Some time ago, I was asked about what makes a good podcast. There are many elements that I could choose from, but one immediately stands out – consistency.
Afterwards, I pondered my response, realizing that there was more truth behind the simple answer that I needed to unpack. I’ve hosted and produced the Virtual CISO Moment podcast for many years now, with the last three and a half devoted to weekly discussions with information security pros. There have been weeks that I didn’t feel like recording, or when a guest didn’t show, and I could have just let it slide.
But I never did, because I believe in the power of consistency.
To me, it seems that hose who are successful got that way by patiently doing what they need to do. They realize gratification isn’t immediate, that time and patience and grinding is what is needed to build anything – a podcast, a business, a new habit. Over the course of my podcast’s lifetime, I’ve seen other security podcasts come and go. It’s not that they weren’t of value. Rather, I think the producers of each that ended didn’t see at the beginning the need for consistency and constant dedication.
It’s easy to make a commitment, but it’s difficult to follow through.
In July 2025 I completed a 2200 push up challenge to raise awareness (and perhaps a few dollars) of the needs of veterans. The primary reason for doing it was obvious; I believe in supporting my fellow veterans. But there was another reason: I wanted to demonstrate, and be held accountable for, making a commitment and sticking with it. Every. Single. Day. To that end, I recorded a “first 22” (first 22 push ups of the day) video every day, usually early in the morning. It was more for me than anyone else, because I publicly held myself accountable.
It was not about the number of pushups. It was about showing up and doing the push ups every single day. I could have kicked the 2200 out in a day (or a few) and be done with it, but the opportunity for a lesson on consistency and follow through would have been lost.
It’s not as if there weren’t obstacles. Some days I didn’t feel like doing it. Several times I had to get out of bed to push out the last dozen or two because I forgot to finish during the day. This morning while getting in an early mountain bike ride at Montgomery Bell State Park I came across the obstacle pictured above. There seemed to be no way around it. However, instead of reversing (which would man giving up on the trail), I found a way to push through.
Consistency is not the key to winning and success, but it is one component. Show up every day, especially when you don’t want to. Do the grind, and pay the dues. You will find a reward . That’s the real lesson of the power of consistency.
This morning I planned to expand my ride to swing by the gym for a short weights workout. For me, it was more about testing the feasibility of the idea than anything else. This increased my mileage to work by only about three miles. It was a beautiful, clear morning, ride temperature about 60 degrees, and light traffic as I planned the journey before rush hour. What could go wrong?