My Goal-Setting Technique
If you’re reading this in early January, then you’ve probably been bombarded with videos or content about New Year’s resolutions, so I apologize if this adds to that cringe. I set some goals for 2026 last month, so I wanted to discuss my goal-setting strategy and the system I implement to help me achieve those goals.
Research shows that making a resolution significantly improves outcomes and causes change versus not making one. In fact, you’re 10x1 more likely to set a new habit if you keep a resolution. The struggle does not stop there though. 23%2 of people who make a resolution quit within the first week, and 43%2 quit by the end of the month. James Clear’s famous quote might shed some light on why people fail or quit: “You do not rise to the level of your goals. You fall to the level of your systems.” Setting systems is the second part of the puzzle that people don’t think about, but I believe it may be more important than setting a goal or resolution.
What is a goal?
I think of a goal as an identity rather than a standalone habit. For example, I don’t recommend setting a goal of “losing 10 lbs of fat.” A better goal would be to “think like a healthy person” or “think like an athlete.” Adopting the latter requires a mindset change and is more sustainable.
I often find that once I’ve achieved a quantifiable goal such as “lose X lbs” or “run a marathon,” I feel directionless after completing it. Say I’ve been training for a run in 2025 and my goal for 2026 is to run a 5K run, which I manage to complete in Q1 2026. What next? Should I stop all the positive habits I implemented while training? Logically, the answer is no, but because I’ve lost my focus or north star, I tend to lose motivation to continue. You could set a new 10K goal, but eventually you may run out of goals to chase.
Instead, you should keep an identity-based goal: “Become a runner.” This acts as your north star even after you’ve completed a race because it’s who you are now. Even after multiple races, you’ll want to keep those habits going because that’s what a runner would do. A runner would not skip leg day or have consecutive cheat days. You’ve now molded yourself into a runner, and that identity will provide motivation long after a specific goal has been completed.
Think of goals as a to-do list
I’m not advocating for abandoning goals altogether. Instead, I think you should view goals as a to-do list. Using the runner example again, your identity shift would be “become a runner,” while your goal would be “run a 5K race.” This creates both short-term direction and long-term consistency.
Without a goal, you may struggle to maintain a strong identity. I strongly believe that an identity without a goal, or a goal without an identity, may not lead to long-term change. Both are required, in my opinion.
How to decide on an identity?
It’s very tempting to adopt every positive identity possible. We all want to be the best version of ourselves and live a perfect life. However, life gets in the way, and that approach is rarely sustainable.
I’m a big believer in baby steps, and I think that applies here too. By baby steps, I mean the adoption of only two to three identities at any given time. The more identities you take on, the harder it becomes to maintain them. Once an identity truly becomes second nature, something you can’t imagine letting go of, that’s when you can consider adopting a new one.
This is why you should pick your top two or three identities and start there. Below are a few examples of identities paired with associated goals. The idea isn’t to pick one from the list, but to help illustrate the difference between a goal and an identity.
You’ve set an identity. Now what?
This is where your system comes in. A system is a set of rules and automations you put in place to help you work toward an objective. In this case, it’s the identity you’re trying to adopt.
Setting a system is very personal, so it’s not something I can prescribe for you. That said, a good system should be automatic, simple, and continuous. One system I personally love is creating calendar events for the next three months. For example, if you’re trying to become an athlete and that involves a consistent gym routine, I would block three to four gym sessions per week in your calendar.
The benefits of this approach are twofold. First, you don’t need to remember to go to the gym because your calendar has already organized your day for you. Second, those events become anchors around which you plan the rest of your week.
Thinking through a system is possibly the second hardest part, right behind actually following through on your identity, but it plays a huge role in determining success. You need to look at your day as a whole and find clever ways to create systems that make it easier to live out your new identity.
I’m always happy to chat if you need help figuring out a system that could work for you, so feel free to reach out.
Conclusion
I’ve been using this concept myself for the last one to two years, and it has helped me significantly. I now think longer term and am much more intentional about the identities I want to create for myself. It was hard at first to limit myself to two or three identities, but I’ve come to understand the importance of baby steps, which are often underestimated in our fast-paced world.
Thankfully, that sentiment is changing, and more people are recognizing the benefits of the “slow and steady wins the race” approach.
I’d love to hear from you about the identities you’re working towards. You don’t need to wait for a new year to start. Now is a great time. Let’s connect.
Sources
