Goal Getting, Not Just Goal Setting: The CHANGE Framework Approach to Making It Happen

We’ve all been there. It’s January 1st, or a random Monday morning, and you’re feeling inspired. You grab a fresh notebook, write down three massive goals, and for about forty-eight hours, you feel like a new person. But then Friday hits. Life gets loud, your motivation dips, and that list of goals gets buried under a stack of mail.

Most people are experts at Goal Setting. We love the vision, the daydream, and the "what if." But very few people are experts at Goal Getting.

In his best-selling work, Brad Young argues that the reason most transformations fail isn't a lack of desire: it’s a lack of a system. To move from wishful thinking to concrete reality, you need more than just a target; you need a framework. That’s where the CHANGE method comes in.

As discussed in the recent podcast episode "Mastering Goals with the CHANGE Method," achieving a goal isn't a solo act. It’s a performance that requires six specific pillars to work in harmony. If you’re tired of setting the same goals year after year, it’s time to stop setting and start getting.

The Problem: Why Setting Isn't Getting

Goal setting is the act of deciding what you want. Goal getting is the act of building the machine that delivers it.

Think of it like this: Goal setting is looking at a map and pointing to a destination. Goal getting is the car, the fuel, the maintenance, and the driver. You can stare at the map all day, but if the engine won't start, you’re staying exactly where you are.

The gap between vision and reality is often filled with "drama." We look for the big breakthrough, the lucky break, or the sudden burst of inspiration. But Personal Development isn't about dramatic moments; it's about consistent, daily systems.

The CHANGE Framework: Your Goal-Getting Engine

In the book CHANGE, Brad Young outlines a six-pillar system designed to close that gap. To get your goals, you need to align every part of your life with the destination.

1. Communication (C)

How you speak about your goals determines how you treat them. If you tell yourself, "I'll try to get this done," you’ve already given yourself permission to fail. Communication starts internally. Use specific, assertive language. Furthermore, external communication creates accountability. When you communicate your goals clearly to the right people, you turn a private wish into a public commitment.

2. Habits (H)

This is the "engine" of the CHANGE framework. You don’t rise to the level of your goals; you fall to the level of your Habits. If your goal is to write a book but your habit is scrolling social media for two hours every evening, the goal is just a fantasy. Goal getting requires breaking your big vision down into "micro-habits" that are so small they are impossible to fail.

3. Attitude (A)

Your mindset acts as the thermostat for your success. When you hit a roadblock: and you will: does your Attitude shift to "This isn't for me," or "How can I solve this?" A goal-getting attitude is one of resilience and curiosity. It’s about viewing every "failure" as data to help you refine your process.

4. Network (N)

Success is a team sport. Your Network can either be the wind in your sails or the anchor dragging you down. As Best Selling Author Brad Young emphasizes, you must curate a circle that supports your growth. If your goal is to build a business, but your network consists of people who are afraid of risk, you’ll find yourself constantly fighting their doubts along with your own.

5. Goals (G)

Wait, isn't "Goals" just one pillar? Yes. In the CHANGE framework, the "G" pillar is about the strategy. It’s about making your goals SMART (Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Time-bound) and, more importantly, aligning them with your core values. If your goal doesn't matter to you on a deep level, the other five pillars won't be enough to sustain you.

6. Education (E)

The person you are today isn't equipped to achieve the goals of tomorrow. If they were, you’d already have achieved them. Education is the process of acquiring the skills, knowledge, and wisdom required for your next level. Whether it’s reading books, attending seminars, or finding a mentor, continuous learning is the fuel for your growth.

Process Over Outcome

One of the biggest takeaways from Brad Young's CHANGE approach is the focus on process over outcome.

When you focus only on the outcome (the $1M in the bank, the 50lbs lost, the promotion), you’re constantly living in a state of "not there yet." This leads to burnout.

However, when you focus on the process: the daily walk, the morning writing session, the weekly networking call: you can win every single day. Goal getting is about falling in love with the process of becoming the person who is capable of achieving the goal.

3 Steps to Start Goal Getting Today

If you’re ready to stop the cycle of endless planning and start seeing results, follow this simple roadmap:

1. Audit Your Pillars: Look at your current top goal. Which CHANGE pillar is the weakest? Do you have the right habits? Is your network holding you back? Identify the bottleneck.

2. Define the "Minimum Effective Dose": What is the smallest daily action you can take that moves the needle? Don't say "I'll workout for an hour." Say "I'll put on my gym shoes and walk for 10 minutes."

3. Upgrade Your Education: Find one resource (a book, a podcast, a course) that teaches you a skill directly related to your goal. As Brad Young says, "You can't do what you don't know."

Conclusion: Rewrite Your Story

Transformation isn't reserved for the lucky or the "naturally gifted." It belongs to those who are willing to build a system. By using the CHANGE framework, you move beyond the temporary high of goal setting and into the sustainable power of Goal Getting.

Are you ready to take control of your future? It starts with one small change.

For more insights into personal transformation and to dive deeper into the framework, check out our latest resources on the PodCentral Publishing Network.

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