Goals, Identity and Discipline
The Key to Success: Systems, Discipline, and Consistency
“The most successful people are no different from you or myself. They just have excellent systems in place to help them reach their goals. They fall in love with the process of improvement rather than results. They understand that repeating good habits consistently, day after day, will compound into noticeable, positive results.”
Several weeks ago, we briefly discussed goal setting in our article “Starting a Sustainable Fitness Journey”. One thing we didn’t get to touch on was discipline. After years of coaching clients and experiencing fitness ourselves, we know that achieving our fitness goals can, at times, seem like an insurmountable task as we are unique in our struggles and repeated failures. Our ability to achieve our goals hinges on our discipline and consistency.
Today, we will use the same tools we use with our clients to help you define your goals and provide some helpful tips to stay disciplined and consistent to achieve them.
When setting goals, it’s important to clearly recognize whether it is an Outcome based goal or an Identity based goal. In essence, “I want to lose 30 pounds” vs “I want to become the person with healthy practices without any need to lose weight”.
There is nothing wrong with having outcome based goals as they are useful in setting your trajectory, but we believe that coaching clients toward identity-based goals because they produce the most sustainable and lasting results. Our goal as coaches is to literally transform people and guide them toward the person they want to become and not merely to a finite outcome.
Building Systems for Discipline and Consistency
As James Clear says in Atomic Habits: “You do not rise to the level of your goals. You fall to the level of your systems.”
Having a system in place is what keeps you on track. Goals help you win the game, but systems ensure you can keep playing it. Here are some strategies to help you build discipline and consistency in your journey:
Fall in love with the process, not the results
Stop focusing solely on the end result. Success comes from showing up and doing the work, day after day. Even small, consistent efforts will compound into significant progress over time.
Consistency does not mean perfection
You don’t need to be perfect to see results—just consistent. Whether it’s improving a lift, eating healthier, or getting more sleep, aim to make steady progress. Life fluctuates like a sine wave, with ups and downs, but consistency over time is what matters.
Make a list of your daily habits
Label them good, bad or neutral. Creating this “scorecard” helps to build awareness of what actions are actually serving us and which are working against us. You will find that some of our “bad” habits also aren’t all that bad and sometimes not worth eliminating, but more so controlling.
Don’t find time, create it
If you struggle to make time for fitness or meal prep, schedule it into your day. Be specific: “I will work out at 6 a.m. on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday.” Writing it down or adding it to your calendar makes it more likely to happen.
Embody who you desire to become
Ask yourself: “What would the best version of me do right now?” Instead of just wanting to be a disciplined person, act as if you already are. Over time, these actions will shape your identity.
Be the architect of your environment
Your environment has a huge influence on your habits. For example, if you want to stop snacking on junk food, don’t keep it in your house. Design your surroundings to support your goals and minimize temptations. Discipline is less about willpower and more about creating a supportive environment.
Redefining Progress
Making lasting changes takes time, discipline, and patience. Progress doesn’t always feel linear or obvious at first. Focus on what you can do now instead of comparing yourself to others or chasing unrealistic expectations.
Remember: Failing to plan is planning to fail. Without systems, it’s easy to lose momentum and fall short of your goals.
Start Your Journey
By reading this article, you’ve already taken the first step: awareness. You know there’s a gap between where you are and who you want to become. Use these tools to close that gap and make progress toward your goals.
Need help getting started or staying on track? We’re here to help you create sustainable habits for long-term success.
Schedule a consult today!