Built from Failure, Refined by Science
Settom Goal Setting emerged from a simple question: Why do intelligent, motivated people consistently fail at personal transformation?
The Problem We Couldn't Ignore
For years, I watched high-performing professionals achieve remarkable things in their careers while their personal lives remained stubbornly unchanged. Same New Year's resolutions. Same fitness goals. Same relationship patterns. Different year.
The standard explanations didn't add up. These weren't lazy people. They weren't lacking ambition or intelligence. Yet traditional goal-setting frameworks failed them repeatedly.
The Research That Changed Everything
We spent three years studying behavioral psychology, implementation science, and identity theory. Not as academics, but as practitioners desperate to understand what actually works.
The breakthrough came when we stopped asking "How do we help people achieve their goals?" and started asking "What makes certain people naturally good at transformation while others struggle?"
The answer wasn't willpower or discipline. It was architecture.
Our Philosophy
We believe transformation is a design problem, not a motivation problem.
Systems Over Willpower
Willpower is finite. Well-designed systems are renewable. We build frameworks that work when you're motivated and when you're exhausted.
Identity First, Goals Second
Goals flow from who you're becoming. Try to change behavior without shifting identity and you'll always revert to old patterns.
Failure as Data
Most approaches treat failure as a character flaw. We treat it as information about which strategies don't match your psychology.
Context is Everything
Generic frameworks produce generic results. We design goal systems around your specific life context, constraints, and psychology.
How We Work
Our approach combines elements from behavioral science, organizational psychology, and years of direct work with individuals seeking transformation.
We don't follow a rigid script. Each client receives a custom-built framework based on detailed assessment of their patterns, environment, and goals.
Some sessions focus on strategic planning. Others on failure analysis. Some on environmental redesign. The common thread: everything is designed to make sustained change easier than reverting to old patterns.
What Makes Us Different
- We don't sell motivation. We build systems that don't require it.
- We don't use generic frameworks. Every system is custom-designed for your specific situation.
- We don't ignore failure. We integrate it as a core part of the learning process.
- We don't focus on outcomes. We focus on identity shifts that make the outcomes inevitable.
- We don't chase trends. We build on established behavioral science and what actually works long-term.
Our Commitment
We work with a limited number of clients at any time. This isn't artificial scarcity; it's a practical constraint. The level of customization and attention our approach requires makes scale impossible.
We're selective about who we work with because transformation is a partnership. We need you to show up, engage honestly, and commit to the process even when it's uncomfortable.
In return, we commit to bringing everything we've learned about behavior change, goal psychology, and systematic transformation to your specific situation.
The Methodology
Our work is grounded in several key frameworks:
Identity-Based Change
Drawing from James Clear's work on habit formation and identity, we help you shift from goal-chasing to identity-building.
Implementation Intentions
Based on Peter Gollwitzer's research, we create specific if-then plans that bypass the need for in-the-moment willpower.
Environmental Design
Leveraging behavioral architecture principles, we restructure your environment to make desired behaviors automatic.
Self-Determination Theory
We ensure goals satisfy your core psychological needs for autonomy, competence, and relatedness rather than external pressures.
Ready to Work Together?
If this approach resonates with you, let's explore whether we're a good fit.
View ProgramsFrequently Asked Questions
Who founded Settom Goal Setting?
Settom was founded by practitioners who spent years working directly with individuals on behavior change and transformation. Our team combines backgrounds in psychology, coaching, and organizational development.
What qualifies you to do this work?
Our qualification comes from two sources: formal training in behavioral psychology and implementation science, and seven years of direct client work refining what actually produces lasting change versus what just sounds good.
Do you work with groups or teams?
Currently we focus exclusively on individual transformation. Group dynamics require different frameworks that would dilute the personalized approach that makes our work effective.
How do you measure success?
Short-term: whether clients develop sustainable systems that maintain progress without our involvement. Long-term: whether they're still building on the foundation years later. Quick wins matter less than lasting infrastructure.
What if I've worked with other coaches before?
Many of our clients come from that background. Past coaching experiences, whether positive or negative, give us useful information about what does and doesn't work for you.