Standards Over Goals

Opening

Everybody has goals.

I want to make more money.

I want to get in shape.

I want to build a company.

I want to become successful.

I want to lose twenty pounds.

I want to become a champion.

Goals are easy to write.

The harder question is:

What standard are you willing to live by while pursuing them?

Because you can want something badly and still behave in a way that makes achieving it almost impossible.

Goals Tell You Where. Standards Tell You How.

Think about training.

A person can say:

"I want to get stronger."

That's a goal.

But what is the standard?

I train four days a week.

I don't miss because I don't feel motivated.

I recover properly.

I prepare my food.

I get enough sleep.

I track my progress.

Those are standards.

The goal creates direction.

The standard creates behavior.

Your Life Reveals Your Real Standards

People usually tell you their goals.

Their calendar tells you their standards.

Their bank account tells you some of their financial standards.

Their body reflects some of their health standards.

Their relationships reveal some of their communication standards.

Their work reflects their professional standards.

Not perfectly.

Life is complicated.

But over time, patterns tell the truth.

My Career Required Different Goals — But the Standard Could Stay

Across different stages of my life, the goal changed.

Military.

Wrestling.

Professional wrestling.

MMA.

Business.

Different environments.

Different objectives.

But some of the standards can remain consistent:

Prepare.

Show up.

Train.

Learn.

Take responsibility.

Don't fold under pressure.

Respect the work.

That's why standards are so powerful.

The arena can change while the standard remains.

Stop Negotiating With Yourself

A lot of people lose before they even begin because they renegotiate every commitment every morning.

"I said I'd train... but I'm tired."

"I said I'd make those calls... but today isn't a good day."

"I said I'd start creating content... but maybe next week."

If every commitment is negotiable, your goals don't mean much.

Some things need to become non-negotiable.

The Standard Test

Ask yourself:

What do I do when I'm tired?

What do I do when nobody congratulates me?

What do I do when progress is slow?

What do I do after a bad day?

That's your standard.

Your Assignment

Create your Champion Standards.

Pick five.

For example:

1. I keep my word.

2. I show up prepared.

3. I finish what I start.

4. I train even when motivation is low.

5. I take responsibility before blaming circumstances.

Make yours personal.

Then choose one standard you've been violating.

Fix that first.

Close

A goal can inspire you.

A standard changes you.

Stop asking only:

What do I want?

Start asking:

What kind of person would I have to become to consistently produce that result?

That leads directly into our next lesson.

Discipline.