Why Ambition Might Be Killing Your Progress
"You do not rise to the level of your goals. You fall to the level of your systems.” – James Clear
If you’re a man in midlife, chances are you’ve built a life on ambition. It’s how you climbed the career ladder, built a family, or achieved any big goal.
Ambition feels good. It makes you feel like you’re chasing greatness.
But here’s the hard truth: When it comes to health and fitness, ambition can be a trap.
I’ve seen it with so many clients. They set goals that sound impressive:
👉 “I’m going to work out 6 days a week”
👉 “I’m going to overhaul my diet completely starting Monday.”
For the first couple of weeks, they’re on fire 🔥.
They’re crushing workouts, prepping meals, and feeling unstoppable.
Then life happens. Work deadlines hit. Family demands ramp up. Motivation dips.
Suddenly, that "big ambitious goal" that felt so good to declare becomes a weight on their back. They miss a session or two. Guilt creeps in. They tell themselves, "I’ve failed again." And before they know it, they’re back to square one.
What If Ambition Isn't the Answer?
A lot of men think the solution to their health struggles is to try harder.
Push more.
Do more.
Be more ambitious.
But what if the opposite is true?
What if your health transformation doesn’t require "more" but less?
Less pressure.
Less perfectionism.
Less chasing goals that are so big they collapse under their own weight.
The most successful clients I’ve worked with aren’t the ones who set the most ambitious goals. They’re the ones who set realistic, repeatable goals that they can sustain through the ups and downs of life.
A Simple Story About Sustainable Change
One of my clients (let’s call him Mike) came to me after years of on-again, off-again attempts to get fit.
He’d start strong, working out 5-6 times a week, only to burn out after 3 weeks.
He thought the problem was his “lack of discipline.”
We decided to try something different.
I asked him:
👉 “How many times a week do you feel you can consistent train. Not how many you want to train, but how many you feel is sustainable right now in your life?”
He thought for a moment and said, “I think I can consistently do 4 session per week.”
So that became his goal—not 5 workouts, not 6, but 4 workouts.
👉 “If we were to set this as a goal, how many weeks are you willing to commit to?”
He thought for a moment and said, “Let’s try 12weeks to start.”
It didn’t feel "ambitious" to him. In fact, he questioned it. “Are you sure this is enough?” he asked me.
Fast forward to week 11, and he sent me a message.
He was winning. Not just winning—thriving.
He was consistent for 11 straight weeks. He was feeling stronger, more energetic, and more confident than he had in years.
And then, like clockwork, that old ambition crept in.
👉 “Should I bump it up to 5 sessions a week?” he asked me.
I replied with a question of my own: “Why?”
He paused. I asked him, “What’s working right now? Why would you break a system that’s finally working?”
Instead of chasing “more,” we decided to look at other areas of his health that could be improved—like sleep.
We set a new goal for him to be in bed by 10 pm five nights a week. It didn’t feel "ambitious," but I asked him again: “When was the last time you went to bed at 10 pm for 12 weeks straight?”
He laughed, realising the answer was, "Never."
When Is It Enough?
Many men in midlife are caught in a cycle of "not enough." They tell themselves:
4 workouts isn’t enough, I should do 5.
Sleeping by 10 pm isn’t enough, I should do more.
Losing 5 lbs isn’t enough, I should lose 15.
Here’s the truth: Enough is enough.
The goal isn’t to max out your ambition. The goal is to build habits that stick. Habits you can sustain when work is crazy, when the kids are sick, or when motivation dips. Habits that compound over time, just like interest in a savings account.
James Clear says it best:
“Goals are good for setting a direction, but systems are best for making progress.”
You can set a goal to lose 20 lbs, but if you don’t have a system to show up consistently, that goal will stay out of reach.
Systems aren't sexy, but they work.
Ambition vs. Progress
There’s a difference between ambition and progress. Ambition wants everything right now. Progress is built on small, steady wins.
Think about it like this: Which is more powerful?
One massive win, once in a while?
Or small wins, stacked one on top of another, week after week?
I’ll take small wins every time. Why?
Because small wins compound. They add up.
And eventually, they become unstoppable momentum.
Ambition will make you feel like you’re "not doing enough." But progress reminds you that small moves make big changes over time.
How to Set "Unambitious" Goals That Deliver Big Results
If you want to stop chasing goals and start building real health and fitness momentum, here’s how:
Ask yourself this question: “When was the last time I did this consistently for 12 weeks straight?” If the answer is "never" or "I can't remember," that’s a clear sign you’re setting the wrong goal. Focus on something you can actually do—not for a week, but for 12 weeks.
Start with a goal so simple, it feels boring.Can you commit to 4 workouts a week? Can you go to bed at 10 pm 4 nights a week? It might not feel "ambitious," but you’re not chasing ambition—you’re chasing consistency.
Track small wins and celebrate them.Small wins matter. They create momentum. Each week that you show up, you’re proving to yourself that you can be consistent. And that belief is worth more than any "big ambitious goal."
Ask, “What’s working right now?” and protect it.If something is working—like 4 workouts a week—don’t break it. The goal isn’t to max out, it’s to create a system that can survive the storms of life.
Stop Chasing Ambition, Start Chasing Consistency
If you take one thing from this blog post, let it be this: Ambition is overrated. Consistency is king.
You don’t need to overhaul your life overnight. You don’t need to max out your workout schedule or do something “impressive” just to feel accomplished. You just need a system that works—something you can do not for 7 days, but for 12 weeks, 12 months, and beyond.
If you’re feeling like you’re “not doing enough,” pause. Ask yourself:
Am I being consistent?
Is this system working for me?
When was the last time I stuck to something for 12 weeks?
Because maybe, just maybe, “not doing enough” is actually doing exactly what you need to do.
James Clear said it best:
“Habits are the compound interest of self-improvement.”
The small, boring, repeatable stuff might not feel ambitious—but that’s the stuff that changes everything.
So, stop chasing the thrill of ambition.
Chase the quiet, steady power of consistency.
It’s not flashy, but it works. And isn’t that what you really want?
Ready to focus on sustainable success instead of short-term ambition?
Check out our FREE Reclaim Your Edge course, and let’s build your system.
