Why You’re Not Achieving Your Goals (And How to Fix It)
If you’re tired of setting goals that never seem to stick, you’re not alone. I’ve been there, and so has everyone else. You feel the initial excitement when you decide to change your life, but weeks later, the motivation fades, and you’re back to square one.
Here’s the truth: It’s not your fault. You’re not lazy or unmotivated—you’re just probably going about it the wrong way. By the end of this post, you’ll know exactly what’s holding you back and, more importantly, how to fix it starting today.
The Structure
We’ll dive into the 3 biggest reasons people fail to hit their goals, tackle solutions to avoid these pitfalls, and wrap up with a simple framework you can use right now to make your goals happen.
Part 1: The Main Reasons You’re Likely Not Achieving Your Goals
Reason #1: Your Goals Are Too Vague
Think about it: Have you ever set a goal like, “I want to lose weight” or “I want to make more money”, without any added specificity? Sounds great—but what does that even mean?
How much weight?
By when?
And how much money are we talking about?
Vague goals are impossible to measure, and if you can’t measure them, how will you know when you’ve succeeded?
The Fix:
Make your goals specific and measurable. A clear goal looks like this:
“I’ll lose 10 pounds in 3 months by exercising 4 times a week and eating 2,000 calories a day.”
“I’ll save $500 in the next 2 months by cutting back on dining out and creating a budget.”
When your goal is specific, you can create a roadmap to follow and track your progress along the way.
Reason #2: You’re Overloading Yourself
You know the feeling: you’re juggling five different goals at once—get fit, eat healthier, save money, learn a new skill—and somehow, none of it gets done.
When you try to tackle everything at once, you burn out fast. It’s like spreading yourself too thin across a dozen projects. You’ll barely make progress on any of them.
The Fix:
Focus on one key goal at a time.
Apply the Pareto Principle: Focus on the 20% of actions that will give you 80% of the results. If your goal is to improve your fitness, don’t try to overhaul your entire diet, workout every day, and track your macros perfectly from day one. Start with one habit—like committing to 30 minutes of exercise three times a week.
By simplifying your approach, you give yourself the bandwidth to succeed.
Problem #3: You Don’t Have a System
Saying, “I want to write a book this year,” sounds inspiring, but without a plan, it’s just a wish. Most people fail to achieve their goals because they rely on motivation alone. But motivation comes and goes—it’s unreliable.
The Fix:
Turn your goals into habits and create a system to stay consistent.
For example, if your goal is to write a book, break it into manageable chunks. Schedule time to write 500 words every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday at 7 PM. Make it a non-negotiable, just like showing up for work or a meeting.
Remember, that it’s systems that carry you through when motivation runs out.
Part 2: The Framework
Here’s a simple 3-step framework you can use to make any goal achievable:
Step 1: Define Your Goal Clearly
Ask yourself:
What do I want to achieve?
Why is it important?
How will I measure success?
Example: Instead of saying, “I want to be healthy,” say, “I want to run a 5K in under 30 minutes by June.” This will allow you to meticulously track your progress and have a clear target you’re working towards. Plus, that third step, having a clear success metric in place, will undoubtedly help you understand whether or not you achieved your goal in the first place.
Step 2: Identify Your Keystone Actions
Listen, the truth is, not all actions are equal. Focus on the ONE action that will make the biggest difference.
Examples:
If your goal is weight loss, your keystone action could be cutting out sugary drinks.
If your goal is to save money, it might be tracking every expense for 30 days.
By zeroing in on what truly matters, you simplify the path to success, and drastically increase your efficiency towards your set objectives.
Step 3: Create a Weekly Check-In System
This third and final step is amazing and will do wonders for you. Luckily, it’s incredibly simple: Every week, take 10 minutes to review your progress.
What worked?
What didn’t?
What adjustments do I need to make?
Example: Let’s say you planned to save $100 this week but only managed $50. Reflect on why—maybe unexpected expenses came up—and adjust your strategy for next week.
This habit keeps you accountable and helps you stay on track.
Personal Anecdote
When I started my YouTube channel, I made every mistake in the book. My goals were vague (“I want to grow my channel”), I tried to do everything at once, and I had no system. It felt overwhelming, and I almost gave up.
But then I applied these principles:
I defined my goal: “Reach 100 subscribers in 6 months.”
I identified my keystone action: Consistently posting one high-quality video per week.
I created a system: I planned, scripted, and recorded 1-2 videos per week no excuses.
Within months, I started seeing real results. The process wasn’t perfect, but the system kept me moving forward even on tough days.
Call-to-Action Challenge
Now, here’s your challenge:
Take ONE goal you’ve been putting off and apply this 3-step framework. Define it clearly, pick your keystone action, and schedule your first step.
Drop your goal in the comments, and I’ll help you refine it!
Closing Thoughts
Listen, success isn’t about luck or natural talent. It’s about having the right system and sticking to it.
You don’t need to wait for the perfect moment or motivation to strike. Simply start today. Build the habits. Create the system. And watch yourself achieve what once felt impossible.
Let’s crush those goals together, and all the best for 2025!