Your Reputation Is Your Pattern, Not Your Peak
We’ve spent the last five posts building a foundation: Awareness, Willingness, Values, Intention, and Accountability.
But none of it matters if you don’t show up consistently.
Because here’s the truth: Consistency is what makes everything else stick.
It’s not the single big moment that defines you. It’s the pattern. The small actions, repeated over time, that compound into the reputation, results, and resilience you’ve been working toward.
Consistent Small Actions = Long-Term Success
Consistent small actions mean looking at many levels: the daily, weekly, or monthly actions you take. And over time, that consistency leads to longer-term successful outcomes.
For me, consistent repetition trained me to have some of these skills as second nature. That’s why I use the phrase “fake it till you BECOME it”—not “fake it till you make it.”
Why?
Because as you use the skills, actions, or behaviors to do something, they are practiced. That makes you better, and soon, those are part of you. Now, as you continue to learn other things, you keep getting better.
A Real-Life Example
When I gamified my bills, some weeks I had $5 for fun. Which sucked. But okay—I could get a coffee or treat myself to Subway.
Over time, I had $10. Then $20.
Fast forward over a decade, and now I can put money in savings and have a budget for fun.
That’s the compound effect of consistency.
The Inconsistency Problem
Perfect time of year to discuss this: New Year’s resolutions.
For many, resolutions are an example of inconsistent actions and goals. They start strong with saving or dieting plans but don’t follow through after a few weeks.
Why?
Because the resolution or goal has a singular point: saving for a vacation (one time), losing 10 pounds (one point), or getting the promotion (point in time).
I’m not saying that setting goals is bad—you’re going to do something that betters you. But what happens when you reach that goal, or if something brings you off track?
Follow-through is in the form of continually consistent actions—something you can grab onto and have the desire to maintain.
Examples:
- Diets can make people feel like they’re “put out” or “suffering” for a goal.
- Savings plans that are too strict end because people feel bad buying things that ARE needed.
So how do we help ourselves become consistent and feel we can rely on our goals?
That’s where Consistency vs. Perfection comes in.
Consistency vs. Perfection
Let’s use dieting as an example.
If I set a goal that I’m going to focus on better nutrition and being more healthy, learn and practice that, and be consistent 80% of the time—this goal is SMART. (Highly recommend looking up SMART goals and how they help us feel empowered and motivated.)
This means I’m not going to have to be 100% strict. I can give myself grace because mom made her famous apple pie and I ate a piece!
It means you’re learning new skills, practicing them, putting them into effect, and over time you’ve brought yourself to a new skill level naturally—and the byproduct? Feeling better, likely more fit, and potential weight loss.
Above the Line vs. Below the Line
Let’s take a moment to connect this back to Above the Line and Below the Line from the previous post.
If you eat the pie, give yourself grace. Take a beat to remember that you did have your salad or vegetable, and vow to drink an extra glass of water. What you did is keep yourself Above the Line.
Now, if your goal had been only to lose 10 pounds, you might get sad, restrict yourself more in an attempt to “make up” for the pie—but neither of these are healthy. This is Below the Line behavior.
Consistency isn’t about perfection. It’s about showing up regularly, even imperfectly.
The Compound Effect: Small Moments Build the Long Game
We are complex creatures, and so is the world we live in. By having SMART goals where we can layer in and take note of the successes we HAVE achieved, it helps maintain the motivation to keep going.
It’s a sliding scale.
The micro actions we take on a consistent basis for each of our goals build us up to be our better selves.
Examples of consistent cycles:
- Financial: Paying bills and doing some small planning each month
- Professional: Quarterly check-ins for work goals, writing up accomplishments
- Health: Adding in an extra veggie or more glasses of water each day
Small moments build the long successful game.
Your Pattern Is What People Remember
When people remember us, they remember the whole—the pattern, not just one moment of success or weakness.
An example of this was pointed out by a friend and speaker I’ve known for years. A group of us were meeting for dinner. I’m usually the one who’s there early, ensuring everything is good to go. This time, I was late by about 15 minutes.
During their speech on reputation, I was in the room, and they made a point to say they had started to get worried because they knew my pattern—and this was abnormal.
This shows that in the off moments, the pattern you live is what people notice and remember.
Your reputation is your pattern, not your peak.
How to Build Consistency: Bringing It All Together
So how can we bring this all together?
First, make sure you subscribe in order to get access to the Values activity that will be coming soon.
Then, start by building a layered long-term goal.
Goal Framework:
I want to [do what] so that I can [why are we doing it], and I would like to do it [timeframe].
Example:
“I want to learn about and practice better nutrition so that I can feel better, have more energy, and be able to play more volleyball, and I will make some basic changes each week, with a goal of seeing consistent progress by May.”
This goal allows you to still have achievement even if you don’t get the ultimate “perfect” achievement. It’s a goal you can check in on, and given its small micro motions, sharing your goal with people will actually help you remain accountable as you can celebrate and high-five your little wins.
This is trackable, maintains momentum, can be layered with things you’re already doing, and when you achieve one of your milestones, you still have room to keep working and exceeding this goal.
As you do it, these habits and changes are still going to be there. You will have leveled yourself up just by trying—and that’s what continuous improvement is all about.
Key Takeaways for Building Consistency:
- SMART layered goals
- Realistic achievements tied to things you’re already trying to accomplish
- Find an accountability partner
- Focus on micro habits and small wins over the full goal
- Celebrate your accomplishments to fuel the motivation to continue
Series Wrap: The 6 Foundations Working Together
Hard to believe it’s been seven weeks already. I’m hopeful this series allowed you to dig in and think differently about your goals and actions. You were likely doing many of these things already—and sometimes just a reminder is all that’s needed.
Here are the 6 foundational items I’d like for you to take forward:
1. Awareness – Shows what to work on
2. Willingness – Pushes you to act
3. Values – Guide you
4. Intention – Shapes how you show up
5. Accountability – Keeps you honest
6. Consistency – Brings it all together
When these six work in harmony, you’re not just going through the motions—you’re building a life and career that’s aligned, sustainable, and deeply fulfilling.
Your Final Challenge
I wouldn’t be doing my job if I didn’t encourage you to take a reflection moment to write some thoughts down from what you’ve read and how that may change how you set goals moving forward.
Ask yourself:
- Which of these six building blocks do I need to strengthen most?
- What’s one small, consistent action I can commit to this week?
- Who in my network can help hold me accountable?
- How will I celebrate my small wins along the way?
The world is constantly changing around us. And if we are flexible and have the willingness to keep learning, then we will be resilient against what comes our way.
Final Thought
Consistency is the bridge between knowing and becoming.
It’s not flashy. It’s not glamorous. But rather, it’s the unglamorous work that changes everything.
So, show up, Keep showing up. And trust that those small, repeated actions are building something bigger than you can see right now.
Thank you for following along on this journey. Now go build your foundation—one consistent action at a time.
Authentic Evolution Journey 