New year, same trap: why resolutions fail (and what to do instead)

It’s that time of year again. The gyms are about to get crowded, the self-help books are flying off the shelves, and we’re all making promises to ourselves that, statistically, most of us won't keep past February.


"I'll lose 20 pounds." "I'll read more." "I'll be more confident."


The problem with New Year's Resolutions is that they focus on outcomes without addressing the one thing that actually drives lasting change: your identity.


You don't just want to "lose weight." You want to become the kind of person who prioritizes their health.


You don't just want to "be more confident." You want to become the kind of person who acts with courage and builds competence.


See the difference?


A resolution is a temporary goal. An identity shift is a permanent upgrade.


Instead of making a list of resolutions this year, I challenge you to do something more powerful. Ask yourself one question: "Who am I choosing to become?"

• What does that man value?

• How does he act, not when it's easy, but when it's hard?

• What small, consistent habits does he practice every day?


This isn't about a "New Year, New You." It's about a "New Year, Real You." It’s about stripping away the expectations and the old scripts and deliberately building an identity grounded in your own values.


Forget the resolution to "go to the gym." Embody the identity of a man who takes care of his body.


Forget the resolution to "ask for a raise." Embody the identity of a man who knows his worth and advocates for himself.


This identity-first approach is the secret to making change stick. It's not about what you do; it's about who you become.

Badasses aren't born, they're built. So let's get to work.

Be a Badass Man is your blueprint for lasting change, built on identity, not resolutions.