What do an environmental scientist, a model, and a cancer survivor have in common? They relied on these three strategies to reach their finish lines and become part of my Goal-Crusher Class of 2025.
🌟 Welcome to Interview with a Goal-Crusher! 🌟
Hi, I’m Coach Tony, and this is Interview with a Goal-Crusher.
This is where I sit down with someone who’s crushing their goals and building a happier life in the process. These are real people, not gurus … just like you. Think of it as free mentoring from people who’ve done the hard work and have the wins (and lessons) to prove it.
Are you ready for a dad joke?
Before we dive in, here's a groan-worthy dad joke as a little palette cleanser. I promise it will be worth every penny you paid for it. 😂
Not all construction work is equally enjoyable. For example, enlarging a drilled hole is boring, but fastening pieces of metal together is riveting.
3 Things I Learned From The Goal-Crusher Class of 2025
2025 is drawing to a close, and I am celebrating three years of sharing stories of how inspirational goal-crushers are building the lives of their dreams one goal at a time.
I’m happy to say the Goal-Crusher Class of 2025 did not disappoint. This year’s group included people who furthered their education, ran big races, explored modeling and bodybuilding, started businesses, closed businesses, changed careers, created art, and even survived cancer.
Talk about diversity.
Instead of sharing a new interview this month, I want to do something a little different.
As I reflected on the Class of 2025, I found three major themes woven through their stories. These themes are powerful goal-crushing lessons.
And if you have a dream buried deep inside you, these goal-crushing pro tips may be the spark you need to follow in their footsteps.
Lesson 1: You don’t need to be ready. Every breakthrough begins with one brave step
If there’s one idea that showed up again and again this year, it’s this: nobody waited for the perfect moment. They moved anyway.
Across the entire Class of 2025, goal-crushers acted while scared, uncertain, or unqualified.
- Hannah ran fifty miles despite not knowing whether she would be able to finish.
- Alex started writing before believing she was an author.
- Margaret got over her own bullshit and did the damn thing.
- Miles didn’t settle for a job that wasn’t working.
- Ashley walked away from a business that looked perfect on paper.
- Marissa pursued professional dance even when people didn’t believe in her.
The universal truth:
Progress didn’t start with confidence.
It started with courage.
Confidence comes from doing the work.
These goal-crushers remind us that courage isn’t a personality trait. It’s a decision. And anyone can make it.
This is the backbone of PMYL: start small, start scared, start anyway.
Lesson 2: Motivation is overrated! Real wins need purpose, mindset and a plan.
Sure, motivation showed up in these stories… but it wasn’t the key ingredient.
Their success was built on purpose, mindset, and alignment.
Every interview reinforced the same pattern: people succeed when their approach matches who they are and why they care.
They built plans around their real lives, not ideal schedules.
They leaned on deep emotional “why” statements that kept them moving when motivation faded.
They treated mindset like a skill to strengthen, not a wish to hope for.
Examples across the board:
- Mallory anchored everything to her lifelong passion for the environment.
- Kayla built internal resilience before building her business.
- Lindsay created a twenty-year plan that flexed around her family.
- Patti had an “after” vision and plan stronger than cancer.
- Teresa embraced progress over perfection while learning as she went.
- Marissa intentionally acted as her own biggest supporter to fortify her mindset.
The truth:
People don’t win because they have more willpower.
They win because their plan, purpose, and mindset are aligned.
That alignment is what turns a maybe into a mission.
Chasing your mission is what carries you on the days when inspiration is gone and life gets in the way.
Lesson 3: Nobody crushes their goals alone
This might be the loudest theme of the entire year.
Support isn’t cheating. It’s the strategy.
The Class of 2025 was collaborative, supported, resourced, and deeply connected.
- Hannah’s running club carried her through her hardest miles.
- Teresa built her business with Rich.
- Allison surrounded herself with mentors and advisors.
- Miles created his “after” with Monica as a full partner.
- Alex leaned on Mallory and her grandmother’s inspiration.
- Lindsay built an entire community of trainers, judges, and family support.
- Patti assembled a team of doctors, friends, and joyful rituals.
- Marissa stayed grounded with help from her mentors.
The truth:
Accountability isn’t optional.
Community multiplies courage.
And success stories rarely happen in isolation.
The proverb says, “If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go together.”
If you want to go farther, faster, and with fewer meltdowns, you need people in your corner. Period.
What is the dream buried deep inside you?
The Goal Crusher Class of 2025 is proof of a powerful truth.
Everyone has a dream inside them.
But dreams only turn into success stories when you have a plan and someone in your corner.
Are you ready to stop reading other people’s success stories and finally create your own?
You don’t need to feel ready. You just need to take one brave step.
If you want a simple way to begin, the Project Manage Your Life Starter Kit gives you the structure, tools, and guidance to turn your dream into momentum.
The Starter Kit bundles three powerful resources designed to help you bring your goals to life:
📘 Project Manage Your Life – My complete six-step framework for turning goals into accomplishments.
📝 PMYL Workbook – A companion guide with templates, trackers, and coaching style prompts to help you put the framework into practice.
📩 Email Mini Course – A one-month, guided email experience that helps you build real momentum. It’s your taste test of what PMYL coaching feels like.
The Starter Kit will help you convert that dream into a goal… then a plan… then momentum.
✨ Start 2026 Already in Motion
If 2025 didn’t turn out the way you hoped, you’re not alone. Mine didn’t either.
So let’s say “fuck it,” call the year done, and start building momentum for 2026 right now.
If you want to enter the new year already moving, join me for the free Say It Out Loud Goal Crusher Coffee Chat on 12/29.
Say your goals out loud, get support, and leave with clarity and energy.
Click below to sign up to join this free online event.
Can’t make the Coffee Chat? Use code 2026STRONG to get 25 percent off the Starter Kit and start today.
💥 Are you ready to make 2026 the year you stop reading about goal-crushing success stories and become one instead? You don’t need to be ready. You just need to take one brave step, and we’ll do this together.
✨ I believe in you, let me help YOU believe in you! ✨
Meet Coach Tony
Tony Weaver is a master life coach, technologist, consultant, writer, and founder of Operation Melt.
He helps project managers and other left-brained high-achievers pursue their biggest goals.
Through free resources, personalized coaching, and his proven Project Manage Your Life system, Tony empowers clients to move their dreams from “someday” to success… one step at a time.
Learn more about Project Manage Your Life, the system my clients and I use to crush our goals, at OperationMelt.com/PMYL/
Meet Coach Tony