How to Raise Your Standards
Your results rarely rise above your standards. Raising them is one of the most direct ways to grow into more of your potential.
To raise your standards, notice where you have been settling, decide what your new standard is in one specific area, define what it looks like on an ordinary day, decide what you are willing to give up to hold it, tell someone and hold it on the hard days. Standards work because they remove daily negotiation: the decision is already made.
Most people do not lower their standards on purpose. They slide, a little at a time, until good enough becomes the norm. In my book I wrote about the comfort ceiling, the quiet voice that says this is enough. It is often where standards stop rising.
Raising a standard is different from setting a goal. A goal is something you want to reach. A standard is who you decide to be on an ordinary Tuesday.
Six steps to raise a standard
- Notice the settling. Where has good enough crept in?
- Pick one area. Work, health, home or relationships.
- Define it concretely. What does it look like daily?
- Name the cost. What will you give up to hold it?
- Tell someone. Make it visible.
- Hold it on hard days. That is when it counts.
Notice where you have been settling
Look at your work, health, home and relationships and ask where good enough has quietly become the standard. Be honest but not harsh. The point is to see clearly, not to beat yourself up.
Define the new standard concretely
A standard has to be specific enough to keep. Not I will be more present, but the phone stays in the kitchen during dinner. Not I will prospect more, but ten calls before lunch every weekday.
Name the cost
Every higher standard costs something: comfort, time, a habit you enjoy. Decide in advance what you are willing to give up. A standard that costs nothing usually is not a standard yet. This is the Decide step of Remind, Reflect, Decide, Act.
Hold it on the hard days
Standards are tested on the days you are tired, busy or discouraged. Those are the days that build who you become. Excuses sound reasonable and feel justified, which is exactly why they are so effective.
Raising standards is part of my signature keynote, You Are Capable of More. For the bigger picture, read Human Potential: A Complete Guide.
Your results rarely rise above your standards. Notice where you have been settling, pick one area, define the new standard concretely, name what it will cost, tell someone and hold it on the hard days.
Frequently asked questions
How do you raise your standards?
What is the difference between a goal and a standard?
Why do standards slip?
Can raising standards help you reach your potential?
You Are Capable of More
A No-Excuses Guide to Becoming Your Best Self. The bestselling book behind Chris’s keynotes and the 2026 Paris Book Festival winner in the How-To category. Many teams hand a copy to every seller at their kickoff.
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