Title: Why Consistency Beats Intensity Every Time
by Tom Reynolds
At this stage in life — after decades of launching global strategies, recovering from health setbacks, and reinventing my personal path — I’ve learned one thing above all else:
Intensity might get you noticed.
But consistency is what changes your life.
In my earlier career, I led business units through massive change. We’d launch powerful campaigns, run breakthrough meetings, roll out bold ideas. It was high-energy, high-stakes, and high visibility.
But I’ll tell you what made the real difference.
It wasn’t the strategy day.
It wasn’t the executive alignment.
It was what happened after — the small, repeated commitments made quietly, daily, without applause.
That’s where change took root.
And the same has been true in my personal life.
My Story: From Intense Starts to Consistent Wins
Years ago, when I committed to improving my health, I fell into the same trap many do. I went all in for a week or two.
Strict diets. Hardcore workouts. Long to-do lists. I was trying to “catch up.”
But by week three, I was exhausted — and disappointed.
That’s when I made a decision that changed everything:
Forget intensity. I’m going to win through rhythm.
So I simplified.
- 30 minutes of walking — every single day.
- A commitment to drink water first thing in the morning.
- Tracking my daily energy, not just my weight.
- Journaling how I felt — not just what I did.
And something amazing happened: I stuck with it.
Because consistency builds self-trust.
And self-trust builds identity.
Over time, those small habits rebuilt not just my body, but my belief in myself. And I’ve watched the same thing happen for others — clients, colleagues, even friends — who stopped trying to do everything and focused on doing somethingevery day.
Cool Exercise: Your 5-Day Commitment
Pick one action that aligns with your personal “cool” — something small, real, and doable.
Here are a few options:
- Walk for 10 minutes after lunch.
- Spend 5 minutes in silence each morning.
- Text someone you’ve lost touch with.
- Choose your top priority every morning — and do that first.
Now commit to doing it for 5 days straight. No breaks. No excuses.
Not to impress anyone — but to prove to yourself that consistency lives here now.
Innovation Insight: Systems Outperform Sprints
In our corporate innovation playbooks, we built something called daily rhythms.
Not workflows. Not bursts. Rhythms.
Because big projects always hit resistance. The energy fades. The novelty wears off. And the only thing left standing is what you’ve trained yourself to do — no matter the mood.
That’s the game.
That’s how global brands survived crisis, and it’s how individuals rebuild after burnout, loss, or change.
Rhythm > Rally.
Consistency > Intensity.
Always.
Quote to Reflect On
“We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, then, is not an act, but a habit.” — Will Durant
Final Thought
Anyone can go hard for a week.
But if you want your cool to last — to stick — you need consistency you can count on.
You don’t have to be perfect. You don’t have to be impressive.
You just have to be committed to the next step — again and again.
Because in the end, your life isn’t changed by what you do once in a while.
It’s changed by what you do on purpose — day after day, quietly, relentlessly, with belief.
Let’s build that rhythm.
That’s where your edge lives.
Lead Like a Leader 
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