Consistency Doesn't Care How You Feel

Today’s Theme:

In honor of Mother’s Day, it’s the perfect time to talk about one of the most underrated traits in high performance: Quiet, relentless consistency. Today, we’ll revisit a childhood fable, hear a powerful reminder from Coach K about the toughness of moms, and explore Tom Brady’s best advice for becoming successful.

The Ant and the Grasshopper

Let’s go back to a fable you probably heard while growing up: The Ant and the Grasshopper.

While the sun is shining and the days are easy, the grasshopper relaxes. He plays music, dances through the summer, and enjoys the moment.

The ant? He works. Quietly. Consistently. Storing food, preparing for what’s ahead.

When winter comes, the difference is obvious. The grasshopper is caught off guard and panics. The ant is prepared and poised.

The ant didn’t hustle the whole time because he felt like it. He knew winter was coming and he wasn't going to wait for urgency to create action. He prepared because he made a decision long before the season changed. He lived by a standard.

That’s a message a lot of performers can be reminded of.

The ant didn’t have to rise to the moment because he committed to a standard he believed in.

The grasshopper hoped it’d all work out. The ant built a plan and followed it.

Standards Over Scoreboards

Last year, Tom Brady offered several powerful lessons on success and consistency at his Patriots’ Hall of Fame ceremony. Below is one of my favorite quotes:

When athletes tie their effort to external factors (e.g. scoreboards, opponents, fanfare, etc.) they become inconsistent. The highs get too high. The lows drop too low.

But when they play to a personal standard (one built on focus, effort, and preparation) they become steady. Grounded. Trustworthy.

Consistency isn’t about always feeling great. It’s about refusing to let how you feel determine how you show up.

Feelings are real, but they don’t get to drive your life. You do.

How to Develop Consistent Performers

Here’s how coaches can help their athletes build that kind of standard:

1. Define It

   Ask your players: What is the standard you’re committed to each night?

   Help them write it out in specific, observable, and controllable behaviors (e.g. body language, focus, effort, response to mistakes, a specific gameplan, etc.).

   If they can’t define it, they can’t commit to it. Clarity creates accountability.

2. Identify Potential Resistance
   We don’t just fall short of standards because we don’t care. We fall short because we hit resistance.

   Help them name what derails their standard: Fatigue? Distractions? Doubt? Shame? 

   If you can see the pattern, you can start to interrupt it.

3. Use a “Mom Test”
   Every year, I love sharing the clip below of Coach Mike Krzyzewski at Duke where he reminds his players to be as tough as their mothers.

Moms don’t get to tap out when they’re tired. They show up. No excuses. Just steady love and effort.

Ask your athletes: What would it look like to show up like your mom does? Without excuses. Without fanfare. Just steady love and effort.

Final Thoughts

The grasshopper had time. He just didn’t use it well.

The ant created a plan. Then he committed to it.

And in a world full of grasshoppers, we need more ants.

The same is true in sports and in life. Standards don’t just keep you focused, they give you something to fall back on when your feelings start shouting louder than your goals.

Consistency isn’t built on emotion. It’s built on commitment and action.

You don’t need to feel amazing to give great effort. You just need to know who you are, what you value, and be willing to choose it—even when it’s hard.

The Threshold Lab Podcast

In case you missed it, I recently launched a new podcast called The Threshold Lab — where I explore fundamental principles that help high performers think, lead, and live at the highest level.

This past week’s most downloaded episode was “Simple Systems, Consistent Results” where I discuss how a Japanese airport hasn’t lost single a bag of luggage in over 30 years by executing a very simple daily system.

If you haven’t checked it out yet, I’d love for you to give it a listen and share if anything resonates for you!