Consistency leads to so many good things
Consistency doesn’t mean—nor should it be equated with—perfection. Consistency is aligned with improvement. Don’t turn it into perfection; focus on trying to improve. There’s no need to beat yourself up over a missed day or action—get back on the horse.
As Joel Runyan puts it: _Never miss two days in a row._ He’s not advocating perfection—just don’t become inconsistent. Similarly, Ryan Holiday, in his _Daily Stoic_ newsletter, encourages us to pursue improvement, not perfection.
Admiral William H. McRaven equates consistency with self-discipline and broader change: _“Small acts of discipline practiced each day develop self-discipline. It’s your self-discipline that will enable you to change the world.”_
Like Admiral McRaven, Grant Cardone believes consistent, disciplined action is the most significant determining factor for success. The ability to work at something consistently will lead you toward a successful outcome more reliably than any other path. That “successful outcome” might simply be discovering that what you’re doing isn’t delivering the desired results—but at least you’ll _know_.
Consistency is evident in successful leaders. As Ron Chernow points out, George Washington embodied this: _“Once Washington had set his sights on independence, his vision was unblinking, and his consistency proved one of his most compelling qualities.”_ His decision, coupled with focus, drove him to a successful end. His team knew precisely what was expected and measured everything against one standard: independence.
Successful leaders are also consistent in how they handle praise and criticism. Consistent leadership gives your team the comfort of knowing what you expect and how you’ll communicate areas for improvement. It makes you less likely to “fly off the handle”—unless you do _that_ consistently.
It’s rarely a single action that drives success, but rather the repeated act—the consistency—that provides the data and feedback you need. I’ve written about _tiny experiments_: the key to a successful tiny experiment is doing _X_ for a set period. The success lies in the information you gather, not necessarily in whether the experiment “worked.”
I’ll leave you with a quote from legendary NFL coach Bill Walsh: _“Even in the worst circumstances, do not unravel mentally or emotionally. Continue to fight and execute well. Even if the cause appears to be lost, act like professionals.”_
You control consistency—it’s all on you.