Ditch the 30-Day Challenge…Set Goals and Build Habit Instead
People do not decide their futures. They decide their habits, and their habits decide their futures.
By
June 26, 2025
We recently hosted a goal-setting session at the gym to help members gain purpose, focus and put them on the path to success. Thirteen people attended (shout out to the one guy, Greg Bell!). We talked mindset. We set S.M.A.R.T. goals. We dug deep into our “why.” People got real—and shared—which creates accountability like nothing else.
Each January, millions (if not billions) of people set a big ‘ol goal. Most lose steam after a few weeks or months for a variety of reasons:
I am a fan of setting smaller, shorter-term goals that support the big end goal. So, at our session, we focused on the next three months.
Why set short-term goals?
In terms of habits, consider this: People do not decide their futures. They decide their habits, and their habits decide their futures.
Habits are things that are easy to do, and they are also easy NOT to do. But, if you commit, you experience the compounding effect that habits have.
Motivation comes and goes, but habits keep you going, even when you don’t want to do the thing.
We often get asked to do challenges, but we don’t believe in them. Why? Anyone can change a variety of aspects of their life and grit it out for 30 or so days but often it’s a 180 and it’s not sustainable. Stacking habits slowly over time is where the magic happens.
In order to build habits and meet goals, MINDSET IS KEY. Here are some tactics:
When setting a goal, it’s best to be very specific. Enter: S.M.A.R.T. goals, which are:
Specific - clearly state what will be done.
Measurable - how will the goal be measured?
Achievable - it’s realistic.
Relevant - the goal should align with your overall objectives and be meaningful in your life or work. It should make sense and contribute to something bigger than itself.
Time-bound
Let’s use weight loss as an example. Instead of “I will lose weight,” a S.M.A.R.T. goal may look like “I will drop one dress size by October 1.” This goal is specific and measurable (1 dress size); it’s achievable (not too aggressive); it’s time-bound (by October 1). In terms of relevance, it must be meaningful to YOU (no one else).
Once you’ve arrived at your S.M.A.R.T. goal, it’s time to determine your why.
Ask yourself: “Why is this goal important to me?” Write that down. Then, ask “Why?” up to 5 times to get to the emotional driver behind it.
Using the example above of losing a dress size, the "why" exercise may go something like this:
Why? So I look good for my class reunion.
Why? Because my ex-boyfriend will be there.
Why? It will make me confident.
Why? Confidence will feel like a win.
Why? When I feel good about myself, it will transend into all areas of life.
Now, let’s talk about planning. A goal without a plan is a wish. So, it becomes important to map out the plan.
What needs to happen weekly? What habit can you start with, then continue to stack?
I supplied each workshop participant with a goal tracker and suggested they enter in a few things they will commit to doing each week that will lead to achieving their goal.
This is something I do for the gym each quarter. I set a few projects (i.e. goals). The final week of the quarter is where I achieve the goal and I work backwards, entering in weekly activities I will commit to in order to get there.
In terms of accountability, we closed the session by each sharing our goal and our why to the group. There is power in putting it out in the universe and I was inspired by everyone in the group. I am so excited to see these people CRUSH their 3-month goal!
Whether you were in the room or not, here’s the takeaway: small goals, stacked habits, and the right mindset will take you way farther than a 30-day challenge ever will. Find your “why,” make a plan, and tell someone who will hold you to it. Notice, celebrate - and document - the small wins along the way.
Progress isn’t about perfection. It’s about movement. And if you’re on the path—you’re already succeeding.
