Here’s the truth about goal-setting: You don’t need any special tips, secret hacks, or “never-before-seen” loopholes that “magically” unlock your potential. Success is simpler than that. In fact, it’s so simple that the plain-spoken truth actually turns people away.

Most are looking for the “latest” and “up-to-the-minute” discovery to get success fast.

You won’t find that here. Instead, I will give you proven, time-honored principles in a few simple steps backed by real-life examples that support my claims. With that being said, here are 3 ways to achieve your goals.

1. Commit To The Process

Commitment gets a lot of lip service.

People like the idea of committing to something more than the act itself. And this is obvious when you look at the data. A 2016 study by the University of Delaware revealed that 90% of people fail to achieve their goals.

We all know the old New Year’s Resolutions trope.

People get excited about making big changes, but after the first month or two, they give up on their ambitions and themselves. Why? They lack commitment; they haven’t truly decided to go all in.

So, what does it mean to actually commit, then?

It means you give yourself no choice but to follow through; you burn the boats behind you and make success your only option. Out of the 3 ways to achieve your goals, this first step is the most critical.

Joe De Sena

Joe De Sena, founder and CEO of the Death Race and Spartan, is a great example.

He embodies tough-minded commitment. In the early 2010s, when Joe was developing Spartan (an obstacle race organization), he faced stiff competition. Crossfit was becoming popular, and his rival, Tough Mudder, was taking a huge share of the market.

“They were eating our lunch,” Joe said in a podcast interview with Joe Pompliano.

Joe then committed to becoming bigger and expanding faster than his competition.

He did this by moving his family to Asia, Canada, and other parts of the world in an effort to build the Spartan brand.

Because of his grit and unwavering commitment, Joe bought out his biggest rival, Tough Mudder, in 2019, transforming Spartan into one of the world’s largest and most dominant obstacle race organizations.

Joe is an eye-opening example of the power of commitment.

You must sacrifice to achieve your goals by giving yourself no option but to follow through and succeed. That’s what it means to truly commit.

2. Create An Empowering Narrative

Another one of the 3 ways to achieve your goals is to create an empowering narrative.

You have to shift the story that’s playing between your ears. Your inner dialogue is either an asset or a liability. If you don’t take control of the narrative you tell yourself, achieving your goals will be more difficult than it needs to be.

Your story influences your perception, identity, and actions.

David Goggins

David Goggins is the epitome of developing an empowering narrative.

A retired U.S. Navy SEAL, ultramarathon runner, triathlete, and public speaker, Goggins came from nothing. He grew up in a broken home with an abusive father, failed throughout his school years, and was incredibly insecure and overweight.

It wasn’t until he shifted the story he told himself about himself that his life began to change.

He began asking himself a simple question: “What if… ”

As Goggins himself put it, “What if I could lose 100 lbs in 3 months? What if I could be the 36th African American Navy SEAL? What if I could go from being a fat, insecure motherf*cker to one of the best guys on planet Earth?”

This internal dialogue created a massive shift in Goggins’ mentality.

It transformed him from an overweight cockroach exterminator to a celebrated athlete and one of the world’s most influential figures. And the best part is that you can use this same tactic to awaken a stronger, better, and more determined version of yourself.

Start by questioning your limitations. Ask yourself what’s possible. Remind yourself of old achievements to ignite new possibilities.

Fuel your mind with an empowering story that unleashes the best in you.

3. Find Your Cornerman

In boxing, a cornerman is like a boxer’s coach.

The cornerman provides support and strategic feedback to their fighter. This setup can help the boxer gain the advantage—and ultimately—win the fight. Think of your cornerman as the support system that will hold you up when obstacles try to pin you down.

Here’s the deal…

On the path to achieving your goals, life will light you up. You’re going to get hit with an onslaught of difficulties and challenges. What’s worse, many of these setbacks will be unexpected, even unfair.

For this reason, you need the right people around you—you need your cornerman.

Serena Williams

Serena Williams is one the best examples of having that support system.

As one of the most decorated athletes of all time, Serena (along with her sister Venus) dominated women’s tennis for over two decades. But there was a “secret” to Serena’s success that people rarely talk about: Her cornermen, aka, the coaches in her life. And it all started with a modest, almost unassuming team: her parents.

Serena’s parents (Oracene Price and Richard Williams) were her first coaches.

They instilled in her the values of hard work, grit, and the desire to win. Since then, Senera’s support system has grown to encompass some of the world’s best tennis coaches, including Patrick Mouratogl (in the image above), Rick Macy, and Sascha Bajin.

What lesson can you take away from Serena’s example? Find your cornermen (or cornerwomen).

Your support system guides you through the process, allowing you to reach your goals much quicker and more efficiently than you ever could on your own.

In Conclusion

These 3 ways to achieve your goals are your foundation. They will give you a leg up when it comes to reaching your aims in life. For this reason, they are essential aspects of the process. And the best part is that once you’ve built momentum with these foundational pieces in place, everything else becomes easier as a direct result.

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