goal setting

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January 13, 2023

Why Discipline Beats Motivation Every Time

Motivation comes and goes. Discipline stays. Every one of us has experienced the excitement of setting a new goal only to lose motivation days or weeks later. That's why discipline—not motivation—is the real key to long-term success. The good news is that discipline and willpower can both be strengthened through consistent practice. In this guide, you'll learn why discipline beats motivation, how willpower actually works, and practical ways to become more consistent in every area of life.

January 6, 2023

How to Make an Effective To-Do List That Increases Productivity

Almost everyone has a to-do list—whether it's written on paper, stored in an app, or floating around in their head. The problem isn't usually having too many things to do. It's knowing what deserves your attention first. A good to-do list isn't simply a collection of tasks. It's a decision-making tool. It helps reduce mental clutter, prioritize meaningful work, and keep important responsibilities from slipping through the cracks. Over the years, I've developed a simple system that helps me stay organized without overcomplicating the process. In this guide, I'll show you how I build my daily to-do lists, the mistakes that make most lists ineffective, and why one small habit has consistently made me more productive.

December 12, 2022

Why You’re Not Achieving Your Goals (And How to Fix It)

Everyone has goals. Maybe you want to get healthier, advance your career, grow a business, improve your finances, or spend more time with your family. Setting a goal is exciting because it gives you something meaningful to work toward. But setting a goal and achieving it are two very different things. Many people assume they simply need more motivation or willpower. In reality, the biggest obstacles are often much more practical. Vague goals, inconsistent habits, unrealistic expectations, and a lack of accountability can quietly prevent even the most motivated people from making progress. If you've ever wondered why you're not achieving your goals, you're not alone. In this guide, we'll explore the most common reasons goals fail and the practical strategies you can use to start making consistent progress.

November 30, 2022

The Productivity System I Use as an Engineer (That Works at Home Too)

For years I've worked as an engineer while balancing marriage, raising three children, writing this website, exercising, and pursuing hobbies like piano. People occasionally ask how I stay productive without constantly feeling overwhelmed. The answer isn't that I'm naturally organized or that I have endless energy. It's that I've gradually built a simple productivity system centered on priorities rather than perfection. Over time I've realized productivity isn't about getting everything done. It's about consistently making progress on the things that matter most. Here's the framework I use both at work and at home.

November 14, 2022

The Hidden Barrier Between You and Success

Many people assume the biggest obstacles to success come from outside themselves—a difficult boss, lack of opportunity, limited resources, or bad timing. While those challenges certainly exist, I've found that the most persistent barrier is often internal. We hesitate to begin, wait for permission, avoid honest self-reflection, or postpone action until we feel completely ready. Over time I've realized that progress usually begins when we stop waiting for someone else to unlock the door and start taking responsibility for walking through it ourselves.

May 6, 2022

3 Mindset Shifts That Made Me More Successful Over Time

Success is often portrayed as a dramatic breakthrough: a big promotion, a successful business launch, a published book, or a major financial milestone. In reality, most success is much quieter. It is built through small decisions repeated consistently over time. The willingness to keep going when progress feels slow. The ability to tolerate discomfort. The readiness to act when opportunities appear. Over the years, I've noticed three mindset shifts that repeatedly helped me make progress in my career, finances, personal goals, and creative pursuits. None of them are complicated, but each has proven surprisingly effective.

April 15, 2019

Bonnie Clark on Literary Agents, Picture Books, and Traditional Publishing

Picture book author Bonnie Clark joined me to discuss her debut children's book, TASTE YOUR WORDS, working with literary agent Adria Goetz, balancing writing with parenting, overcoming rejection, and navigating the traditional publishing process. Whether you're pursuing traditional publishing or simply trying to finish your next manuscript, her journey offers valuable lessons on persistence, creativity, and long-term growth.

December 31, 2017

Why “New Year, New You” Fails (And What Actually Works Instead)

Every January millions of people decide this will finally be the year everything changes. They buy gym memberships. Start diets. Purchase planners. Create ambitious goals. And within weeks, many are right back where they started. The problem isn't a lack of desire. It's believing lasting change comes from one big decision instead of hundreds of small ones. Becoming a better version of yourself doesn't happen because the calendar changes. It happens because your daily habits do.