Identity First: A Better Way to Set New Year's Goals
"Every action you take is a vote for the type of person you wish to become." - James Clear
What if I told you that most New Year's resolutions fail not because of a lack of willpower, but because we're approaching them backward?
Before you dive in: If you prefer listening over reading, I’ve turned this post into a podcast using Google Notebook LLM.
How many times have you started January with a list of goals - "lose 30 pounds," "read 50 books," "start a business" - only to find yourself back in old patterns by February?
The problem is we focus on what we want to achieve instead of who we want to become.
This insight from James Clear's "Atomic Habits" (which I highly recommend reading before the new year) completely changed how I think about goal setting:
I learned from Clear that lasting change starts with identity.
Instead of starting with "What do I want to accomplish?" start with "Who do I want to become?"
Let me explain why this matters.
When you tie your goals to your identity, you're no longer just trying to force a new behavior. You're becoming a different person. The actions naturally follow who you believe yourself to be.
Think about these two statements and the difference between them:
- "I want to run a marathon" (outcome-based)
- "I am a runner" (identity-based)
The first person might skip training when it's raining because they're focused on a distant goal. The second person runs in the rain because that's what runners do. It's not about the outcome; it's about being consistent with their identity.
As I reflected on this principle, I realized that at every stage of my life where I had a little success, it wasn’t about what I wanted to accomplish – it was about who I wanted to be. When I was at Florida State, I vowed to be a great teammate regardless of what that meant for me. My job was to be the best teammate I could be, and I took that identity seriously which led to me earning a scholarship after a long arduous journey.
Here's how to apply this identity-first approach this week as you approach 2025:
Start with Identity
Instead of "I want to write a book," declare "I am a writer."
Instead of "I want to get fit," embrace "I am an athlete."
Instead of "I want to start a business," claim "I am an entrepreneur."
Let Your New Identity Guide Your Actions
Ask yourself: "What would [identity] do?"
What would a writer do? They'd write daily.
What would an athlete do? They'd prioritize training and nutrition.
What would an entrepreneur do? They'd study markets and take calculated risks.
Start Small, But Be Consistent
Small actions that align with your chosen identity are more powerful than ambitious goals that don't stick.
Every time you follow through, you're reinforcing your new identity.
I love this identity-first approach because it truly embodies all three elements of success that we talk about here at Anchored Ambition:
Awareness: Understanding who you want to become
Mindfulness: Being present with your daily choices
Perseverance: Consistently acting in alignment with your identity
As you think about 2025, don't start with a list of goals. Start with these questions:
- Who do I want to become?
- What identity would make my goals inevitable?
- What small actions can I take today that align with this identity?
And if you haven't read "Atomic Habits" by James Clear, I strongly recommend picking it up and starting it before the new year. It's a game-changer for understanding how identity shapes behavior and how to build systems to supercharge your habits.
Remember, the goal isn't to change your life in a day. It's to slowly build a new identity through consistent, aligned actions.
Who will you become in 2025?
"Every action you take is a vote for the type of person you wish to become." - James Clear
Stay Anchored. Stay Ambitious and Happy New Year!