The Truth About Long-Term Results: It’s Not What You Think

In over 20 years of coaching, one thing has remained constant: the people who get the best results aren’t necessarily the most talented, the strongest, or even the most motivated. They’re the ones who show up. Week in, week out. Rain or shine. The ones who stay consistent over a long period of time.

If you’ve followed any of my work over the years, you’ll know this is something I hammer home often, because it’s true. Consistency beats intensity, every time.

Now, I get it. When you’re looking to make big, life-changing progress, whether it’s in fitness, mindset, or any area of your life, it’s tempting to set huge, ambitious goals. And don’t get me wrong, having a big target in mind can be useful. But it’s not what actually gets you there.

The real magic? It’s in the process. It’s in the daily habits. It’s in setting small, achievable goals that stack up over time.

Here’s the problem with focusing all your energy on one massive goal: the second you miss a session, take a week off for holiday, or life just gets in the way, it can feel like you’ve failed. That feeling? It can be enough to knock people off track completely. And suddenly, that big goal becomes something you’ll “start again next month” or “once things calm down.”

A better approach is this: set the big, audacious goal—then park it. Write it down, store it away, and only revisit it every few months. Let it guide your direction, but not your day-to-day decisions.

Instead, shift your focus to what you can control today. Build rock-solid habits. Set goals so small they almost feel too easy. Then repeat them. Over and over again. Aim to get just 1% better each day. Because over time, those 1% gains add up to something massive.

Remember: long-term results don’t come from short bursts of motivation. They come from doing the work, consistently, especially on the days you don’t feel like it.

Thanks for reading,

Mark.