Rhythm — the fine line between consistency and chaos where people grow and ideas come to life.

Consistency gives us structure to build habits, but we need rhythm to give those habits life. It’s what keeps even repetition from becoming routine and stagnant.

In music, rhythm isn’t just repetition — it’s planned variation.

The rests, the tempo changes, the dynamics — they’re what make the melody memorable. The same is true in how we work, lead, or grow.

Don't get me wrong, I'm not saying we shouldn't have habits, I just think we underestimate the value of breaking them from time to time.

If consistency is the absence of change and chaos is the absence of consistency, Rhythm is the sweet spot between the two — consistent, reliable inconsistency.

The anatomy of a healthy rhythm

Variation + Predictability

Let's break it down…

Variation — the dynamic shift, tempo change, or pause that brings about a new, "normal" and a renewed sense of clarity.

This is the change I wrote about in my letter last week. It's the shift from summer to fall or winter to spring. In a moment of realization, everything changes. The world looks different. What was impossible is possible and what seemed set-in-stone receives a much needed second look.

But what allows us to act on this new vision?

Predictability — The knowledge and expectation of change.

It has been said that the best leaders can anticipate change before it happens, allowing them to plan for it in advance and act on it when it happens.

Imagine if you could do the same… *insert rhythm*

I am a father first, but then a musician — and any musician will tell you just how important changes in rhythm are to the construction of a song. Pop songs make money because the repetition gets stuck in your head — but doesn't it get old after a while?

Going back to my analogy of the seasons from last week— I love living in Minnesota because the turn of the weather opens my eyes to a new perspective in the world. It is consistently inconsistent like a song that changes key to keep listeners engaged.

Rhythm — the pattern of intentional shifts that open your eyes to the world around you.

Building rhythm

When applied to real life, you will see consistency is important, but without variation, things grow stagnant. Let's look at a few examples…

Daily rhythm

• Switching between coffee and tea

• Spending your evenings in different spaces

• One of my favorites: driving a different route to the place you want to go

Weekly/monthly rhythm

• Dedicating a weekend for rest and nothing more

• Scheduled “focus time” to catch up on tasks

• Change up how you spend your free time (a new video game? A different instrument?)

• Reading a new book each month

Annual rhythm

• Planning something to look forward to each quarter (a trip, a purchase you save for, etc…)

• Setting a goal to chase for 6 months at a time

• Taking up seasonal activities

I get it. I can already hear you saying, “But Sam, none of those ideas apply to me. I don’t have time or money.” Listen — I have three kids under three. I struggle with this too, but I learned it before I was married and it’s the practice that’s allowed me to keep growing through this season. You just have to do what you can.

The goal isn’t to shake things up; it’s to build renewal into your system before things go stale.

One final thought…

This isn’t going to be easy — change never is. Once a pattern is established, it’s hard to quit. That’s why we often have as many bad habits as good ones.

All we can do is try. Start small and see where it goes.

The funny thing with rhythm: in music, a tempo shift often feels surprising if the musicians had it planned all along. Like anything else worth doing, it takes practice and a little time. Before long, you’ll be leading your own rhythm, whether that’s in your life, your business, your thought process — you get the idea…

So tell me…

How do you keep a fresh perspective in your life today?

When is the last time you rethought your assumptions?