Your habits either serve your goals or sabotage them… it’s a powerful truth that separates those who get results from those who just get busy. This isn’t about motivation; it’s about your daily systems. Every single action is either a brick in your foundation or a crack in the dam.
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Meaning
Every habit you have is never neutral. It’s actively working for you or against you. There is no middle ground.
Explanation
Look, I’ve seen this play out a thousand times with clients. People think a “bad” habit is just a little vice, a harmless indulgence. But that’s the trap. That 20 minutes you spend scrolling in bed instead of reading? That’s not “just” 20 minutes. It’s actively sabotaging your goal of being more well-read and well-rested. Conversely, the habit of prepping your lunch the night before? It’s not just a time-saver. It’s a servant to your goals of saving money and eating healthy. It’s working for you while you sleep. The key insight here is that your habits are employees. You’re the CEO. You have to ask yourself every day: Is this action I’m about to automate hiring a productive employee or a saboteur?
Quote Summary
| Context | Attributes |
|---|---|
| Original Language | English (3668) |
| Category | Personal Development (697) |
| Topics | discipline (252), goals (48), habits (85) |
| Literary Style | memorable (234), motivational (245) |
| Emotion / Mood | realistic (354) |
| Overall Quote Score | 78 (178) |
Origin & Factcheck
This comes straight from Marc Perry’s 2011 fitness guide, Built Lean, which was published in the United States. You won’t find it falsely attributed to Aristotle or Tony Robbins, which is refreshing. This is modern, practical wisdom born from the trenches of bodybuilding and fat loss.
Attribution Summary
| Context | Attributes |
|---|---|
| Author | Marc Perry (57) |
| Source Type | Book (4032) |
| Source/Book Name | Built Lean: The Bodybuilding Guide for Men and Women Who Want to Lose Fat and Build Muscle (57) |
| Origin Timeperiod | 21st Century (1892) |
| Original Language | English (3668) |
| Authenticity | Verified (4032) |
Author Bio
Marc D. Perry studies how hip hop and performance shape Black identity, citizenship, and everyday life in the Caribbean and the Americas. An associate professor and author of Negro Soy Yo: Hip Hop and Raced Citizenship in Neoliberal Cuba, he engages anthropology and African American studies to analyze culture, politics, and belonging. The Marc Perry book list emphasizes ethnography and critical theory, and his teaching, writing, and public talks translate complex scholarship into accessible insights about race and culture.
Where is this quotation located?
| Quotation | Your habits either serve your goals or sabotage them |
| Book Details | Publication Year/Date: 2019; ISBN/Unique Identifier: 9781097511885; Last edition: 2019; Number of pages: 240 |
| Where is it? | Chapter 2: Building Sustainable Habits, page 36 / 240 |