Standards Over Goals: Building the Foundation for Success

Hello, and welcome back to Beyond Buildings with The Freeman Factor. This week, we’re diving into a topic that has the power to transform every area of your life: standards.

There’s a truth that I’ve come to believe deeply: “You don’t always get your goals, but you always get your standards.” Goals are aspirational—they reflect what we hope to achieve. But standards? Standards are operational—they define the minimum level we are willing to tolerate from ourselves in our daily actions and behaviors.

If you’re wondering why you’re not achieving the results you want in a certain area of life, it might be time to take a hard look at your standards.

What You Do Not Hate, You Will Eventually Tolerate

Ed Mylett says it best: “What you do not hate, you eventually tolerate.”

When we fail to set and enforce high standards, we create space for mediocrity to creep into our lives. Over time, the small compromises we make become our new normal, shaping our reality. It’s not that we consciously accept less—it’s that, little by little, we tolerate actions, habits, and behaviors that are beneath our potential.

Think about it:

• If you don’t hate wasting time, you’ll tolerate distractions that derail your goals.
• If you don’t hate unhealthy habits, you’ll tolerate skipping the gym and eating poorly.
• If you don’t hate inconsistency, you’ll tolerate excuses instead of results.

Raising your standards requires an honest look at the areas where toleration has taken over. Ask yourself: What am I putting up with that I shouldn’t be? What am I tolerating in my career, relationships, or daily habits that’s holding me back?

Mylett’s philosophy is clear: Set a higher bar for what you demand of yourself, and you’ll raise the quality of your life.

The Power of Standards

Your standards are the non-negotiable minimums you demand of yourself, and they act as the foundation for success. They determine:

1️⃣ What You Will and Will Not Accept: Standards clarify where your boundaries are.

2️⃣ Who You Are Becoming: Standards reflect your identity and the type of person you strive to be.

3️⃣ How You Stay Consistent: When motivation falters, your standards keep you in action.

4️⃣ How You Achieve Goals: High standards create a solid platform for setting and achieving bold, meaningful goals.

Tony Robbins says it perfectly: “Your life is a reflection of the standards you hold.” Raise your standards, and you’ll raise your results.

How Standards Work in Practice: What You Tolerate is What You Get

Think about this: Every time you make a decision that falls below your standards, you reinforce mediocrity in that area of life. For example:

• In Health: If your standard is to exercise three times a week but you tolerate skipping the gym regularly, you’ll never reach the health and fitness goals you aspire to.
• In Relationships: If your standard is to nurture meaningful connections but you tolerate lack of communication, those relationships will eventually suffer.
• In Your Career: If your standard is excellence but you tolerate procrastination or missed opportunities, your progress will stall.

It’s not about perfection. It’s about holding the line on what’s acceptable—and doing so consistently.

Applying Standards in Commercial Real Estate (CRE)

In CRE, the power of standards is magnified. We operate in a competitive, high-stakes industry where time and relationships are everything. Here’s how maintaining high standards can transform your CRE career:

1️⃣ Time Management: Your standard could be responding to every client inquiry within 24 hours. By holding yourself accountable, you build trust and reliability with clients.

2️⃣ Market Expertise: Set a standard to spend an hour each day reviewing market trends or underwriting deals. This ensures you stay ahead of the competition and make informed decisions.

3️⃣ Relationship Building: Commit to a standard of nurturing at least three professional relationships weekly. In CRE, relationships drive opportunity, and this practice creates a steady pipeline of deals and collaborations.

Imagine the compounding effect of holding yourself to these standards consistently. Deals flow to those who show up prepared, reliable, and aligned with the highest expectations.

Defining Your Own Standards

To create meaningful change, you must first define your standards. Below are key areas of life where you can evaluate, adjust, and elevate your baseline expectations:

1. Health

• Current Standard: ________________________
• What Needs to Change: __________________
• New Standard: I work out 4 times a week for 45 minutes, prioritize 7–8 hours of sleep, and drink 2 liters of water daily.

2. Wealth (Finances and Career)

• Current Standard: ________________________
• What Needs to Change: __________________
• New Standard: I dedicate 2 hours daily to revenue-generating activities and follow up with every lead within 24 hours.

3. Relationships

• Current Standard: ________________________
• What Needs to Change: __________________
• New Standard: I schedule one family dinner weekly and nurture 3 professional relationships every week.

4. Personal Growth

• Current Standard: ________________________
• What Needs to Change: __________________
• New Standard: I read for 20 minutes daily and take one professional development course per quarter.

5. Faith/Spirituality

• Current Standard: ________________________
• What Needs to Change: __________________
• New Standard: I dedicate 10 minutes daily to prayer or meditation and attend one faith-based event monthly.

6. Fun and Lifestyle

• Current Standard: ________________________
• What Needs to Change: __________________
• New Standard: I prioritize one unplugged, work-free evening per week and plan a new adventure every quarter.

Final Thoughts: Raising Your Standards is the Key to Growth

Success doesn’t come from one-off achievements or bursts of motivation. It comes from holding yourself to high standards, day in and day out. These standards are your baseline—they dictate the results you’ll achieve, the person you’ll become, and the life you’ll create.

As we wrap up this week’s edition, I challenge you to reflect on your own standards. Are they aligned with your goals and the person you want to become? If not, it’s time to raise them.

Remember: What you do not hate, you will eventually tolerate. And what you tolerate will define your results.

Until next time, Logan Freeman Your Kansas City CRE Guy

➡️ Want to learn more about how to align high standards with your CRE career and life goals? Join thousands of others in the Beyond Buildings newsletter here: https://lnkd.in/d-d_BQBs

#Leadership #CRE #SuccessMindset #Standards #PersonalGrowth #CommercialRealEstate