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[The Six Simple Steps to Achieve Any Goal]-[How to Achieve Any Goal You Have in 6 Simple Steps]

The Mel Robbins Podcast · B2 · 2025-01-06

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📋 Summary

The Science of Goal Achievement: A Proven Formula

In this episode of the Mel Robbins Podcast, Mel Robbins breaks down her personal, decade-tested formula for achieving any goal. Whether your ambition is as small as staying hydrated or as massive as launching a global podcast, the methodology remains the same. Robbins argues that most people fail not because they lack capability, but because they lack a systematic, repeatable process.

1. Decide What You Want

The first and most critical step is to clearly define your goal. Robbins makes a vital distinction between a dream and a goal: "A dream is something you can imagine... a goal is something you achieve." A dream exists only in your heart and mind, whereas a goal is grounded in reality. To succeed, you must move from thinking to doing. Furthermore, you must define how to measure success. If you cannot measure it—for example, by having a specific bank balance to indicate financial freedom or holding a finished manuscript in your hands—it remains a mere wish.

2. Write It Down

Writing your goal on physical paper is an act of defiance against ambiguity. Robbins explains the concept of "external storage," noting that physically documenting your goals helps the brain prioritize them. By writing down your goal, you trigger a process called encoding, which signals to your hippocampus that this information is important for long-term memory. This acts as a filter for your brain, helping you spot opportunities related to your goal that you would otherwise ignore.

3. Find the Formula

Many people fail because they insist on reinventing the wheel to feel "original." Robbins insists that you should "steal" the formulas that already work. For every ambition—whether it is starting a business, losing weight, or becoming a public speaker—someone else has already paved the path. By researching and following the existing blueprint, you save time and energy. As Robbins puts it, "Formulas work," and you will inevitably add your own personal touch regardless of the path you follow.

4. Do the Reps

This is the most unglamorous, boring, and tedious step, yet it is the differentiator between success and failure. Robbins quotes business coach Jeff Walker, emphasizing that greatness is made in the "boring, tedious, annoying actions" you take daily. To combat the natural human tendency to avoid pain, Robbins suggests using an "implementation intention" (writing down exactly when and where you will perform the task) and the "Five Second Rule" (counting 5-4-3-2-1 to bypass hesitation). Acknowledging that a task will be difficult actually lowers your psychological resistance to it.

5. Make It Fun and Easy

Once you have established the habit of doing the reps, you must optimize your environment to ensure consistency. This involves creating systems—such as laying out your gym clothes the night before or setting visual reminders—to remove the decision-making burden. Drawing from James Clear’s Atomic Habits, Robbins notes that you will "rise or fall to the level of your systems." By simplifying your environment, you make the difficult work feel more manageable.

6. Don’t Quit

Finally, Robbins stresses that perseverance is the ultimate secret to success. She admits that during the process of writing her book, The Let Them Theory, she wanted to stop countless times. However, she highlights that success is not defined by the days you perform perfectly, but by your ability to return to your routine after you have fallen off track. If you are on the verge of quitting, Robbins advises returning to step one: redefine what you want. If you are committed, keep doing the reps.

Ultimately, Robbins concludes that there is no magic shortcut. By defining your goal, finding the formula, doing the tedious work, and refusing to quit, you can achieve extraordinary results.

🎯Key Sentences

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I literally screwed myself over.
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I went around and around and around and around.
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There is absolutely nothing glamorous about achieving your goals.
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It's a giant pain in the ass, honestly.
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📝Key Phrases

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break down the science
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take the time to
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critical distinction
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get something on lock
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ground it in the real world
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📖 Transcript

Hey, it's your friend Mel and welcome to the Mel Robbins podcast.
You know, this time of year, I get a ton of questions about goal setting and goal achievement.
And so today I have decided to teach you how to achieve any goal that you have in six simple steps.
Now, these are the six simple steps that I follow and I follow these for tiny goals, whether it's I just want to drink more water, that's a goal of mine, or they're massively ambitious goals like the goal that I had when I launched the Mel Robbins podcast of being one of the top podcasts in the world,
which thanks to your support, we now are.
And so today I am breaking down the science and more importantly, I am giving you the six simple steps that you can follow to achieve absolutely any goal.

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