The Power of Consistency: Why Most Goals Fail & How to Finally Follow Through

Alexandra Kaval
Feb 4
4 min read

how to create consistency step by step, in a faith based way

Consistency is one of the most talked-about personal growth principles, yet one of the least practiced.

As we recently celebrated 100 episodes of the Grace Space Christian Coaching podcast, I found myself reflecting deeply on why this milestone matters. Not just because it’s a big number, but because statistics show how rare consistency truly is.

According to industry data, 90% of podcasts don’t make it past their first three episodes, and of those that do, 90% quit before episode 20. That means only a small fraction ever reach long-term momentum.

When you pair that with New Year’s resolution statistics — where nearly 90% of people abandon their goals by the end of January — a clear pattern emerges.

👉 We don’t have a motivation problem. We have a consistency problem.

And here’s what to do about it.

Why Consistency Is So Hard

Most people assume they struggle with consistency because they lack discipline or willpower.

But in my work as a Christian life and leadership coach, I see something very different.

Here are some of the most common reasons goals fail:

We want quick results and feel discouraged when they don’t appear
We underestimate the effort required
We underestimate the time it will take
We don’t clearly define what success actually looks like
We try to do it alone, without community or support
We don’t have a coach helping us see what we can’t see

When progress feels slow or invisible, it’s easy to assume we’re doing something wrong, when in reality, we may simply be quitting early.

So let me ask you:

Where are you feeling tempted to quit right now?

What I Learned on the Journey to 100 Podcast Episodes

There were many seasons during the podcast where growth felt slow.

I loved creating content, but I wasn’t seeing immediate results… significant growth in followers and financials weren’t that.

In fact, it was years before a client came directly from the podcast.

(Or shared that was why she signed on, at least!)

But when she did, she was ready. She knew what to expect. She was primed for transformation.

And the results she experienced were powerful.

The time required for growth collapsed.

What if that could be true for you, too?

What if your long term goals became your short term goals?

Here are a few lessons that cultivated consistency when the temptation to call it quits was strong:

1. Done Is Better Than Perfect

Waiting for perfect clarity, perfect confidence, or perfect timing will keep you stuck.

Momentum comes from showing up imperfectly, consistently, and faithfully.

2. Consistency Compounds

I saw a clear correlation between seasons of consistent content creation and the strongest years of business growth. When I showed up regularly, that translated to serving more 1:1 clients and created greater impact.

Consistency doesn’t always pay off immediately, but it always pays off eventually.

3. Faithfulness Precedes Fruit

Scripture reminds us that growth often happens underground before it’s visible above ground.

The same is true for your goals.

God honors faithfulness… especially when no one is watching.

The Hidden Power of Long-Term Consistency

It’s worth paying attention to the patterns in your own life.

Consistent exercise often leads to improved mental health and performance
Consistent church attendance often strengthens relationships and life satisfaction
Consistent generosity often builds trust, discipline, and long-term provision

The outcomes may not be instantly apparent, they are undeniable over time.

How to Keep Going Without Burning Out

Consistency doesn’t mean doing everything. It means doing the right things, repeatedly.

Here’s what helped me stay consistent with the podcast:

Set a minimum commitment (not a maximum). For me, that meant a realistic monthly publishing rhythm.
Batch when possible write several episodes at once, make edits at once, record multiple in one sitting.
Get support. Editing, marketing, and repurposing without support can lead to burnout.
Clarify your niche. Know who you’re speaking to and what problem you’re solving. You can create more content with clarity.
Anchor your effort to a bigger strategy. The podcast isn’t standalone, but a piece of the bigger puzzle and broader mission of Grace Space Christian Coaching.

Consistency becomes much easier when your efforts are intentional.

What This Means for You

Your next step doesn’t have to be drastic.

It might look like:

Creating space once a month to reflect and realign
Breaking down a longer term commitment into approachable short term steps (e.g. turn a year long goal into quarterly chunks)
Defining what success actually looks like before you begin

Small, faithful steps that are taken consistently will lead to powerful transformation.