6 Simple Steps to Achieve Any Goal (Yes, Even the Hard Ones)
“Two roads diverged in a wood, and I— I took the one less traveled by, And that has made all the difference.”
After listening to Mel Robbins' latest podcast episode on goal achievement, I had to share these insights with you. If you're tired of setting goals that never happen, or making resolutions that fade by February, this is for you.
1. Get Real With Yourself
The first question seems simple: What do you want?
But here's where most people get stuck. They have vague ideas like "feel better" or "get healthy." That's not enough.
What do you REALLY want? Be specific.
Think about it:
Instead of "lose weight," try "I want to climb stairs without getting winded"
Instead of "eat better," try "I want to wake up with energy and maintain it all day"
Instead of "reduce stress," try "I want to sleep through the night without anxiety"
The more specific you are, the clearer your path becomes.
2. Put It On Paper
Here's something fascinating: Research shows that writing down your goal transforms it from a dream floating in your head to something real. But there's more to it than just scribbling words on paper.
You need two things:
1. A clear vision of what success looks like
2. A way to measure progress
For example:
Instead of "I want to feel better," write:
"I want to wake up without back pain and have enough energy to play with my kids after work.”
I'll know I'm successful when I can:
Get out of bed without stiffness
Work a full day without fatigue
Spend 30 minutes playing actively with my kids
Go to bed feeling accomplished, not exhausted
3. Find The Formula
Here's the good news: Someone has already achieved what you want. Find them. Study their path. Don't reinvent the wheel - just add your own spin to a proven formula.
How to find your formula:
Follow experts in your field on social media
Read books by people who've succeeded
Listen to relevant podcasts and take notes
Join online communities focused on your goal
Find local groups or classes
But here's the key: Look for people who started where you are.
For example:
If your goal is to reduce chronic pain:
Talk to others who've found relief
Ask what worked (and what didn't)
Find out which practitioners helped them
Learn about their daily habits
Understand their timeline for improvement
If you want to improve your nutrition:
Study people who've maintained healthy eating long-term
Note their shopping habits
Learn their meal prep routines
Understand how they handle social situations
See how they bounced back from setbacks
Remember: You don't need to follow anyone's path exactly. The goal is to learn from their experience and adapt it to your life. Take what works, leave what doesn't.
4. Do The Work (The Part Most People Skip)
This is where most goals die. But here are three powerful tools to keep you going:
Tool 1: The 5-Second Rule - (Mel Robbins' game-changer)
When you feel resistance, count backward: 5-4-3-2-1, then move. This interrupts your brain's habit of overthinking and procrastinating. It works because it bypasses your feelings and gets you into action.
Tool 2: Schedule Your Reps
Be ridiculously specific. Instead of "I'll exercise more," write:
"I will do 7-minute HIIT workouts every day at 7 AM in my basement."
The magic happens when you remove all wiggle room. Your brain needs to know exactly what to do, when to do it, and where it's happening.
Tool 3: The "But I'm Doing It Anyway" Technique
Research shows this works wonders. When resistance hits, say:
"I really don't want to work out today because I'm tired and just want to sleep, BUT... I'M GOING TO DO IT ANYWAY."
This acknowledges your feelings while reinforcing your commitment. It's like telling your excuses, "I hear you, but you're not in charge."
5. Make It Easy On Yourself
Success isn't about willpower - it's about setting up your environment for success. Think of it as laying out breadcrumbs for your future self.
Simple environmental changes:
Put your vitamins next to your coffee maker
Keep your workout clothes by your bed
Prep healthy snacks at eye level in your fridge
Set daily reminders that pop up at decision-making moments
Create a morning routine that flows naturally
The key is to reduce friction. Make the healthy choice the easy choice.
Accountability helps too:
Find a workout buddy
Share your goal with someone who'll check in
Book sessions in advance
Put money on the line
Track your progress visually
6. Don't Quit (This Is Everything)
As Tom Brady says, "The truth is you don't have to be special. You just have to be what most people aren't: consistent, determined, and willing to work for it."
Or as bestselling author Jeff Walker puts it in Mel Robbins' book "Let Them": "Success is about putting in the reps. This means...you have to show up every day and do the boring, irritating, and uncomfortable work. You've got to put in the reps."
No one is coming to save you. Your success starts with one step, followed by another, and another. Just keep walking.
Want to dive deeper into these concepts? Check out Mel's full podcast episode here:
Ready to start?
Go to step one and get super clear on what it is you REALLY want!
We’re here to help and cheer you on every step of the way. 👣📣