Perfectionism can look like high standards, but it can quietly become the reason we never start or stop when life gets messy. In Episode 9 of The Long Climb, John Davis and Alan Rosales talk about how perfectionism affects discipline, routines, workouts, content creation, and everyday goals. They break down the all-or-nothing mindset, why chasing 100% leads to burnout, and how flexibility can help you stay consistent when your original plan falls apart. They also explore the difference between giving yourself grace and making excuses, the value of having a Plan B, and why progress with less effort is still better than quitting altogether.

What if the reason we struggle to reach our goals isn't because we don't know what to do—but because we're focused on the goal instead of the person we need to become?

In Episode 8 of The Long Climb Podcast, we explore identity-based habits and the difference between chasing an outcome and building an identity that naturally produces that outcome.

Instead of only asking, “What do I want to accomplish?” we ask a different question:

“Who would I have to become for this behavior to feel like who I am?”

We discuss how identity shapes our habits, why motivation alone often isn't enough, how small repeated actions become evidence of who we believe we are, and why lasting change may require us to stop obsessing over the finish line.

The goal isn't simply to achieve something.

It's to become someone who can create—and sustain—the result.

If you're working toward better health, greater consistency, a career change, stronger relationships, financial goals, or simply becoming a more intentional version of yourself, this conversation is for you.

Question for you:
Who are you becoming—and do your current habits provide evidence of that identity?

Subscribe to The Long Climb Podcast for conversations about identity, purpose, growth, consistency and what it actually takes to become the person you say you want to be.

#TheLongClimb #IdentityBasedHabits #Habits #PersonalGrowth #Consistency #Identity #SelfDevelopment #Discipline #Purpose

John Davis and Alan Rosales discuss the difference between goals and personal non-negotiables: goals are things you want, while non-negotiables are commitments you have already decided to keep. Through personal examples involving routines, workouts, running, eating habits, parenting, faith, and entrepreneurship, they explore how small, specific, visible, and meaningful boundaries can support consistency when motivation fades. The episode closes with a practical invitation: choose one non-negotiable, write it down, keep it visible, and return to it after a lapse. Consistency, discipline, growth, one step at a time.