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Small Business Casual: Content Marketing, Productivity, Customer Experience for Entrepreneurs & Creators

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Small Business Casual: Content Marketing, Productivity, Customer Experience for Entrepreneurs & Creators

Is Consistency for the Birds? Eradicating the hobgoblins

August 18, 2026 • Emily Aborn

0:00 | 20:42

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Is Consistency for the Birds?

We often treat "consistency" as one of the 10 Commandments of Business. Like changing your mind or backing away is a character flaw.

In this episode, I make the case that, at least 50% of the time... it's the other way around, and walking away is being consistent with the truth of YOU.

There's smart consistency: Showing up reliably and staying true to your values.

And fooolish consistency: Clinging to a decision, a product, or a posting schedule just so you don't look flaky.

I get into why changing your mind is often a sign of growth instead of weakness, why consistency and frequency are not the same thing, and the reversals I've made lately in my own business.

Main Takeaway: Consistency isn't about staying the same. It's about staying true to who you are while the what, the how, and the how-often are allowed to evolve. Changing your mind might be the most consistent thing you ever do.

In This Episode:

The difference between smart consistency and foolish consistency
Why consistency isn't the same as frequency (and how conflating them can burn you out)
How consistency looks different seasonally
Why changing your mind isn't always flaky

Quotes:

"A foolish consistency is the hobgoblin of little minds." -Ralph Waldo Emerson

"Do the best you can until you know better. Then when you know better, do better." - Maya Angelou

"The test of a first-rate intelligence is the ability to hold two opposed ideas in mind at the same time." -F. Scott Fitzgerald

Connect with Me, Emily Aborn:

I'm a Small Business Copywriter, Podcast Host of Small Business Casual, and Marketing Strategist with 12+ years as a business owner and 8 years writing copy across 121+ industries.

I help you step into becoming (and sharing) the real YOU. For fun and downtime, I love reading, writing, hiking with friends, and moments of uninterrupted silence.

Got a question for the show? Email me at emily@emilyaborn.com.

Visit my website at: emilyaborn.com

If this one landed with you, please like, comment, subscribe, and tell me one thing you've changed your mind on lately. I'll trade you mine!