A YEAR OF SYSTEMS
"Goal setting is not only about choosing the rewards you want to enjoy, but also the costs you are willing to pay. The real challenge is not determining if you want the result, but if you are willing to accept the sacrifices required to achieve your goal. Do you want the lifestyle that comes with your quest? Do you want the boring and ugly process that comes before the exciting and glamorous outcome?"
-James Clear, Author Atomic Habits
We have goals…but do we have systems?
As you all know, I love a peg in the sand (aka: a goal) and believe goals are critically important to the athletic lifecycle of longevity. But I invite you to really examine how using goals and systems might be the real formula for compliance.
After all, are goals really what creates lasting success? In truth, success depends less on the goals we set and more on the systems we implement.
Systems vs Goals:
An athlete may aim to win an event, but their systems involves training, recovery, and nutrition protocols.
An entrepreneur may dream of a million-dollar business, but their systems includes product testing, hiring, and marketing strategies.
A musician may strive to master a piece, but their systems are built on consistent practice and feedback.
The question is: if you ignored your goals entirely and focused only on your systems, could you still succeed?
The answer is a resounding, yes.
When many of my athletes comment about the process of, emotions during and in-between moments, I know they are working the system and not just chasing an outcome.
What’s Wrong with Goals:
Winners and losers share the same goals.
Goals don’t differentiate success. Every Olympian wants gold. The difference lies in the systems that drive results.
Goals create temporary change.
Racing one Ironman doesn’t leave you with lifelong fitness. Without a consistent training protocol, fitness will dissolve. To live a life of wellness and health, we must exercise on a regular basis, not just do one Ironman.
Goals restrict happiness.
With a goal-first mentality, happiness is always deferred: “Once I achieve this, then I’ll be happy.” Systems, on the other hand, allow you to find satisfaction in the process itself.
Goals undermine long-term progress.
Athletes stop training after their race because the goal is gone (yet they want to live an endurance lifestyle). With systems, we almost guarantee sustained growth by emphasizing the journey, not just the destination.
The Case for Systems:
Goals set the direction, but systems create momentum. Falling in love with the process—refining and improving it endlessly—is the key to long-term success. True progress comes when you commit to the journey, not just the outcome.
So, maybe for 2025, you plot your direction towards goals, then let go of their power. Instead, focus on building better systems—and watch as the results take care of themselves. If you are unsure about how to set up systems, start here. We can help, guide and support you.