Systems, Not Goals, Determine Your Success

I’ve thought about and have implemented change in organizations for over two decades now. If you’ve read my posts before, you’ll know I’m a change agent. I also believe that change for the sake of change is never, ever a good idea. One of the things I talk to clients about all the time is setting meaningful and measurable goals to reach their success. In my context, it’s marketing goals. Marketing goals are driven by business goals. If your marketing goals don’t support your business goals, then your marketing goals are pointless.

But here’s the kicker I’ve learned over the years—and something that’s become even clearer in the hybrid, tech-driven world of 2025: goals alone don’t cut it. You can set all the lofty targets you want, but without a system to back them up, you’re just dreaming with extra steps. James Clear nailed it in Atomic Habits when he said, “You don’t rise to the level of your goals; you fall to the level of your systems.” That’s stuck with me, and it’s truer now than ever.

Where Do You Go From Here?

In your business, you likely have a whole slew of objectives you’re trying to achieve. You’ve probably set goals big and small. You might have even adopted a framework to run your business like EOS (still my preference) or eMyth—both of which remain rock-solid approaches in 2025. But here’s where the rubber meets the road: in the end, you have to build a system or set of processes that will help you create consistent behaviors. Set yourself up for continued success by forcing the behaviors required for success.

Take it one step at a time. You got this. But let’s make it real for today’s world. Since I first wrote this in 2022, we’ve seen businesses adapt in ways we couldn’t have predicted—hybrid work models, AI everywhere, and digital transformation on steroids. Systems aren’t just about discipline now; they’re about leveraging tools and staying agile. For example, look at a company like Zapier. They’ve thrived post-pandemic by building automated workflows that tie their remote team together—think syncing Slack updates with Monday.com tasks or triggering email campaigns via HubSpot without anyone lifting a finger. That’s a system driving success, not a goal scribbled on a whiteboard.

Modern Tools for Modern Systems

In 2025, the toolbox for building effective systems has leveled up. You’ve still got timeless frameworks like EOS for operational clarity or eMyth for process mastery, but now there’s a new layer—tools like HubSpot, an AI-powered CRM that not only tracks customer interactions but predicts behavior to keep your marketing aligned with business goals. Pair that with platforms like ClickUp for seamless project management or marketing game-changers like Jasper for content creation and Klaviyo for automated email flows, and you’ve got options that didn’t exist in 2022. The magic isn’t in the tech itself—it’s in how tools like HubSpot help you craft systems that drive consistent, repeatable behaviors. Whether you’re at the office, working from home, or sipping coffee in Bali, these systems ensure your success isn’t a fluke but a habit, supporting your business objectives one predictable step at a time.

A Nod to Today’s Reality

The world’s shifted since the pandemic haze of 2022. Hybrid work isn’t a trend anymore; it’s the norm. Businesses that thrived built systems to adapt—think daily Zoom check-ins tied to Asana boards or virtual brainstorming sessions feeding into Miro. Goals like “increase revenue by 20%” are great, but they’re meaningless unless you’ve got a system—like a weekly sales review synced with real-time analytics from Tableau—to make it happen.

And if you want a fresh read to pair with Atomic Habits, check out The Power of Ritual by Casper ter Kuile (2023). It’s not a business book per se, but it digs into how repeatable actions—systems, essentially—shape outcomes. Same vibe, new lens.

Keep It Simple, Keep It Consistent

You don’t need to overhaul everything overnight. Start small. Maybe it’s automating your social media posts with Buffer or setting up a recurring team huddle to align marketing with business objectives. The beauty of systems is they scale with you. 

You can learn more about this concept by reading “Strategic thinking requires tactical understanding”

In addition to this process of moving through our marketing process, we also have systems in place for how we fulfill marketing. Many are technical systems. I am a big fan of HubSpot for marketing. It provides a great methodology + technical resources to be far more effective in our marketing efforts.

Where Do You Go From Here?

In your business, you likely have a whole slew of objectives you are trying to achieve. You have probably set goals big and small. You might have even adopted a framework from others to run your business like EOS (my preference) or eMyth.

In the end, you have to build a system or set of processes that will help you create consistent behaviors. Set yourself up for continued success by forcing the behaviors required for success.

Take it one step at a time.

You got this.

So, set your goals—big, audacious ones if you want—but don’t stop there. Build the system to get you there. One step at a time. You’ve still got this.