RAISING YOUR STANDARDS

If you want a better life, raise your standards. It’s not flashy. It’s not always fun. But it’s the foundation of every long-term win. Goals will get you started, but standards are what keep you going. When you expect more of yourself—and back it up with action—you don’t just improve. You transform.

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In a world full of distractions and excuses, raising your standards is one of the most powerful decisions you can make. Your standards determine your direction, define your behavior, and directly shape your results. In short: your standards are the foundation of your effort.

So let’s ask the real question: Are you living by the standards you expect of others? More importantly—are you living by the standards you expect of yourself?

WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO RAISE YOUR STANDARDS?

Raising your standards means upgrading your baseline expectations—of your work ethic, your mindset, your discipline, and your behavior. It’s the conscious choice to demand more of yourself, not because of ego, but because you know you’re capable of more.

"You will never outperform your self-image. Raise your standards and your identity will follow." — Ed Mylett

This isn’t about being perfect. It’s about being intentional. It’s about identifying what you’re currently tolerating that no longer serves you and deciding to expect better—from yourself first.

Raising your standards doesn’t require radical life changes overnight. It’s about the daily choices that add up. It’s about showing up when no one’s watching and putting in the work even when it’s inconvenient.

WHO DO YOU ADMIRE—AND WHY?

To raise your standards, start by reflecting on those who inspire you:

Is it a mentor, a parent, an athlete, an entrepreneur?

What qualities in them spark admiration?

Is it their discipline, their patience, their consistency, or their resilience?

Now ask: Which of those qualities can you begin applying to your own life? What are they doing that you know you’re capable of doing—but maybe haven’t committed to yet?

"The difference between a successful person and others is not a lack of strength or knowledge, but a lack of will." — Vince Lombardi

We tend to admire people who reflect the standards we secretly wish we had the courage to live by. That’s your compass. Let admiration become inspiration.

THE SELF-AUDIT: WHERE ARE YOUR STANDARDS TODAY?

Take a moment to reflect:

• What does your daily effort look like?
• Are you showing up the way you expect others to?
• Are you consistent in your planning, execution, and follow-through?
• Where are you making excuses?

If your answer is shaky, that’s not failure—it’s awareness. And awareness is the first step to real growth.

Low standards hide in plain sight. They show up as:

• Repeated procrastination
• Settling for mediocre outcomes
• Excusing behaviors you wouldn’t accept from others
• Saying “yes” to everything and protecting nothing

If any of these resonate, it may be time for a reset.

THE STANDARD IS THE STANDARD

One of the most powerful leadership mantras is: “The Standard is the Standard.” It means holding yourself to the same bar you set for others. No exceptions. No excuses.

“You don’t rise to the level of your goals. You fall to the level of your systems—and your standards are the root of those systems.” — James Clear, Atomic Habits

Your standards are the invisible force behind your systems, habits, and results. The higher the standard, the fewer the excuses. High standards reduce negotiation with yourself. They provide clarity, direction, and consistency.

This is supported by research showing that individuals with adaptive high personal standards (as opposed to perfectionistic or unrealistic ones) demonstrate greater motivation, stronger follow-through, and improved performance in both academic and personal growth contexts. In other words, setting ambitious—but healthy—expectations push people to strive rather than stall (Science Publishing Group, 2013).

WHY HIGH STANDARDS CREATE BETTER RESULTS

High standards aren’t about perfectionism. They’re about performance. When you raise your expectations, you:

• Cut through noise and focus on what really matters
• Set better boundaries, so you stop wasting time on low-value tasks
• Build trust with yourself and others through reliability
• Feel more fulfilled, because you know you’re doing work that reflects your true potential

“Discipline is the bridge between goals and accomplishment.” — Jim Rohn

People notice when you hold yourself to a higher bar. Whether you're leading a team, building a brand, or growing personally, high standards become your reputation.

What’s more, the Pygmalion effect—a psychological phenomenon—demonstrates that we tend to live up to the expectations we set for ourselves or others set for us. High standards not only create better behaviors, they also create better self-belief. When you expect more, you tend to deliver more.

HOW TO BEGIN RAISING YOUR STANDARDS

1. Identify What You’ve Been Tolerating                                              What habits, behaviors, or relationships are quietly dragging you down? What have you accepted that no longer reflects your best?
2. Define What Excellence Looks Like for You                                    What does “better” look like in your work, relationships, and personal habits? Write it down.
3. Align Your Behavior with Your Vision                                            Raising standards only works when you back them with action. Choose one area to level up today.
4. Be Authentic—Not Idealistic                                                                  You don’t need to become someone else. Your standards should elevate your strengths, not turn you into a perfectionist robot. Stay real. Stay grounded.
5. Reevaluate Often                                                                                    Check in regularly. Your standards should evolve as you grow. What served you last year might not serve you now.
6. Find Accountability                                                                                    Let others know what you’re working on. Surround yourself with people who challenge, not coddle you. Iron sharpens iron.
7. Rebuild When You Slip                                                                      Nobody is perfect. You will fall short at times. The key is to recognize it quickly, course correct and get back on track without shame.

STANDARDS VS. GOALS: KNOW THE DIFFERENCE

Goals are outcomes. Standards are the consistent behaviors that make those outcomes inevitable.

Goal: Run a marathon.

• Standard: Train four times a week, regardless of motivation.

Goal: Hit $100K in sales.

• Standard: Make five client calls daily, no matter what.

When your standards are high, goals take care of themselves.

FINAL REFLECTION

Everyone is unique. We can’t be anyone other than our true, authentic selves. But we can ask more of ourselves. We can demand better. We can build lives and careers on standards that elevate—not limit—our potential.

If you want peak performance, balance, and purpose, don’t start with goals. Start with your standards. Because:

THE STANDARD IS THE STANDARD!

Ready to level up? Join our community of high performers by subscribing to the Follow Your Effort newsletter. Each week, we deliver tools and strategies to help you raise your standards and stay focused on what matters most. Click Here to Join.

Source & References:

James Clear, Atomic Habits (2018)

Ed Mylett, The Power of One More (2022)

University of Chicago. The Psychology of Self-Discipline and Effort Standards (2020)

Science Publishing Group. Perfectionism and Academic Motivation (2013)