The Impossible Life

281. How To Create Standards & Why Most People Don't Have Real Ones


Listen Later

Most men don’t fail because they lack motivation. They fail because they never set real standards. In this episode of The Impossible Life Podcast, Garrett Unclebach and Nick Surface break down exactly how to create standards that actually hold up under pressure—not hype-driven rules you break a week later, but identity-based minimums that shape your life.

Using examples from SEAL training, family leadership, physical health, and everyday life, Garrett explains why standards are the minimum you’re willing to accept, not your best day or your intentions. When standards are clear, binary, and tied to purpose, they eliminate negotiation and build discipline automatically.

In this episode, you’ll learn:
  • Why standards must be set from a sober mind
  • How to anchor standards to identity, not emotions
  • The role values play in making standards sustainable
  • Why defining the minimum protects you from disaster
  • How binary standards eliminate excuses
  • What to do when you break a standard—and how to recover without quitting
Garrett also walks through a real-world example of setting a physical health standard and explains why protecting the floor of your life matters more than chasing peaks.

If you’ve ever said “this is my standard” and then watched yourself violate it, this episode will give you a framework to reset, rebuild, and move forward with clarity. Standards aren’t about being extreme.
They’re about becoming reliable.

Join a group of likeminded Impossible Life listeners in our FREE Skool community by clicking here.

Get the Purpose Playbook by clicking here

Get the FREE Basic Discipline Training 30 Day Program by clicking here

Join us in Mindset Mastery by clicking here

If you're a man that wants real accountability and training to be a leader, click here.

Level up your nutrition with IDLife by clicking here

GET IN TOUCH

Social Media - @theimpossiblelife

Email - [email protected]
...more
View all episodesView all episodes
Download on the App Store

The Impossible LifeBy Nick Surface & Garrett Unclebach

  • 4.9
  • 4.9
  • 4.9
  • 4.9
  • 4.9

4.9

301 ratings


More shows like The Impossible Life

View all
Life.Church with Craig Groeschel by Life.Church

Life.Church with Craig Groeschel

3,471 Listeners

Craig Groeschel Leadership Podcast by Life.Church

Craig Groeschel Leadership Podcast

10,787 Listeners

Order of Man by Ryan Michler

Order of Man

8,918 Listeners

Dad Tired by Jerrad Lopes

Dad Tired

1,391 Listeners

The Church of Eleven22 by The Church of Eleven22

The Church of Eleven22

1,096 Listeners

Men in the Arena - Christian Men's Podcast by Jim Ramos

Men in the Arena - Christian Men's Podcast

389 Listeners

Undaunted.Life: A Man's Podcast by Kyle Thompson by Undaunted.Life

Undaunted.Life: A Man's Podcast by Kyle Thompson

1,762 Listeners

Three of Seven Podcast by Three of Seven Podcast Network

Three of Seven Podcast

1,862 Listeners

Deepen with Pastor Joby Martin by Pastor Joby Martin

Deepen with Pastor Joby Martin

581 Listeners

The Pursuit with James Griffin by crosspointcity

The Pursuit with James Griffin

126 Listeners

Live Free with Josh Howerton by Lakepointe Church

Live Free with Josh Howerton

1,724 Listeners

The Mark Driscoll Podcast by Mark Driscoll

The Mark Driscoll Podcast

1,966 Listeners

Jesus People Podcast by Ryan Miller

Jesus People Podcast

377 Listeners

The Daily Blade: Joby Martin & Kyle Thompson by Joby Martin & Kyle Thompson

The Daily Blade: Joby Martin & Kyle Thompson

1,689 Listeners

Built 4 More by Denny Thompson and Joby Martin

Built 4 More

230 Listeners