Stop Moving the Goalpost: The Secret to Long-Term Progress
hitting a goal should be a moment of celebration, not a reason to immediately raise the bar and move on to the next challenge. But too often, people kick the goalpost down the field—never stopping to acknowledge progress, always chasing more.
This creates the “gap” effect—where success is never enough, and you’re constantly measuring yourself against where you want to be instead of appreciating how far you’ve come.
Why This Hurts Your Progress
Constantly chasing the next milestone isn’t just exhausting—it’s a recipe for burnout and dissatisfaction. If you’re never satisfied with hitting a goal and always moving the target, you’ll never feel like you’ve “made it.”
And if you never feel like you’ve succeeded, what’s the point of all the work?
What to Do Instead
- When you hit a goal, hit it again. If you deadlift 315 for the first time, don’t immediately chase 365. Own 315. Get comfortable there. Make it solid.
- Appreciate the progress. Look back at where you started. Your “average” now was once your dream.
- Set a maintenance phase. Not every phase needs to be about leveling up. Sometimes, just holding the line is the real victory.
The Bottom Line
Long-term success comes from consistency, not endless chasing. Learn to appreciate what you’ve achieved, reinforce it, and build from there. Otherwise, you’ll spend your whole life running toward a finish line that keeps moving.
Hit the goal. Keep hitting it. Stay in the game.
Anyone else totally guilty of this like me?
Tim
P.S. Here are 3 ways we can help:
- Book a free no sweat intro here to come into the gym so we can talk more about you and your goals.
- Join our free Facebook Group Strength Training & Weight Loss Tips That Work here.
- Subscribe to our podcast on your favorite streaming platform:
