Why You’re Still Not Successful (Even Though You Know Exactly What To Do)

Why Should You Write Down Your Goals?

I’m not talking about your New Years Resolutions here. I’m talking about getting out a sheet of paper no matter if it’s January or July, and writing down your goals. Research by Gail Matthews at Dominican University found that people who wrote down their goals accomplished significantly more than people who did not.  

When you’re writing down your goals, be very specific! Locke and Latham’s review of 35 years of goal-setting research found that specific, difficult goals consistently produced better performance than vague ‘do your best’ goals. Don’t just say you want to make “more” money. Technically, if you make just one dollar more than you made last year, that’s “more” money. 

What specific amount of money do you want? Instead of writing that your goal is to make six figures by next year, write down that you want to make $100k, 200k, or whatever amount you have in mind. 

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Key Takeaways

• Knowledge without execution does not create results. Knowing what to do matters only when actions are assigned to a time, target, and deadline.
• Written goals work best when they are specific and measurable. A clear outcome, process goal, and activity target make progress visible, actionable, and easier to adjust.
• Accountability starts with pattern tracking. Repeated choices around pricing, work, relationships, spending, or avoidance reveal the behavior that keeps producing the same result.
• Motivation cannot carry a long-term goal by itself. Calendar blocks, weekly commitments, public promises, and reduced friction create follow-through when enthusiasm fades or discomfort appears.
• Self-investment needs an applied return. A course, coach, book, tool, or workshop becomes valuable only when it changes your behavior, strengthens a useful skill, increases your earning power, or improves a measurable result.

Why Am I Still Not Successful Even Though I Know What to Do?

You may still be unsuccessful because knowledge does not create results until it changes your repeated behavior. Most people are not missing information. They are missing a clear system for turning a goal into scheduled actions, measurable targets, deadlines, and accountability.

The gap usually stays open because motivation is treated as the plan. Progress becomes more likely when you track the patterns producing your current results, remove friction from the right actions, and review what you actually completed each week.

Success is not built by knowing more. It is built by repeatedly doing the few actions that move the goal forward, then adjusting the system when your behavior or results show that it is not working.

Don’t be afraid to dream big when it comes to your goals. If you really want to make over one million dollars a year, don’t write down that you want to make $100k a year because it sounds more realistic.  

There are plenty of people out there making well over six figures a year, and I guarantee those people are no smarter than you are. The only difference is those people took action to reach their goals, and you haven’t.

After you write down the exact goal, put a deadline on your goal. For example, write down that you want to make $100k by December 31st, 2018. A goal without a deadline is just a dream.   

• What if your boss asked you to complete a project, but didn’t give you a deadline for its completion?
• How long would it take you to finish? About 5% of you would probably bust your ass to get it done, but most of you probably won’t ever complete the project.   
• Ever notice when you have a deadline of 2 weeks or 2 months to finish something, it takes you that exact amount of time to complete it?

Putting a date on your goal will make this something concrete in your mind, and it will also fuel your fire to make it happen. 

Why Does Your Goal Matter to You?

Now, it’s time to put some emotion behind your goal.  After you have a deadline on your goal, start to think of the great things that can happen once you’ve met your goal.

• If your goal is to make more money, what will you do with that money?
• Will you pay off your student loans, upgrade your living situation, or take your kids on a trip? 
• Do you want to make enough money so your spouse doesn’t have to work anymore? 
• Maybe your goal is to complete your degree so your mom can finally watch you walk across that stage.

Whatever reason you may have for wanting your goal, be sure to write those down. 

Emotion is the secret sauce that will kick your success into high gear.

Why Does Taking Responsibility Change Your Results?

This is a big one. People who never take responsibility for their actions will never be successful.   

I repeat.

If you don’t take responsibility for the results you’ve gotten out of life due to YOUR actions, you will NEVER be successful. We all know someone who enters failed relationship after failed relationship, and always has some type of drama going on in their lives.   

After each failed relationship, they tell you some story of woe and despair about how the other person “did them wrong”, or how the other person was an asshole. 

I’ve had both men and women come to me for coaching, telling me how they keep ending up with liars, cheaters, assholes, etc. Unfortunately, I have to tell these people the bitter truth. 

They’re the ones who chose to date these people.

• If you’re working in a job paying shitty wages, YOU’RE the one who agreed to work there.
• If you’re complaining about being in debt up to your eyeballs, you’re the one who chose to spend money you didn’t have.

People who think this way choose to think that life just HAPPENS to them, and they never realize that they are responsible for what happens in their life.

• Once you take accountability for your actions, this is a game changer.
• Once you realize that YOU’RE responsible for the results in your life, you should also realize that you’re the only one who can change things. 

All of this may sound harsh, but look at it this way.  Now that you know you’re responsible for the results of your life, it should also come as a relief that you can also change things for the better. 

Instead of thinking that you have to wait for your boss to give you a raise, you should now feel empowered to go out and get a higher-paying job instead of sitting around waiting on someone else to do something. 

When you take responsibility and realize that you’ve been choosing to date losers, you understand that it’s entirely up to you to raise your standards when it comes to dating.

Stop blaming others for your lack of success and starting figuring out what you need to do in order to shake things up.

Why Does Investing in Yourself Matter?

People are always fearful when it comes to “investing” their money. If they’re thinking about investing their money in stocks, a business, or some other venture, they’re always fearful of losing their money. 

Even with that being said, these same people who throw their money into something where they have no control will refuse to invest any money in themselves. 

Investing in yourself is one of the few things you actually have control over! When you invest money in yourself, you have complete control over the return on that investment.

The only time people seem to be gung-ho about investing in themselves is when they borrow ridiculous amounts of money to go to college. These same people will invest tens of thousands of dollars on an undergrad degree, but they won’t pay a couple hundred dollars to work with a career coach. 

People will spend almost $100,000 on an MBA in the HOPES of landing a better job, but won’t pay $200 for a professional to write their resume. People have been investing in bitcoin like crazy, but a lot of these same people scoff at the idea of paying $50 for a book to learn about investing in real estate.

Investing in yourself is the absolute BEST investment you will ever make because it has the highest rate of return. One of the absolute best investments I ever made was a 3 day seminar on NLP.

As a natural introvert, learning how to communicate with people better has paid many dividends, and it’s been incredible for my coaching business.

• You can invest in yourself in lots of different ways. If you want to become better at speaking, you can pay for a speaking course or attend Toastmasters.    
• You can start reading more books, attending workshops and conferences,  or hire a coach. By investing in yourself, you’re sending a powerful message to yourself  that you truly believe in your ability to succeed.

What Is the Execution Gap?

You don’t have a knowledge problem.

You have an execution problem.

You already know you should:

• Set clear goals
• Take responsibility
• Invest in yourself

And yet… nothing changes.

That gap between knowing and doing is where most people stay stuck.

Example:

You know you should raise your prices.
You’ve known for a year.
You’ve even talked about it.

But your prices are still the same.

That’s the execution gap.

A business coach won’t just ask what your goals are.
They’ll look at what you actually did last week. And what you avoided.

Because success is built on behavior, not intentions.

Why Do Goals Need a System?

Writing down your goals is a start.

But goals alone don’t produce results.

You need a system that forces action.

Here’s what that actually looks like:

• Outcome goal: “Make $100K this year”
• Process goal: “Close 3 clients per month”
• Activity target: “Book 10 sales calls per week”

Now you have something measurable.

Now you can track it.

Now you can adjust it.

Without this, you end up with goals that sound good but don’t change your behavior.

Real example:

Someone says they want to make more money.
But they aren’t tracking:

• Outreach
• Conversations
• Conversions

So nothing improves.

A performance coach will ignore your big goal and go straight to your weekly numbers.

Because that’s where success is actually built.

Why Is Motivation Not Enough?

You’ve probably told yourself you just need more motivation.

That’s not true.

Motivation is unreliable.

It shows up when things feel good.
It disappears when things get uncomfortable.

That’s why people start strong and then fade.

What actually works is structure.

Example:

Person A waits to “feel ready” to reach out to clients.
They do it twice a week.

Person B schedules 5 outreach blocks in their calendar every week.
They do it no matter what.

Guess who wins.

The difference is not motivation.
It’s commitment built into the schedule.

Simple tools that work:

• Pre-booked time blocks
• Non-negotiable weekly targets
• Public commitments

A coach won’t hype you up.
They’ll help you build a structure you can’t easily escape.

How Do You Track the Patterns Holding You Back?

Taking responsibility isn’t just saying “it’s my fault.”

It’s identifying the patterns you keep repeating.

Because the same behavior will always produce the same result.

Look at this:

• You keep dating the same type of person
• You keep undercharging your services
• You keep staying in jobs that don’t grow you

That’s not bad luck.

That’s a pattern.

And patterns are predictable.

Example:

A coach comes in saying, “All my clients are difficult.”

But when you look closer:

• They don’t set boundaries
• They overdeliver
• They avoid hard conversations

The result is baked in.

Once you see the pattern, you can change it.

A relationship or mindset coach will point out what you can’t see.
Not just what happened. But what you keep doing.

Why Do Deadlines Improve Follow-Through?

Ever heard of Parkinson’s Law? C. Northcote Parkinson introduced the principle in a 1955 essay published in The Economist.

Work expands to fill the time you give it.

That’s why a task with a 2-week deadline takes 2 weeks.
And the same task can get done in 2 days if it has to.

Without a deadline, things drift.

You think about them.
You plan them.
You don’t finish them.

With a deadline, you prioritize.

Example:

No deadline → “I’ll update my website soon.”
With a deadline → “Website goes live Friday at 5pm.”

Very different behavior.

If you struggle to follow through:

• Set shorter deadlines than feel comfortable
• Tell someone else your deadline
• Attach a consequence if you miss it

A productivity coach will tighten your timelines on purpose.

Because urgency creates action.

When Does Investing in Yourself Pay Off?

A lot of people “invest in themselves.”

Courses. Books. Programs.

But nothing changes.

Because they consume information instead of applying it.

Real investment has a return.

Example:

• $300 resume rewrite → $8K salary increase
• $1,000 coaching program → 2 new clients per month
• $50 book → one idea that changes how you sell

That’s ROI.

Now compare that to:

• Buying courses you never finish
• Watching videos you don’t implement
• Taking notes you never use

That’s not investment.
That’s avoidance disguised as progress.

The best investments:

• Change how you behave
• Increase how you earn
• Compound over time

A career or business coach will push you to apply, not just learn.

Because applied knowledge is the only thing that pays.

How Does Your Environment Shape Your Results?

You think success is about discipline.

It’s not.

It’s about environment.

Your environment either makes things easier… or harder than they need to be.

Example:

You want more clients.

But:

• Your booking link is buried
• Your offers aren’t clear
• People have to message you back and forth

That friction kills action.

Now compare that to:

• One-click booking
• Clear offers
• Simple next steps

Completely different result.

Same effort. Different setup.

Another example:

You want to save money.
But your paycheck goes into one account and gets spent automatically.

Versus:

Money gets moved to savings the moment you’re paid.

No decision required.

The best setups remove friction and make the right action the default.

This is why structured systems work so well.

When clients can see their progress, track goals, and stay engaged between sessions, they stick around longer and get better results .

Because the environment is doing part of the work.

A good coach doesn’t just change your mindset.
They help you redesign your setup so success becomes easier to follow through on.

Where LCH Core Fits

Execution improves when the next action is visible, trackable, and connected to the rest of your coaching workflow. For coaches, that means replacing scattered reminders, notes, forms, and client follow-up with one repeatable operating system.

LCH Core brings appointment scheduling, onboarding, client notes, goals, action items, progress tracking, and reusable workflows into one dashboard. It does not do the work for you. It gives you a clearer environment for turning commitments into completed actions and keeping client follow-through visible.

Start with one simple workflow. Book the session, onboard the client, record the goal, assign the next action, and review progress. A system you use every week is more valuable than a complicated stack you keep postponing.

Frequently Asked Questions About the Execution Gap

Why do I know what to do but still not do it?

You know what to do but still do not act because the information has not been converted into a repeatable behavior. Define the next action, schedule it, and make completion measurable.

How do I close the gap between knowing and doing?

Close the execution gap by choosing one outcome, one weekly target, and one review point. Track completed actions instead of intentions, then adjust the system based on what actually happened.

Does writing down goals really help?

Yes, writing down goals can improve goal achievement, especially when it is paired with action commitments and accountability. Gail Matthews’s Dominican University study found that participants who wrote their goals accomplished significantly more than participants who kept their goals unwritten.

What is the difference between a goal and a system?

A goal defines the result, while a system defines the repeated actions that produce it. “Make $100,000” is a goal. Weekly outreach, sales calls, follow-up, and conversion tracking form the system.

Why is motivation not enough for success?

Motivation is not enough because it changes with mood, energy, and discomfort. A calendar, clear targets, and a low-friction environment keep action moving when motivation drops.

How do deadlines improve follow-through?

Deadlines improve follow-through by forcing prioritization and turning an open-ended intention into a time-bound commitment. Shorter deadlines also reveal which steps are essential and which are unnecessary.

When is investing in yourself worth it?

Investing in yourself is worth it when the purchase produces an applied change in skill, behavior, earning power, or measurable results. Consuming information without implementing it does not produce a return.

Can a coach help close the execution gap?

Yes, a coach can help close the execution gap by challenging avoidance, identifying repeated patterns, setting measurable commitments, and reviewing follow-through. Coaching works best when insight is connected to action and accountability.

If you’re struggling with feeling stuck and you know you aren’t living up to your true potential, let’s work together and figure out what’s holding you back from success!

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Need some in depth help with manifesting? Drop on by our directories choc full of Law of Attraction coaches and NLP coaches, and start bringing your visualisations to life! Or click here to have us match you to the best.

Sources

Locke, Edwin A., and Gary P. Latham. “Building a Practically Useful Theory of Goal Setting and Task Motivation: A 35-Year Odyssey.” American Psychologist, vol. 57, no. 9, 2002, pp. 705-717. PubMed, https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/12237980/.

Matthews, Gail. “The Impact of Commitment, Accountability, and Written Goals on Goal Achievement.” 87th Convention of the Western Psychological Association, 2007. Dominican Scholar, https://scholar.dominican.edu/psychology-faculty-conference-presentations/3/.

Parkinson, C. Northcote. Parkinson’s Law, and Other Studies in Administration. Houghton Mifflin, 1957. Eötvös Loránd University, https://sas2.elte.hu/tg/ptorv/Parkinson-s-Law.pdf.