Take running, for example. If you’ve never run before and I told you to go run 10 miles tomorrow, what do you think would happen? You might actually complete it through sheer willpower, but I can almost guarantee you won’t want to run again anytime soon. Your body would be in pain, your mind would associate running with suffering, and that ambitious goal would backfire completely.
The Problem with Overambitious Starts
I’ve coached countless entrepreneurs and professionals who fall into this trap. They get excited about a new habit or skill, set an impossibly high standard from day one, and then feel like failures when they can’t sustain it. This approach is fundamentally flawed.
When we set the bar too high initially, several things happen:
- We experience physical or mental burnout
- We associate the activity with pain or struggle
- We create a negative feedback loop that discourages continuation
- We reinforce the belief that we “can’t do it”
This pattern doesn’t just apply to fitness goals. I’ve seen it in business launches, learning new skills, relationship building, and virtually every area where personal growth is involved.
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The Power of Lowering the Bar
My approach is radically different: lower the bar. This might sound counterintuitive in a culture obsessed with hustle and massive action, but it’s the secret to sustainable change.
For running, I don’t tell people to run 10 miles. I don’t even tell them to run one mile. My advice? “Put on your gym shoes, dude. That’s all.”
This minimal first step accomplishes something crucial – it gets you started without resistance. Once your shoes are on, you might decide to walk to the end of the driveway. Once there, you might walk around the block. Maybe you jog for 30 seconds. The point is, you’ve begun the process without the overwhelming pressure that leads to avoidance.
Lower the bar.
These two words contain more wisdom than most lengthy motivational speeches. By setting the initial bar so low that it’s almost impossible to fail, you:
- Build momentum through small wins
- Create positive associations with the activity
- Establish consistency before intensity
- Develop sustainable habits that actually stick
The psychology behind this approach is sound. Each time you complete even a tiny step, your brain registers success. These small victories release dopamine, reinforcing your desire to continue. Before long, you’re not just putting on your shoes – you’re running regularly because you’ve built up gradually without the trauma of an overly ambitious start.
Applying This Wisdom Beyond Fitness
I apply this “lower the bar” philosophy to every area of life where change is desired. Want to write a book? Don’t commit to writing 2,000 words daily – just open your laptop and write one sentence. Want to improve your diet? Don’t overhaul everything at once – just add one vegetable to your next meal.
The key is understanding that sustainable change happens through consistent small actions, not occasional heroic efforts. I’ve used this approach to build multiple successful businesses, develop healthy habits, and help others achieve their goals without the burnout and disappointment that typically accompanies change attempts.
So if you’re standing at the starting line of any new endeavor, remember my advice: lower the bar. Make it so easy to start that you can’t say no. Put on your gym shoes. Open the book. Write one line of code. Take one small step.
The distance between where you are and where you want to be isn’t crossed in a single bound – it’s traveled through thousands of tiny steps that, over time, create remarkable progress. Start small, be consistent, and watch as those minimal efforts compound into life-changing results.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Isn’t setting high goals important for motivation?
High goals are important for direction, but not necessarily for daily action. I recommend having ambitious long-term visions while setting extremely achievable short-term actions. This combination provides both inspiration and the practical pathway to get there without burning out.
Q: How do I know if I’m setting the bar too low?
If you’re consistently doing the minimum action and nothing more, you might need to gradually raise the bar. The ideal “low bar” is one that gets you started but naturally leads to doing more once you’re in motion. The key is that you’re building consistency first, then gradually increasing intensity.
Q: Won’t progress be too slow with this approach?
Initially, it might seem slow compared to an all-out effort. However, sustainable progress over months and years will far outpace the stop-start pattern most people experience. Remember that most people who try to run 10 miles on day one end up running 0 miles for the next several months. Slow, consistent progress wins every time.
Q: How do I apply this to business goals?
Break down your business objectives into minimal viable actions. Instead of trying to launch a perfect product, create the simplest version that works. Rather than cold-calling 50 prospects in a day, commit to just one call daily. The compound effect of these small, consistent actions will drive substantial business growth without the burnout that plagues many entrepreneurs.
Q: When should I increase the difficulty level?
Increase the challenge only after the current level feels comfortable and automatic. This usually happens naturally – once putting on your running shoes becomes a habit, you’ll likely want to walk around the block. Once that’s comfortable, a short jog might follow. Let your body and mind tell you when they’re ready for more, rather than forcing progression based on arbitrary timelines.
