To The Point - Home Services Podcast

Episode Summary: Goal Setting 2026

Host: Chris (RYNO Strategic Solutions)
Date: December 30, 2025

Episode Overview

In this annual goal-setting special, host Chris shares his hard-earned insights into not just setting, but accomplishing goals for 2026. Tailored for home service professionals (HVAC, plumbing, electrical, roofing, etc.), the episode blends personal anecdotes, research, and actionable frameworks to help listeners drive real change in their business and personal lives. Chris's focus: goal setting is easy—goal achieving is where most people stumble, and that’s what this episode aims to fix.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

The Difference Between Goal Setting and Goal Accomplishing

• Setting goals is only the beginning. The real challenge—and the area where most fail—is in execution and achievement.

  “Setting the goals is the easiest part. Accomplishing them, that’s the hard part, and that’s where most fail.” (Chris, 03:45)

Categories of Goals

Chris encourages listeners to set and balance goals across these key areas:

• Personal & Family Goals: vacations, marriage/date nights, learning a skill, experiences with kids.
• Business & Professional Goals: revenue targets, career advancement, networking, new skills/certifications.
• Health Goals: physical fitness, diet, mental health, rest/self-care.
• Spiritual/Religious Goals: meditation, prayer, journaling, reading scriptures, giving back.

(See “Create Goal Categories” at [26:24]-[33:22])

Notable Research: The Power of Writing Down Goals

• Shares the classic story from Sarah Blakely (founder of Spanx) on the impact of writing down goals:

  “Only 5% had written them down. In 1993, 20 years later... the 5% who actually wrote down their goals were worth more financially than the other 95% who didn’t.” (Chris quoting Sarah Blakely, 08:55)

Common Pitfalls in Goal Setting ([13:00])

• Weak “Why”: If your motivation isn’t strong, you’ll abandon your goals on tough days.
• Thinking "of" vs. "from" your goals: Imagine yourself already at that finish line; act from that place.
• Wrong Tense: Write goals as if they’re already achieved: “I’m glad I ____,” not “I’m going to ______.”

The Five Rules of Goal Accomplishment

1. If You Fail to Plan, You Are Planning to Fail ([14:39])
   • Make your plan actionable and realistic; avoid “winging it.”
2. Reflect on Goals You’ve Already Achieved ([16:12])
   • Chase the “accomplishment” feeling and review wins to fuel new progress.
3. Create Habits (Four Stages of Habit Formation) ([18:54])
   • Cue: A prompt that triggers the process.
     • Examples: tattoos as reminders, putting notes on your mirror, songs that spark memories.
   • Craving: The desire or motivation the cue creates.
     • Example: Vision boards, inspirational office quotes.
   • Response: The action you take toward the goal.
     • Example: Actually eating the salad, starting the workout, making the sales call.
   • Reward: The payoff, which reinforces the habit.

     “If a behavior is not rewarding, it’s unlikely to become a habit....You need those ongoing checkpoints.” (Chris, 23:40)

   • Pro Tip: Make progress visual—checklists, vision boards, visible cues.
4. Create Goal Categories ([26:24])
   • Family/Personal: Make these the most important. Only pick the few that matter most.
   • Business/Professional: Use specific, measurable outcomes.
   • Health: Small, consistent changes over time.
   • Spiritual/Religious: Create routines for inner fulfillment.
   • Non-negotiables: Identify the vital few; give them the most energy and keep them visible.

     “Your non-negotiables will only work if your why is strong enough.” (Chris, 34:15)

5. Find an Accountability Partner ([35:06])
   • Social media ≠ accountability.
   • Seek someone who “isn’t afraid to hurt your feelings or push you.”

     “The odds of you holding yourself accountable all the time are pretty slim unless you’re a fucking unicorn...” (Chris, 35:10)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Writing Goals:

  “Writing them down, that’s half the battle, right? Goal setting is the easiest part. Achieving the goals is the hard part.” (Chris, 09:12)

• On Making Progress Visual:

  “Put [your goals] on your mirror...in your car, at your desk, on your desktop...somewhere you’ll see it every single day to trigger the first step, and that is the cue.” (Chris, 25:20)

• On Non-Negotiables:

  “You gotta have non negotiables in place... Refuse to do anything other than what drives you to that goal because it’s a non-negotiable.” (Chris, 32:45)

• On Accountability:

  “Find somebody who’s okay with pushing back on you, who’s not afraid to hurt your feelings... because they actually care about you and know who you are.” (Chris, 35:18)

• Final Rally Cry:

  “Go kick some fucking ass this year. Destroy these goals. Celebrate the wins along the way... No. Zero. Days.” (Chris, 37:40)

Time-stamped Guide to Key Segments

| Segment | Topic | Timestamp | |-----------------------------------|--------------------------------------------------------------------|------------| | Episode opening & context | Thanks & personal check-in, why goal accomplishment matters | 00:01-06:30| | Story: Writing down goals | Sarah Blakely/Harvard study anecdote | 08:55-10:34| | Common goal-setting pitfalls | Weak why, wrong mindset/tense | 13:00-13:48| | Rule 1: Plan or fail | Actionable planning is essential | 14:39 | | Rule 2: Reflect on wins | Chase accomplishment feelings, reflect on goal progress | 16:12 | | Rule 3: Habit Formation | 4 stages: Cue, Craving, Response, Reward | 18:54-26:24| | Rule 4: Goal Categories | Family/personal, business, health, spiritual—for balance | 26:24-33:22| | Non-negotiables & specificity | Decide what’s vital, be specific, track visually | 33:22-34:47| | Rule 5: Accountability partner | Why & how to get real accountability support | 35:06-36:10| | Final recap & closing motivation | Summary of the five rules/steps, motivation for 2026 | 36:10-end |

Tone, Style, and Energy

Chris’s delivery mixes tough love, humor, and realness—peppered with home service specific references, personal stories, and a direct, no-BS approach. The episode is both motivating and actionable, built for contractors who want to move beyond vague resolutions and actually crush their goals in 2026.

TL;DR

• Write your goals down—make them visible and specific.
• Categorize goals for balance: personal, business, health, spiritual.
• Build habits using the Loop: cue, craving, response, reward.
• Prioritize non-negotiables and track checkpoints for motivation.
• Focus on your “why.” Reflect, adjust, and celebrate wins.
• Get a real, honest accountability partner.
• No. Zero. Days.

Chris:

“Go crush your goals. You don’t gotta do everything, but you gotta set some goals—and then accomplish them.” (37:54)