November 26, 2025
Research suggests that 92% of people who set goals never achieve them. Why is this? And what actually works?
Research suggests that around 92% of people who set goals never achieve them.
That's not a typo. Nine out of ten people who sit down, write out their goals, and genuinely intend to change their lives… don't.
If you've ever abandoned a goal halfway through, you're not weak. You're not lazy. You're just human. And the problem isn't you—it's how most of us have been taught to pursue goals in the first place.
Let's talk about why goals fail, and more importantly, what actually works.
Most people treat goal-setting as a private activity. Write it in a journal. Keep it to yourself. Maybe tell one person if you're feeling brave.
The problem? Isolation kills motivation.
When no one knows what you're working toward, there's no one to notice if you stop. No one to cheer you on when it gets hard. No one to ask, "Hey, how's that thing going?"
We're social creatures. We evolved to achieve things together—hunting, building, surviving. Somewhere along the way, we started believing that self-improvement should be a solo journey.
It shouldn't.
"Lose 20kg." "Write a book." "Get promoted."
These are fine goals. But they're also enormous, vague, and months (or years) away from completion.
When your finish line is that distant, your brain struggles to connect today's effort with tomorrow's reward. So you procrastinate. You lose momentum. You forget why you started.
Big goals need to be broken down into smaller wins. Not because you can't handle the big picture—but because your brain needs proof that progress is happening.
Most goal-setting advice focuses on the destination. The "after" photo. The promotion. The marathon medal.
But the journey itself? Often thankless.
Without meaningful rewards along the way, motivation becomes a willpower game. And willpower is a limited resource. Eventually, it runs out—usually around week three.
The good news? Decades of psychology research have shown us what does work. And it's not complicated.
A study from the American Society of Training and Development found that you have a 65% chance of completing a goal if you commit to someone else. If you have a specific accountability appointment with that person, your chances jump to 95%.
That's not a small improvement. That's the difference between failing and succeeding.
When someone else is invested in your goal—when they're paying attention, checking in, cheering you on—you show up differently. You don't want to let them down. And you don't want to let yourself down in front of them.
Psychologists call this "chunking." Instead of one massive goal, you create a series of smaller targets. Each one is achievable. Each one gives you a sense of progress.
This isn't just about organisation. It's about dopamine.
Every time you hit a milestone, your brain releases a small hit of reward. That keeps you motivated for the next one. It's how habits form and how momentum builds.
Extrinsic motivation gets a bad rap. We're told to find our "intrinsic why" and let that carry us.
But here's the truth: intrinsic motivation isn't always enough—especially when the goal is hard, boring, or months away from paying off.
Rewards work. Not because they replace your internal drive, but because they supplement it. They give you something to look forward to when the finish line feels too far away.
The key is making the rewards meaningful. A dinner out. A weekend away. A gift from someone who matters. The more personal, the better.
Let's say your goal is to run a 5K.
The old way:
A better way:
The reason most people fail their goals isn't a lack of ambition or discipline. It's a lack of support.
We've been sold this myth that achievement is a solo sport. That asking for help is weakness. That the only person who can push you forward is yourself.
But the research disagrees. And so does common sense.
Think about any major accomplishment in your life. Chances are, someone was there—supporting you, encouraging you, holding you accountable.
Goals don't have to be lonely. In fact, they work better when they're not.
Huddel was built around a simple idea: you're more likely to achieve your goals when the people who care about you are part of the journey.
With Huddel, you set your goals, break them into milestones, and invite supporters—friends, family, mentors, anyone who wants to see you succeed. They follow your progress, send encouragement, and can even attach rewards to your milestones.
It's goal-setting the way it should be: together.
If you're tired of chasing goals alone, give it a try.
