Are you reasons-oriented or results-oriented?

Every day, we face a choice—sometimes subtle, sometimes glaring:
Will I move toward the result I say I want… or will I explain why I haven’t yet?

It’s one of the simplest, yet most powerful distinctions in personal growth and health transformation.   

There are really only two types of people in the world:

1. Results-oriented people—who take action, stay curious, and adjust until they achieve the outcome they’re after.
2. Reason-oriented people—who can tell you exactly why it hasn’t happened yet.

Now, I know—that might sound a little harsh at first.
It did to me too.

But stay with me, because there’s a positive takeaway here: when you use this lens the right way, you win either way!

You either:
✅ Move closer to your goal by taking action,
or
✅ Realize that it may not be a true goal or priority right now—and that’s clarity, not failure.

And let’s be honest: we all shift between these two modes depending on the context.

You might be results-oriented when it comes to work, but reason-oriented when it comes to exercise. Or proactive with your health, but hesitant about boundaries, relationships, or finances.

The goal is not to label yourself—it’s to bring awareness to where you might be stuck.

This 'reasons or results' lens changed my perspective

I first came across it while studying for my master’s - it helped me re-frame how I was navigating my life at the time, and has helped me ever since which is why I'm sharing it with you here...

At that time, my entire world revolved around family, friends, work, and my studies. Everything else—was sitting squarely on the back burner. I was constantly saying, “I just haven’t had time,” or “I'm just too busy right now.”

And, it never felt good to say either!

When I heard this concept, it helped me see something clearly: I wasn’t actually short on time—I was choosing where my energy went. I was providing reasons for the things that weren’t a priority.

That realization was equal parts humbling and empowering. It gave me a framework to notice where I was getting stuck and to start shifting from explanation to action.

Reasons sound logical—but the truth is they keep you stuck

We all have them:

• “I’ve just been so busy.”
• “I haven't had time; I’ll start once work slows down.”
• “I know what to do, I just need to do it.”

Sound familiar? These aren’t character flaws—they’re comfort phrases.

They let us momentarily off the hook, soothe the discomfort of inaction, and preserve the story we’ve been telling ourselves.

But the moment we believe our reasons more than we believe in our ability to create results, we hand over our power.

Results require ownership—not perfection

Being results-oriented doesn’t mean never slipping up. It means refusing to let excuses define you.

It’s about saying, “This didn’t work—what’s my next step?” instead of “This didn’t work—so maybe it’s not for me.”

It’s a mindset shift from defensiveness to determination.

Ownership is liberating because it puts you back in the driver’s seat. You no longer need conditions to be perfect before you start. You simply commit, learn, adapt, and keep moving forward.

How this aligns with my approach

This thought process is also deeply aligned with what I learned from Dr. B.J. Fogg, whose work on Tiny Habits transformed the way I help my clients create sustainable change(s).

Dr. Fogg’s approach centers around making change as easy as possible—by starting small. When you pair that with the results or reasons lens, you create a powerful combination:

You either “just do it” (in the tiniest possible way), which moves you closer to your goal—or you realize and admit that it’s not a true goal or priority right now.

And that clarity is equally valuable.

When you’re taking action, you’re progressing.
If you’re not, you’re learning what matters most.

(I'll explore setting priorities in an upcoming post—it’s a big topic that deserves its own spotlight.)

Try this: catch yourself mid-reason

Next time you hear yourself explaining why something hasn’t happened yet, pause.
Ask:

• “Is this a reason… or a result?”

• “If I didn’t believe this reason, what would I do next?”

Even that single moment of awareness can change the trajectory of your day.

You don’t need more time. You need more truth.

When you catch yourself rationalizing, you’re not failing—you’re waking up. You’re seeing the invisible line between where you are and where you want to be.

Be gentle but honest with yourself. Your results are simply a reflection of what you’ve prioritized—not of your worth or your potential.

And the best news? You can change that starting right now.

Set yourself a quiet challenge...

For the next week, replace every reason with one small, concrete action that moves you towards your goal(s).

• Didn’t have time to prep lunch?
  • Buy a pre-washed salad mix and a rotisserie chicken.
• Too tired to exercise?
  • Take the stairs and/or take a brisk 10-minute walk.
• Too much on your plate to focus on your health?
  • Start with one simple, repeatable win—like drinking a full glass of water before each meal.

Results compound when you act your way forward, not think your way there.

Your results tell the story of your commitment

So ask yourself: Which story do I want to tell six months from now?

The one filled with reasons—or the one filled with results?

Because in the end, both take effort.
But only one moves you toward the life you keep saying you want.

Bottom line...

That “reasons or results” lens has become a quiet anchor for me—one that continues to guide both my own choices and how I coach my clients today.

It’s not about being hard on yourself. It’s about staying aware, starting small, and aligning what you say you want with what you actually do.

Because when you do that—change stops feeling like effort…
and starts feeling like progress.

TL;DR:

When I first heard that there are “two types of people—those who get results and those who give reasons”—I’ll admit, it sounded a little harsh.

But this simple lens has helped me see where I was unintentionally stuck and, more importantly, what truly mattered.

We all shift between reason and result modes depending on the situation. The goal isn’t judgment—it’s awareness.

Pair this mindset with Dr. B.J. Fogg’s Tiny Habits approach: start small, act easily, and let momentum build.

Because every small action moves you closer to clarity—whether it’s progress toward a goal or peace with what’s not a priority (for now).

Either way, you win.