Chapter 15: Consistency: Small Wins, Big Impact

Imani Rhodes

Miles. Why do we connect with the person who shows up and supports us every day, but not the one who just makes a big splash once? I always think of the gym—like, you can do one epic workout and feel like a hero, but it’s the folks who just keep showing up, doing the reps, that actually get strong. Success is built in consistent-reps, not epic last-minute-sprints. Why do you think that is?

Miles Carter

Yeah, and it’s the same in the office. I worked with this manager—let’s call her Lisa—who quietly kept the team humming. She’d leave a quick end-of-day recap with what got done, snap a photo of the whiteboard for anyone who missed the huddle, and drop a thank-you to someone who stepped up that day. Little things, done every day. People trusted her. Then there was the “hero” type—only showed up for the big launches, made a lot of noise, but… nobody really relied on them. Fireworks don’t lead projects. Metronomes do.

Imani Rhodes

That’s so true. And it’s not just offices, right? I mean, think about athletes. The best ones? They’re not just showing up for the championship game. They’re the ones who are there for the Monday morning practice, tying their shoes the same way every time. John Wooden literally taught his players how to tie their shoes—because the little things, done over and over, are what win games. It’s the same for carpenters, the service industry, salespeople, you name it. The person who leaves the jobsite cleaner than they found it or checks in with a customer who looks confused—those are the people who build trust, not just applause.

Miles Carter

Yeah, and there’s research behind this too. Karl Weick called it “small wins”—each one is like a little domino. You get a hit of confidence, you feel in control, and suddenly, you’re more resilient when things get tough. It’s not about the big, dramatic changes. It’s about the stuff you can actually repeat. That’s what builds your reputation, your momentum, all of it.

Imani Rhodes

And I think that’s why, when we look back, we remember the steady presence, not the one-off heroics. It’s like, you don’t GET-momentum—you EARN-momentum - and you earn it with small wins. That’s what I want people to remember today.

Imani Rhodes

So, let me tell you a story from my HR days. There was this admin assistant—totally under the radar, right? But every morning, she’d be at her desk five minutes early, prepping the meeting room, making sure the agenda was set. Nobody asked her to do it. But after a while, the whole team just… worked better. People started showing up on time, meetings ran smoother, and honestly, she became the backbone of the team. That’s the power of consistency. It’s not flashy, but it transforms everything.

Miles Carter

That’s a perfect example. And it’s all about the habit loop—cue, routine, reward. Let’s roleplay this for a sec. I’ll be the busy pro, you be the habit.

Imani Rhodes

Alright, let’s do it. So, you walk in the door after work. What’s your cue?

Miles Carter

Cue: I drop my keys on the counter. Routine: I open my notebook and jot down one thing I did well today. Reward: I get that little dopamine hit—like, “Hey, I actually made progress.”

Imani Rhodes

Exactly. And you can make it even smaller. BJ Fogg talks about the 2-Minute Rule—anything can be started in two minutes. So, after you brush your teeth, do two pushups. Or after you open your email, send one thank-you. It’s about stacking habits onto things you already do. That’s how you make it stick, even when you’re tired or distracted.

Miles Carter

And it works for athletes, too. Like, after every practice, do a quick mental checklist. Or for service workers, leave one positive note for the next shift. The point is, you don’t have to overhaul your life. Just stack one small win onto something you’re already doing.

Imani Rhodes

So, here’s a question for everyone listening: What’s one habit you could stack onto your routine this week? And how will you spot and celebrate your own small wins? Because honestly, if you don’t notice them, you won’t keep doing them. That’s the secret sauce.

Imani Rhodes

Alright, let’s bring this home. I’ve got a phrase for you: “Small hinges swing big doors.” If you remember nothing else, remember-that. I want to challenge everyone—commit to one micro-action by tomorrow. Not next week. Tomorrow. Something so small it’s almost laughable. That’s how you start swinging those big doors.

Miles Carter

And if you need help tracking it, there are tools out there. We actually built a tool just for our listeners, but you can also use Habitica or Streaks—both are great for tracking progress. Let’s do a quick roleplay. I’ll be your accountability buddy. “Hey, Imani, did you do your one small win today?”

Imani Rhodes

“I did! I sent a recap email to my team, even though it felt like a tiny thing. But it made the whole day run smoother.”

Miles Carter

That’s it. And look, Jamie Dimon at JPMorgan? He’s all about daily execution. Not the big, shiny stuff—just doing the boring things well, every day. We even had someone in our community feed who started posting daily progress logs. At first, nobody noticed. But after a month? Their team started trusting them more, and they got more responsibility. That’s how trust is built—one small win at a time.

Imani Rhodes

So, here’s your action item: Pick one thing you can do every day this week—so small it’s almost silly. Post it in the community feed, tag it with Hashtag: SmallWinChallenge. Track it. Celebrate it. Repeat it. That’s how you make this real. And don’t just listen—do the action items. They’re what make it stick in the real world. If you want to be the best, you gotta start with the basics. And if you need ideas or support, check out the comments in the community. There’s always someone sharing what’s working for them, and you can learn or contribute, too.

Miles Carter

And remember progress-over-perfection, - don’t wait for perfect. You don’t need to be perfect. Just be consistent. That’s what we want for you—real progress, not just good intentions. So, let’s get after it.

Imani Rhodes

And to everyone listening, thanks for being here. We’ll see you next time on Speak. Think. Serve. Go make those small wins count. Bye, everyone.