Because you’re not stuck. You’re just settling.
Most people don’t need a new goal.
They need a new standard.
You’ve probably heard the phrase: “If you want better results, do better.” But RYS flips that on its head: If you want better results, expect more from yourself. Raise Your Standard.
It’s not about ambition porn or motivational quotes on a coffee mug.
It’s about the quiet, unrelenting decision to stop accepting mediocrity in any form — from yourself, your habits, your environment, your team.
The Standard Is the System
Standards aren’t goals. Goals are what you want.
Standards are what you refuse to live below.
A goal says, “I want to write a book this year.”
A standard says, “I write 500 words every morning, no matter what.”
A goal says, “I want a better body.”
A standard says, “I don’t eat junk when I’m stressed.”
A goal says, “I want to grow my company.”
A standard says, “We don’t ship half-baked features or ghost our customers.”
When your standard rises, your default changes. You don’t need willpower every time. You’ve hardwired the new baseline.
But Isn’t That Exhausting?
No. What’s exhausting is negotiating with yourself daily —
Should I go for a run? Should I take that call? Should I finish this deck?
When your standard is clear, there’s no negotiation. There’s just execution. And freedom.
The tiredness most of us feel isn’t from overwork.
It’s from under-commitment. From standing in the middle of the road, unsure.
RYS Isn’t a Hack. It’s an Identity Shift.
Ask yourself:
“What am I tolerating that’s clearly below my potential?”
It could be the people you allow around you.
The way you spend your evenings.
How you show up to meetings.
What you accept as ‘good enough’ in your work.
Raise Your Standard is not a rallying cry for perfectionism.
It’s a reset button.
It’s a personal revolution.
It says: I’m done being okay with things that drain me, bore me, or dilute me.
I choose quality — not just in results, but in process.
Start Small. But Start.
- Don’t aim to wake up at 5am. Start with no snoozing.
- Don’t vow to build a billion-dollar company. Start with responding to every email like it matters.
- Don’t fantasize about a six-pack. Start with not lying to yourself about your diet.
The details don’t matter as much as the stance.
So the next time you’re tempted to make a to-do list, pause.
Ask instead: “What is the standard I want to live by today?”
And then?
RYS. Every damn time.