaching people, I still need this reminder from time to time.

The 3–6 month truth most people forget

If you start today, the results of your effort will likely show up:

• in your performance
• in your confidence
• in your team’s engagement
• in your pipeline, revenue, or systems

But they won’t show up tomorrow. They show up in the next quarter.

A simple play: set the goal, then move it out

Here’s a play I’ve coached for years because it works:

1. Set your eye on the prize.
2. Move that prize out three months.
3. Keep your focus on the activities—not the scoreboard—that will carry you toward it.

Those activities are what you control. They’re what create momentum. They’re what carry you through your goal and on to bigger ones.

Staying encouraged while results are still forming

Leaders often need a mindset anchor during the early, quieter phase of progress. Here are a few guardrails that help steady the process:

• Track effort, not just output.
• Celebrate small wins, even if they feel insignificant.
• Expect slow weeks—they’re part of the pattern, not a sign of failure.
• Keep perspective: if you’re doing the right work, results are already on the way.

Bottom line

The long game isn’t flashy, but it’s where real progress happens. If you stay consistent, stay patient, and stay focused on the work that matters, the results will show up—often bigger and stronger than you expected.

— Eric Wiley

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Wiley Performance Advisory
Your Wingman on the Next Big Push.