Who Sets the Standard for Your Life?

Most men are waiting for permission.

They’re looking around, searching for someone to tell them what’s acceptable, what’s expected, what level to reach for. But here’s the truth:

  • You set the standard.
  • You decide what’s acceptable in your life.
  • You determine how far you go.

If you lower the bar for yourself, you lower it for everyone around you. If you accept weakness, excuses, and passivity, don’t be surprised when that’s what surrounds you.

You are either leading your life—or following someone else’s expectations.

So ask yourself: Are you setting the standard, or just following the one someone else created?

The Standard You Accept is the Standard You Live By

Most men don’t consciously choose their standards.

They inherit them—from their families, their friends, their culture. They adopt whatever feels normal instead of intentionally choosing who they want to be.

But here’s the problem:

  • If you tolerate laziness, you will become lazy.
  • If you allow weakness, you will become weak.
  • If you accept excuses, you will become a man who makes them.

“The standard you walk past is the standard you accept.” – David Morrison

If you keep lowering your standards to match the people around you, don’t be shocked when you look around and find yourself surrounded by mediocrity.

Men who become the standard don’t wait for permission. They lead by example.

What Happens When You Become the Standard?

  1. You no longer need external validation.
    • You stop looking for approval and start owning your actions.
  2. You build an environment of strength, not weakness.
    • The men around you rise to meet your standard—or they disappear.
  3. You become a man that others follow.
    • Leadership isn’t about words—it’s about who you are when no one is watching.

“Be watchful, stand firm in the faith, act like men, be strong.” – 1 Corinthians 16:13

Your standard isn’t just for you. It’s for every man watching you.

The Difference Between Leading and Following

The fool follows whatever standard is handed to him.

The student challenges himself to reach higher.

  • The fool waits to be told what’s acceptable.
  • The student sets the bar and never lowers it.

How to Raise the Standard in Your Life

  1. Define Your Non-Negotiables
  • What are your absolutes? What will you never tolerate in yourself?
  • Write them down. Live by them.
  1. Stop Accepting Weakness
  • What’s an area of your life where you’ve let things slide?
  • Call it out, commit to fixing it, and execute.
  1. Lead by Example
  • Your family, friends, and community take cues from you.
  • The strongest leaders don’t talk about standards—they live them.

“Being relentless means demanding more of yourself than anyone else could ever demand of you.” – Tim Grover, Relentless

Final Question: If Every Man Lived at Your Standard, Would the World Be Better or Worse?

If the entire world operated at your level of discipline, character, and strength—would it thrive, or would it collapse?

If you don’t like the answer, raise the bar.

Because if you’re not setting the standard—who is?