Happy Thursday,

Every January, millions of people set goals. By February, most have abandoned them. By March, they're forgotten entirely. This pattern repeats year after year, leading many to conclude that they simply lack willpower or discipline.

But here's what I've learned after a decade of coaching: the problem usually isn't the person. It's the approach.

Most goal-setting advice focuses on the goal itself—make it specific, make it measurable, give it a deadline. SMART goals, they call them. And while there's nothing wrong with clarity, this approach misses something crucial: goals don't exist in isolation.

They exist within the context of your life, your habits, your environment, your relationships, and your beliefs about yourself. Ignore these factors, and even the most perfectly crafted goal will struggle to survive contact with reality.

Here's what actually works:

Start with identity. Before asking "what do I want to achieve?" ask "who do I want to become?" A goal to lose 30 pounds is fragile. An identity as someone who takes care of their health is durable. The behaviors that support weight loss flow naturally from that identity.

Focus on systems, not outcomes. You don't rise to the level of your goals; you fall to the level of your systems. Instead of fixating on a target credit score, build a system of regular credit monitoring, automatic payments, and monthly financial review. The score will follow.

Make it easy. Every goal faces friction—the effort required to take action. Reduce that friction wherever possible. Want to exercise in the morning? Sleep in your workout clothes. Want to save money? Set up automatic transfers before you ever see the paycheck.

Plan for failure. Not if you'll face setbacks, but when. Have a plan for what you'll do when you miss a day, a week, a month. The goal isn't perfection; it's resilience.

Connect to meaning. Know why this goal matters to you—really matters, not just sounds good. When motivation fades (and it will), meaning keeps you going.

I've watched clients transform their financial lives using these principles. Not through heroic willpower, but through thoughtful design. They become the kind of people who manage money well, and the specific outcomes follow naturally.

That's the real secret: stop chasing goals and start building the life that makes those outcomes inevitable.

Until next time,
Don