What It Takes to Be Consistent
The Unsexy Key to Winning
Consistency is boring. It’s not flashy. It won’t make headlines or go viral. Nobody watches a movie about the guy who went to the gym every day for ten years and gradually improved his fitness. No one cares about the entrepreneur who built a business one steady customer at a time. And yet, consistency is the single biggest differentiator between those who win and those who sit on the sidelines, refreshing their LinkedIn feeds in search of the next shortcut.
We live in an era of instant gratification, where people want six-pack abs in 30 days, a dream job with zero experience, and a million followers without posting anything meaningful. But life doesn’t work like that. Consistency is the antithesis of the quick fix — it’s the grind, the repetition, the commitment to playing the long game when everyone else is chasing dopamine hits.
So, what does it take to be consistent? Three things: discipline, identity, and a willingness to be bored.
Discipline: Doing the Work, Even When You Don’t Feel Like It
If you only show up when you feel motivated, you’ve already lost. Motivation is a sugar rush — it’s great for a quick burst of energy, but it doesn’t sustain you. Discipline, on the other hand, is broccoli. It’s not exciting, but it keeps you alive.
Discipline means showing up when it’s inconvenient, when you’re tired, when Netflix is calling your name. It’s why Kobe Bryant practiced at 4 AM when no one was watching. It’s why Warren Buffett still reads 500 pages a day at 93 years old. The people at the top of their game don’t have more willpower than you — they just don’t negotiate with themselves. They don’t ask, Do I feel like doing this today? They just do it.
Identity: Who You Believe You Are Determines What You Do
Consistency isn’t just about habits — it’s about identity. People don’t struggle with brushing their teeth every day because they see themselves as someone who takes care of their hygiene. If you identify as a runner, you run. If you see yourself as someone who follows through, you follow through.
Want to be more consistent? Change the story you tell yourself. Stop saying, I’m trying to be disciplined. Instead, say, I am disciplined. Your brain is an incredible servant but a terrible master — if you tell it who you are, it will make sure your actions follow suit.
Embracing Boredom: The Key to Mastery
Everyone loves the beginning of something — the first few weeks of a new job, the excitement of starting a side hustle, the honeymoon phase of a relationship. But what happens when the excitement fades? Most people quit.
The best performers in the world aren’t more talented than you; they just tolerate boredom better. A great athlete doesn’t love every workout. A great writer doesn’t wake up every day bursting with inspiration. A great leader doesn’t feel like leading all the time. They just do it anyway.
Success isn’t about intensity; it’s about consistency. The guy who does 50 push-ups a day for a year beats the guy who does 500 push-ups in one week and then burns out. The entrepreneur who sends one strategic email a day wins over the one who blasts 1,000 emails in a frenzy and then disappears.
If you can make peace with repetition — if you can learn to love the process rather than just the outcome — you’ll be unstoppable.
Final Thought: The Compounding Effect of Consistency
The beauty of consistency is that it compounds. Every small, seemingly insignificant action stacks up over time. Your reputation, your skills, your relationships — they’re all built on tiny, daily choices.
The question isn’t Can you be consistent? It’s Will you?
Because the secret to success isn’t a secret at all. It’s just doing the work. Every. Single. Day.
Hi, I’m Brian Fink, the author of Talk Tech To Me. If you like how I write, pick up your copy today!
