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In my experience, success in teaching, leadership, or the arts often comes down to one principle: showing up. Not just once in a while, not only when it feels easy, but consistently and with purpose. People thrive when they know they can count on you to be present, prepared, and engaged, WHICH MEANS the steady actions you take each day matter more than the occasional big effort.

Why Consistency Matters

Small Actions, Big Results

Showing up does not have to be dramatic. For me, it often looks like sending a quick follow-up note, checking in with a teammate, encouraging a student, or sharing a resource. These everyday acts may feel small, but over time they build something powerful: trust. And trust is what gives leaders credibility and influence.

A Story About Branding

I once worked with a team that spent months carefully creating their brand. They hired designers, picked colors, and agreed on fonts. The brand looked sharp, polished, and professional. Everyone was excited about the result. That was the beginning.

After all the planning and preparation, the brand needed to be used in daily practice, like slide decks for weekly presentations. That’s when the enthusiasm faded. The team resisted putting in the effort to make their slides match the brand. They complained that it took too much time and wanted to go back to old habits. I could see that if they skipped this step, their hard work on the brand would mean nothing. The audience would see messy, inconsistent slides, and the team would appear immature and unprepared.

Our solution was to simplify the choices. Instead of dozens of options, we created a few clean slide templates. Then we asked leaders to keep each presentation simple, with only a few key words each week. The pressure disappeared. The leaders used the slides consistently, their message stayed clear, and their audience grew to trust them. By making it easier to show up, we helped the team build the steady presence they wanted all along.

What Teaching Artists Need to Remember

For teaching artists, this lesson is especially important. Schools are not always easy places to work. Some are supportive and encouraging, while others may feel resistant or indifferent. Still, students are watching. When you brand your work with professionalism, when you consistently show up prepared, and when you make your presence reliable, students notice. They see that you care enough to bring your best, even when the environment is not perfect. That steady presence communicates respect, builds trust, and gives students the encouragement they need to take risks and grow.

Your brand is not only your website, logo, or resume. It is the way you carry yourself, the clarity of your materials, the consistency of your teaching, and the way you show up in the classroom. Even small details, like arriving on time, having clear slides, or preparing materials in advance, will signal to students that their learning matters to you.

Start Small

Consistency does not happen by accident. It takes planning, patience, and often simplification. But when leaders and teaching artists keep showing up in small, steady ways, the impact multiplies.

Here are a few ways to begin:

• Share one helpful insight in your next meeting.
• Call one client with a word of support.
• Post one useful tip that could help your network.
• For teaching artists: prepare one clear, engaging activity that reinforces your main theme.

The Long-Term Reward

The results will not come from a single effort. They grow from showing up again and again with intention, WHICH MEANS your consistency is not just about today; it is about building a reputation people can count on for years to come.

If you’ve found value in my work, I would love to hear from you. A quick testimonial, whether through a Google review, a comment, or a site rating, helps me improve and allows others to see the difference we are working to make.