Having Trouble Establishing Goals? Read This.
Jul 07, 2025
Have Trouble Setting Goals? Read This.
Let’s be honest—goals can be exhausting.
We set them with the best intentions, but soon find ourselves overwhelmed by the gap between where we are and where we want to be.
The goal becomes a weight instead of a win.
It can even feel depressing when you compare your current reality to that big dream in your head.
But here’s the truth: Goals are great for setting direction, but systems are best for making progress.
In The Power of Systems: How to Create a Life That Works by Steve Chandler and Trevor Timbeck, the authors reveal that the real secret to lasting success isn’t more willpower or better intentions—it’s building the right systems.
Systems are repeatable behaviors, habits, and structures that remove decision fatigue and emotional ups and downs.
You don’t have to feel motivated when your system kicks in.
As James Clear reminds us in Atomic Habits, “You don’t rise to the level of your goals. You fall to the level of your systems.”
If you feel like you’ve been falling more than climbing, this might be the missing piece.
So, what can you do about it? Here are 3 practical ways to get started:
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Start with Evidence.
Choose one area of your life that feels stuck. Ask: “What’s the evidence it’s not working?” Maybe it’s inconsistent workouts, poor communication with your spouse, or low energy. Then ask: “What kind of system would naturally lead to better outcomes?” Build that. Slowly. Consistently. -
Create a Daily Practice System.
Systems are not events—they are processes. Instead of setting a goal to “pray more,” create a 15-minute morning walk you take with coffee and conversation with God. I call it “dog walk prayer time.” That system has changed my mornings—and my heart. -
Systemize Your Success Habits.
Use tools. For me, TrainingPeaks tracks my workouts. Calendar blocks protect time with my wife. These aren’t just habits—they are systems that make sure what matters actually happens. What tool or structure could you use to create rhythm and momentum?
Alan Watts said, “You are under no obligation to be the same person you were five minutes ago.”
Systems give you the chance to become someone new, not by dreaming about it, but by living into it—one repeatable step at a time.
And here’s the best part: you can begin right now.
You don’t have to wait for a new month, a new year, or a new you.
If you're tired of setting goals and feeling stuck, maybe it’s time to experiment with systems—and coaching can help.
I’d love to help you design systems that support your actual life, not just your ideal one.
Let’s get to work on the life you were meant to live—one system at a time.
All Things Are Possible,
Dave
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