How to Achieve Your Goals in 2025: Focus on Inputs, Not Just Outputs

Happy New Year!

The start of a new year always brings thoughts of resolutions and goals. Whether or not you call them “resolutions,” what do you want to achieve this year? If you haven’t thought about it yet, take a moment to reflect. Once you’ve identified your goal, declare it to the world.

Let me share mine with you:I’ve decided to run 3 Spartan races in 2025—a 5k in March, a 10k in May, and a 21k in June. Am I excited? Absolutely! Am I a little nervous? You bet. Running has always been a challenge for me, so these races will push me beyond my comfort zone. This blog post is me declaring my commitment to the world. 😀

To make sure I follow through, I’ve already purchased entry into all three races. The financial commitment and public declaration ensure I won’t quit—and I promise to share updates along the way. (By the way, let me know if you want to join me!) 🏃

Right now, my training involves a lot of run-walk-run intervals. It’s humbling but also incredibly rewarding. Along the way, I’ve realized that setting fitness goals has a lot in common with setting business goals. Here’s why:

Setting a Goal Is the Easy Part

Deciding to run three Spartan races was simple. But focusing solely on the end result—the races themselves—won’t get me across the finish line. Goals, whether in fitness or business, are the outputs of many smaller inputs.

For instance, if your goal is to grow your business revenue by $500k this year, that’s great… but how will you make it happen? You need to map out the specific steps you’ll take—the inputs—that will lead to that output.

Identify Your Inputs

In my case, the inputs are my daily and weekly runs, workouts, and training plans. These are the small, consistent actions that will prepare me for the Spartan races.

For your business goal, consider:

How much are you willing to invest to achieve your desired growth?

What specific strategies or actions will you take to get there?

For example, growing by $500k might mean investing $75k (15% of revenue) in marketing, training, or tools. If that number feels intimidating, good. Growth often requires taking calculated risks.

Measure Your Inputs

Success isn’t accidental. It’s intentional. Those who achieve their goals this year will be the ones who plan and measure their inputs. Map out the actions you need to take daily, weekly, and monthly to get closer to your goal. Then, track your progress.

Declare Your Goals and Commit

When you’ve identified your goals and inputs, share them with others. Declaring your intentions makes you accountable and motivates you to stay on track.

So, what do you want to achieve in 2025? Declare it, plan your inputs, and take action. Remember: success isn’t about luck. It’s about intentional effort. What steps will you take to reach your goals this year?

-Ryan Lee

# goal setting, New Year resolutions, achieving goals, Spartan races, business planning, success tips, intentional living #