If you want to achieve your goals faster and with greater consistency, start here: be specific. The Law of Specification is one of the most powerful tools for success I’ve ever taught or used—and it works in every area of your life and leadership. In short, when your goals are clear, your path becomes clear. And once that happens, everything changes.
Let’s talk about how.
Why 94% of People Fail to Become Better
What the Research Reveals About Goal Failure
In my research, published in the Open Journal of Social Sciences, I studied over 1,000 U.S. participants and what they did after setting New Year’s resolutions. By February, 94% had already abandoned their goals.
The reason wasn’t laziness. It wasn’t a lack of motivation. It was a lack of clarity.
Vague intentions like “get healthier” or “be a better leader” sound good—but they don’t give your brain a roadmap. So your brain defaults to old habits, old paths, and ultimately, old results.
What the 6% Do Differently
The remaining 6%? They think differently. They behave differently. They succeed differently.
They don’t set goals—they specify them. Instead of vague ambitions, they define the exact steps, timeline, and outcomes they want. They use the Law of Specification—a method I’ve taught to top-performing teams around the world, from Fortune 500 executives to frontline managers—and it works.
Because specificity isn’t a detail. It’s the difference between wishing and winning.
The Law of Specification Explained
Your Brain’s Default Mode vs New Habits
Think of your brain like a seasoned hiker. It loves the familiar trail, even if that trail doesn’t lead to the summit. It prefers automatic habits—checking your phone, putting off the hard task, reverting to old systems—because it’s faster and easier.
When you set a new goal without clear structure, your brain resists. But when you give it a specific path, the resistance fades. You begin building a new trail—and the more often you take that trail, the more natural it becomes.
Why Specificity Increases Success Rates
Specificity gives your brain direction. It tells your nervous system what matters. It eliminates ambiguity, boosts motivation, and allows you to measure progress clearly. In leadership, it clarifies expectations. In life, it clarifies purpose.
When you say, “We need to grow revenue,” that’s an idea. But when you say, “We will increase revenue by 15% by Q4 through client retention and product upsell,” that’s a target.
Big difference. Big results.
How to Use the Law of Specification
To go from idea to action, and from 94% to 6%, use these four core practices:
Defining Clear Goals
Clarity starts with your language. “I want to be more productive” becomes “I will finish my most important task by 10 a.m. every day.”
In leadership, this means moving from broad expectations to measurable outcomes. Don’t say, “Improve teamwork.” Say, “Hold weekly 30-minute cross-functional meetings every Tuesday to review progress and eliminate roadblocks.”
Implementing the 0–10 Rule
The 0–10 Rule is simple: every task, meeting, or project must be evaluated by how important it is—on a scale from 0 to 10. Anything under a 7? Reconsider it. Anything that’s a 9 or 10? Prioritize it and take action.
This tool helps eliminate busywork and focus your time and energy where it counts.
Crafting a Detailed Plan
Goals without steps are wishes. Break large objectives into weekly milestones, then daily action steps. This makes progress feel doable and momentum sustainable.
Example: If your goal is to launch a new service in 90 days, list every component—market research, content creation, pricing strategy, team training—on a timeline, then execute each one with discipline.
Establishing Firm Deadlines
Deadlines create healthy pressure. Without them, even your best intentions will drift.
When setting goals for yourself or your team, attach dates and review points. Make deadlines public. Make them visible. Make them real.
Using the Law of Specification to Get Your Team in the 6%
Creating a Culture of Clarity and Focus
Teams thrive on direction. When everyone knows what success looks like, collaboration improves, energy increases, and ownership deepens. Use the Law of Specification to define not only what needs to get done, but how and by when.
Hold weekly “specification huddles” to ensure alignment, clarify ambiguity, and surface obstacles early.
The 100 Dollar Bill Effect for Targeted Feedback
Here’s a technique I teach in my workshops: treat feedback like handing someone a $100 bill. Don’t just say “great job” or “this didn’t work.” Be specific.
Try this: “The way you handled the client objection in yesterday’s call was excellent. You stayed calm, asked the right questions, and turned it around. That’s the kind of leadership we need.”
Specific feedback builds confidence and capability.
Celebrating Specific Wins to Build Momentum
Recognition works best when it’s precise. Celebrate the how, not just the what.
Instead of “You crushed it,” say, “You hit the deadline, stayed under budget, and turned that project into a client win. That kind of execution moves us forward.”
That kind of clarity reinforces behavior, not just outcomes.
The Benefits of Using the Law of Specification for Transformational Change
Boost Self-Confidence
When you know what you’re aiming for—and you hit it—your belief in yourself skyrockets. The Law of Specification helps you track your wins and build internal proof that you can do hard things.
Confidence isn’t a feeling. It’s a byproduct of consistent follow-through.
Sharpen Decision-Making
With a clear path, decisions become simpler. You know what matters. You know what’s noise. And you stop wasting mental energy on the irrelevant.
This is where leaders move from overwhelmed to intentional. From reactive to strategic.
Amplifying Accountability
Specificity makes it easier to own results. It turns expectations into agreements. And it helps everyone—from executives to interns—understand their role in the outcome.
This creates a team culture where people follow through, speak up, and take responsibility.
Bolstering Resilience
Vague goals collapse under pressure. Specific ones hold strong. When things go sideways—and they always do—clarity helps you recalibrate quickly instead of giving up entirely.
Resilience isn’t about never falling. It’s about knowing how to get back up—and why.
Crush Your Goals on a Completely New Level
From Goals to Results: Transform Your Approach
You don’t need more goals. You need better systems. The Law of Specification transforms intention into impact by helping you work smarter—not just harder.
Whether you’re launching a product, leading a team, or trying to stay consistent with your morning routine—specificity is your secret weapon.
The Impact on Your Team’s Loyalty and Growth
When your team sees you lead with clarity, they don’t just perform better—they trust more. They feel less micromanaged. They understand expectations. They grow faster.
This drives loyalty, lowers turnover, and increases productivity across the board.
Conclusion: Break Free from the 94% and Join the 6% Club
You’re not lacking ambition. You’re lacking structure. The Law of Specification gives you the framework to finally bridge that gap between where you are and where you want to be.
Start today. Write down your next goal—but don’t stop there. Break it down. Assign a deadline. Rank it using the 0–10 Rule. Share it with your team. And then execute with clarity, consistency, and courage.
This is how we crush goals. This is how we lead. This is how we build the 6% life—at home, at work, and everywhere in between.
