Feeling stuck? The good news is everyone has felt this way before and it's not only common, it's a significant sign of pending growth.
In this episode, Martin tackles a few key mindsets around the idea of feeling "stuck" and how one can best grapple with the feeling.
A great starting point is releasing any resistance to the feeling and then enjoying and using the awareness to ask key questions like; "Where do I want to go? and, "What am I afraid of?"
Knowing that all behavior is primarily driven by the desire to avoid fear or gain pleasure that question is likely to provide light on what should be your next steps and WHY you may not be taking them.
Check out this short FAF episode now... and remember to SUBSCRIBE now to get these episodes automatically on your device!
________________
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Resources
The Habit Factor's Unstuck promo: (9+Hrs)
Three Habit Busting Tips - prior episode
Who is to blame when things go wrong?
Yes... this is a Mind Bullet on a Wednesday. (you are not crazy). Martin starts this episode with a bit of a chuckle as the guest for this episode had to reschedule at the last minute leaving him with a Wednesday Mind Bullet (regular listeners know that Wednesdays are reserved for interviews). So this last minute shift in plans creates a learning moment.
In life people will often drop the ball - not follow through, etc. It's very easy to fall into the blame-game trap. To point fingers and absolve oneself of responsibility.
Martin shares a quick story about a Facebook post from an entrepreneur who was ranting about "people not doing the job right in the first place" and "wasting half my day fixing their mistakes."
The question is; Who is really responsible? Who is really to blame?
It turns out taking responsibility ends up providing a host of benefits including freedom and ultimately saves us from needlessly wasting energy.
Check out this episode and be sure to share this Mind Bullet Monday!
***NEW Giveaway! Each week we select ONE, new iTunes review (good, bad or indifferent) and send a FREE signed book.
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Resources
Napoleon Hill The Science of Personal Achievement
Napoleon Hill, Think & Grow Rich
What is the value of emotion?
How well do you listen to your emotions when it comes to all of your decisions— particularly when "logic" is saying one thing and your gut is saying another.
In today's episode Martin asks the listener to reflect upon some of their most positive growth experiences and ask if they were "logic-based" decisions or if they followed their gut.
Much of our decision making is done via habit and we'll even disguise our fear many times as "logic".
While logic is a powerful gift we should leverage, refine and be grateful for, it can keep us bound, unsure and even afraid at times from taking action.
"If I thought logically about that hike or the Catalina paddle there is no way either of them would've happened yet they were both priceless experiences!"
Martin speculates that great leaps of personal growth are often tied to these emotive decisions where logic was doing its best to steer us in a different direction.
From this episode Martin wants to know...
1) Have you shared the same experience when you've gone against "Logic"?
2) What happens if you follow your gut and it's based upon EGO instead?
3) Where does that heart-mind, intuitive thought and gut feeling come from?
4) What do you do to strengthen the the heart-mind and gut feeling for larger decisions
5) Can you take a life "inventory" of gut decisions (absent the ego) and see how it's steered you on a positive path of personal growth?
Check out this episode and be sure to share this Mind Bullet Monday!
***NEW Giveaway! Each week we select ONE, new iTunes review (good, bad or indifferent) and send a FREE signed book.
Either email the review screenshot or add your twitter handle and we'll find you that way!
BTW: It's easy to SUBSCRIBE and to have each episode sent to you automatically.
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Resources
Napoleon Hill The Science of Personal Achievement
Napoleon Hill, Think & Grow Rich
"The word is out... gratitude has incredible benefits." ~Glenn Fox
In this entertaining interview, Glenn covers his journey toward graduate school and beyond. Citing stories of getting his top-level mechanics degree and his love of cars and, how being a mechanic served much of his mindfulness development.
His eclectic background combined with an element of chance ultimately leads Glenn to find a great mentor who recommendeds that he study an emerging field, "affective neuroscience".
Glenn shares wonderful insights and studies related to neuroscience and gratitude and how for him he must "win the home field" — a great metaphor to help him remember it's really about having healthy, quality relationships —that foster success.
Glenn R. Fox earned his PhD from USC’s Neuroscience Graduate Program and his extensive research regarding gratitude is widely published.
Just some of what Martin and Glenn cover:
-How across nearly all religions and philosophies Glenn has noticed that gratitude is a fundamental theme
-How mindfulness and gratitude are practices
-How emotion can help us to narrow the range of options
-How the brain process emotion
-How emotion influences our decisions and behaviors
-How we might better understand the value of emotions to make better decisions
-His influences like Antonio Damasio and Pema Chodron
even,
-Why Glenn sees envy as a positive emotion
And much more...
The point is emotion narrows the decisions we can make so we're not just frozen... it's useful and helps us make decisions — it probably exists for a reason.
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Resources
Glenn's Book list:
-When Things Fall Apart: Heart Advice for Difficult Times (Shambhala Classics)
- Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance: An Inquiry Into Values
Glenn's Blog: http://glennrfox.com/TheEmpiricistBlog/ .
What does that French proverb mean to you?
What is life that when it's half spent it becomes clear? Or, is it really just an observation that it takes us half our life to realize what is most important to us?
Martin kicks off this episode sharing an observation about this great proverb via the lens of The Habit Factor but later observes it could be a number of things including the ephemerality of it all!
WHAT DO YOU THINK IT MEANS?
Martin wraps up this quick mind bullet with that very question and asks you to chime in and share your thoughts on facebook.com/thehabitfactor or twitter @thehabitfactor.com
If you had to guess what would you say?
***NEW Giveaway! Each week we select ONE, new iTunes review (good, bad or indifferent) and send a FREE signed book.
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Resources
Napoleon Hill The Science of Personal Achievement
Napoleon Hill, Think & Grow Rich
This question comes via Quora.com and Martin has a link at the bottom to the entire post/response (partially posted here).
In this episode Martin reads his response and adds a little color along the way shares his experience teaching "Success Skills" for C.L.A.S.S. Corporate Leaders Advocating Success Skills (volunteer instructor for Junior Achievement) at some of San Diego's more impoverished neighborhoods.
Martin changes the definition of "success" as provided by the curriculum and teaches a slightly different definition. Then he shares some thoughts about just what the OPPOSITE of success might be if it isn't failure.
MG's answer on quora.com:
I really like this question. From my experience I've found "success" to be a very enigmatic concept/subject which I'm sure explains why so many of us struggle with it.
The SHORT ANSWER to your question:
It is going to be difficult if not impossible, (as evidenced by your question) to find success without a desireable destination, target or goal.
So, do you have any feel for What your ideal future looks like?
Simply reverse engineer any great "success" and you will notice they know at the very least or, knew what their target was/what they were going after.
That doesn't mean they hit it, it just means they had a direction to aim for (fostering positive action and habits).
Prolonged aimlessness can be very problematic.
Try this: Ask 10 people if they want to be a "success". My guess is all 10 will say "YES".
Then, ask those same 10 people to DEFINE what "success" means to them... <more? see link below and visit quora.com>
Direct link to the rest of Martin's answer on Quora:
________________
**NEW Weekly Giveaway! Each week we select ONE, new iTunes review (good, bad or indifferent) and send a FREE signed book. Either email the review screenshot or add your Twitter handle and we'll find you that way!
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Resources
Revisit: The Law of Cosmic Habit Force
"At the end of the day, I'm in the business of helping as many entrepreneurs as I can. So, if I can reach more people outside of San Diego with the messaging that I have then it's a win/win all around." ~Henry Evans
As a VP of a software sales company, Henry Evans found himself,as he describes it, "caught up in the rat race". When excessive travel finally became too plus the day he realized he was going to miss his daughter's kindergarten recital it became too much.
Henry believed that if he could just dedicate an hour a day to his other passion pursuits / a new company a new career could evolve.
Since then Henry has gone on to build a successful career and helps (locally) hundreds of San Diego entrepreneurs who drive from near and far to attend his entrepreneur-marketing workshops.
Recently, Henry started to "live-feed" these meeting to share the lessons to entrepreneurs anywhere in the world eager to learn!
Martin and Henry
discuss:
-the birth of Hour a Day
Entrepreneur
-Henry's bestselling book on
Amazon, The Hour A Day Entrepreneur: Escape the Rat Race
and Achieve Entrepreneurial Freedom With Only One Focused Hour
ADay (90% 5 Star reviews!)
- the wise use of time to pave the
way to a new career and freedom.HINT: see the MBM prior episode
"The Great Eight that Separate"
-Review PARR
Methodology
-FREE copy of his Book - Visit:
http://www.houradayentrepreneur.com/
- His last meeting focused on Video
marketing - best steps to get most out of video for your
business
-recommends a couple great examples
videos: Poopourrie and dollar shave club
-A recent success story from Henry's
entrepreneur group.The importance of marketing to a
niche
-More marketing
insights!
-Definition of success
-Some of his best
habits
-importance of an accountability
partner
-THE POWER OF ONE
-the importance of failure and a
great story
"As long as you're on the journey
that to me means you are already a success even if the money and
stuff haven't caught up yet!"
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Resources
Henry's Book list:
The Trickto Money Is Having
Some
Think & Grow Rich
The Bible
App's recommended:
PC Users: Active
Words
Mac Users: TextExpander
REV - APP (for transcribing)
"I hope, therefore, that
some of my descendants may
follow the example and reap the benefit." ~Benjamin
Franklin
When it comes to personal
development very few know that the great grandfather or the great,
great grandfather of PD is
Benjamin Franklin.
It's hard to find a more
prolific American than Benjamin Franklin yet most people don't know
that at a young age Ben believed himself to be abrasive, brash and
argumentative and wrote about this in his
autobiography.
He outlined thirteen virtues he
hoped to assume as he matured. He was determined to start tracking
each virtue, one per week, and would move to the next virtue
rotating through all thirteen throughout the course of each
year.
1. Temperance.
2. Silence.
3. Order.
4. Resolution.
5. Frugality.
6. INDUSTRY.
7. Sincerity.
8. Justice.
9. Moderation.
10. Cleanliness.
11. Tranquillity.
12. Chastity.
13. Humility.
YES! The path to virtue is via HABIT and this story got Martin thinking a lot about the similarity of tracking habits to achieve goals and Ben's process of tracking habits to develop and refine his virtues.
Aristotle shared that Virtue is long-standing habit.
Martin shares this story to prove
to ANYONE (who is committed) that they have within them the
capacity AND a proven process to improve
themselves.
Martin ends the episode with some of his favorite Ben Franklin quotes:
"Your net worth to the world is what you get when you subtract your bad habits form your good ones"
"Early to bed and early to rise
makes a man healthy, wealthy and wise"
"A penny saved is a penny earned."
"An investment in knowledge pays the best interest."
"Be at war with your vices, at peace with your neighbors, and let every new year find you a better man."
***NEW Giveaway! Each week we select ONE, new iTunes review (good, bad or indifferent) and send a FREE signed book.
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Resources
The Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin (Paperback)
The Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin (FREE) Gutenberg.org
Napoleon Hill The Science of Personal Achievement
Napoleon Hill, Think & Grow Rich
What thoughts are you choosing and encouraging?
"This little volume (the result of meditation
and experience) is not intended as an exhaustive treatise on the
much-written upon subject of the power of thought. It is suggestive
rather than explanatory, its object being to stimulate men and
women to the discovery and perception of the truth that -
They themselves are makers of themselves
by virtue of the thoughts which they choose and encourage; that
mind is the master-weaver, both of the inner garment of character
and the outer garment of circumstance, and that, as they may have
hitherto woven in ignorance and pain they may now weave in
enlightenment and happiness." As a Man
Thinketh, ~James Allen
Martin kicks off this episode with a quick read
of the above foreword by James Allen and then breaks down some of
the main ideas, sharing his experience as it relates to Allen's
opening insights.
"Mind is the master-weaver, both of the
inner garment of character and the outer garment of
circumstance..."
Our habits of thought and behavior direct and dictate our circumstance, our present condition and then, ultimately shape and define our character.
Our unique capacity to take mindful control of
THOUGHT— to direct our thinking toward our goals and ambitions is
omnipotent. Or, we can waste the capability and allow it to drift
idle and aimless.
This episode ends with a bit of a challenge — to be mindful of our thoughts and our speech and ask, "What are your thoughts weaving today and what form will they assume tomorrow?"
We all have this unique gift... the powerful capacity to develop new habits of thought. And, it can only begin with awareness and then the intention to apply it consciously.
You can get to do this any time you decide!
Enjoy the episode and be sure to share this
Mind Bullet Monday with your friends!
***NEW Giveaway! Each week we select ONE, new iTunes review (good, bad or indifferent) and send a FREE signed book.
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Resources
As a Man Thinketh - Amazon
As a Man Thinketh - Gutenberg.org
Napoleon Hill The Science of Personal Achievement
Napoleon Hill, Think & Grow Rich
Your level of happiness will influence everything from your health to your income and seemingly everything else in between, including relationships and even career success, yet few take the time to learn and understand this important subject.
As a prelude to the Happiness Webinar Martin is hosting on 4/28/16 (6:30pm) PST, Martin discusses many of the influencing factors that contribute to one's level of happiness throughout their lifetime.
Register here for the Happiness Webinar!
It was Buddha who reportedly said, "There is no way to happiness. Happiness is the way." In a similar vein, Abe Lincoln once commented, "People are just about as happy as they make their minds up to be."
It's clear, though, that happiness can often be far more than just a choice — there may be at least a dozen other contributing factors from relationships to control, expectations, and even our ability to accept events and how much "hope" we have in our lives. All of these can influence how we might feel from one moment to the next.
The key is knowing what those factors are, and how to best manage and take control and responsibility over them to improve our own levels of happiness.
Check out this short episode now...
Register here for the Happiness Webinar!
________________
**NEW Weekly Giveaway! Each week we select ONE, new iTunes review (good, bad or indifferent) and send a FREE signed book. Either email the review screenshot or add your Twitter handle and we'll find you that way!
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Resources
Three Habit Busting Tips - prior episode
Revisit: The Law of Cosmic Habit Force
"Really, what moved me to write this is, what does it take to exist within a well-lived life?"
Eric Kaufmann has coached and counseled executives since 1999. He has identified common themes and patterns that underlie what he's identified as "Leadership as a Hero's Journey." The essential four traits that he's written extensively about include:
1) FOCUS
2) COURAGE
3) GRIT
4) FAITH
"Focus is what am I creating... what I create is somewhat related to my focus and somewhat related to 'stuff'..."
In this engaging interview, Martin and Eric discuss the philosophy that underlies much of Eric's thinking and writing these days—particularly the four virtues as outlined in his book. The two kick things off as they exchange some fun anecdotes about family life with two daughters of the same ages (13 and 15).
Eric's book is being re-released by a new publisher under a slightly different name, "The Four Virtues of a Leader."
In this episode, Eric covers:
- How he defines a HERO
- The three things each hero is called to do
- Who a hero really is and the essential traits
- How he defines each of the FOUR essential virtues
- Where to put your attention and focus
- What co-creation really is
- The essence of responsibility
- Why leaving the comfort zone is essential
- The 3 things, according to EK, that everyone fears
- The highest form of maturity and why a leader is always one who relies on allies
- The essence of GRIT and what constitutes GRIT
- The fundamental impermanence of life
- The significance of shedding past traits, habits and identities to make room for new roles and identities
- How he defines "success" (Here's a hint, see Earl Nightengale)
- His most important habits
- How he coaches and cultivates his personal mindset during "tough days"
- The great Hebrew saying, "When you change your spot you change your perspective"
- Why ephemerality could be the theme of the episode
- The ability to shed old habits, skills and identities and why it's critical for growth
- And so much more!
“If I am buying into my boss is a jerk, then I am now participating in that narrative."
“Real leaders work with and through others."
Eric’s diverse and varied life is a commitment to understanding and teaching wisdom. The crucible of Eric’s journey contains 13 years of leadership consulting, management at Fortune 100 firms, degrees in business and psychology, a quarter century of Zen practice, living in Israel and South Africa, teaching as a Master Scuba Diving instructor, and working as a certified hypnotherapist. Connect with Eric Kaufmann on LinkedIn.
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Resources
Eric's new Book! The Four Virtues of a Leader
Sagatica, Helping Leaders Lead Brilliantly. Eric's company
Great Video Resources from Eric
OTHER RESOURCES:
Nobody has more than twenty-four hours, yet some people get far ahead of others.
"If everyone requires eight hours of sleep to be healthy and most of us have jobs that require at least eight hours of work, it's what you do with the 'other' eight that will make all the difference for your future..."
Martin kicks off this episode sharing an observation Napoleon Hill made decades ago— how you use your "other" eight hours of your 24 hours will be make all the difference in your future results and paves the way for your "success"!
How are you using the "other" eight?
If success is creating your ideal future, then what you study, the skills and habits you develop in those other eight hours become essential to help you craft your ideal future.
Sadly, it appears most people waste those other eight hours on frivolous activities. Certainly, we all need rest and recreation but those other eight hours are the key — the path to a brighter, better future.
What would happen if you devoted just 15 minutes (of the other eight) consistently?
Since you probably plan on living another two or three years, devoting just 15 minutes a day, 5 times a week studying ANY skill or trade will likely make you an expert or put you very close to expertise and far ahead of others.
Check out this episode and be sure to share this Mind Bullet Monday!
***NEW Giveaway! Each week we select ONE, new iTunes review (good, bad or indifferent) and send a FREE signed book.
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Resources
Napoleon Hill The Science of Personal Achievement
Napoleon Hill, Think & Grow Rich
"It's crazy... so many habit apps allow you to track bad habits. Please, please, do not ever track BAD HABITS you're just putting attention and focus on what you do NOT want!"
"To eliminate a bad habit replace it with a good one."
Martin begins this episode by sharing how the environment is the first line of defense (or maybe even offense) when trying to kill a BAD Habit. Modifying your environment helps you to remove the common triggers and allows you to create impediments to executing the behavior you are trying to avoid.
Next, Martin shares a famous quote by a Dutch Renaissance Theologian, Desiderius Erasmus who said, "A nail is driven out by a nail, habit is replaced by a habit." Replacement is the key to elimination, NOT just removing the bad behavior... "that creates a vacuum!"
Finally, the listener is encouraged to revisit a prior episode "3 Bad Habit Busting Tips" and in that episode— as here, Martin revisits the "3 Ments" when it comes to killing a bad habit; environment, replacement and finally experiment.
Check out this short episode now...
________________
**NEW Weekly Giveaway! Each week we select ONE, new iTunes review (good, bad or indifferent) and send a FREE signed book. Either email the review screenshot or add your Twitter handle and we'll find you that way!
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Don't miss a single episode. Subscribe to the podcast to get each episode sent directly to you.
Resources
Three Habit Busting Tips - prior episode
Revisit: The Law of Cosmic Habit Force
"Don't just talk about your service, break it down. What kinds
of problems will you be solving at the end of the day? Can you
start to give away answers so people can test drive how you think
and how you solve a problem?"
According to Jeremy Pound, his journey to becoming co-founder of
JuicyResults, as well as a well-known creative entrepreneur within
the South Florida community, is easily traced to his enrollment (as
a high school sophomore) in a brand-new Art magnet school that
opened in a nearby neighborhood.
"I went from being very disinterested in school to all of a
sudden...WOW!"
Jeremy credits much of his current success to his incredible
teachers and the environment that fostered his current "I can do
anything" mentality.
Today, Jeremy is a sought-after Internet marketing strategist; he
helps clients who typically have annual revenues between $1 million
and $10 million and employs a dedicated sales staff.
In this episode, Jeremy discusses:
His earlier rock star dreams
What his grunge band taught him about dreaming
big and achieving goals
His first entrepreneurial lesson
The significance of intentionality, belief and
vision
Essential Internet Marketing Strategies
Why companies should focus on very specific
search queries and terms
What most small businesses do when it comes to
search keywords and why it's not necessarily best
The importance of crafting solutions to the
query vs. talking about your company or service
Why educating your prospect is among the most
successful strategies
The essence of Google and the search query
How he defines "success"
His most important habits
How to get a little better every day
His use of triggers for habit development
How relationships set off certain triggers and
habits
And so much more!
“The bigger the problem, the earlier in the morning I'll get
up!"
Jeremy Pound is the co-founder and CEO of JuicyResults, a South
Florida-based Internet marketing agency. In the last decade Jeremy
has helped craft and implement online marketing strategies for
countless companies, ranging in size from the smallest of
businesses to Fortune 100 companies. Today, he works closely with
sales teams to generate ready-to-buy leads using an array of
Internet marketing strategies.
He writes and speaks regularly on how businesses can best take
advantage of the web and is the author of The Bootstrapper's Guide
to SEO. Jeremy is also the host of the New Customer Machine
podcast, where he interviews experts and entrepreneurs about how to
turn strangers into customers at scale.
----------------------------------------------------
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Resources
Jeremy's Books
(FREE) Seven Habits of Scalable Sales Teams
The Bootstrapper's Guide to SEO: A Proven Framework for Winning Top
Rankings in Search Engines (Amazon)
Jeremy's PODCAST! (iTunes) New Customer Machine
Jeremy's Reading List:
Man's Search For Meaning (Amazing book!) Viktor Frankl
The Omnivore's Dilemma: A Natural History of Four Meals Michael
Pollan
The Obstacle is the Way, Ryan Holiday
OTHER RESOURCES:
The Habit Factor app
The Habit Factor template
The Habit Factor book
Big Brothers Big Sisters
"There is a HUGE difference between being interested versus being committed to an outcome or goal. For most people, if they are being honest with themselves, they are only interested..."
Martin kicks off this episode with a personal realization and a confession. Realizing that earlier in the prior month he said to himself, "I'm going to run 35 miles this month."
So, what was the problem?
Well, that was ALL it was... just talk! There was NO PLAN and there was really no action. It was a "nice to have" but certainly not a commitment!
To be committed— truly committed is the first step for goals that are meaningful.
Talking about a goal or even having a vision of achieving a goal is worth very little without backing it up with sincere commitment.
So, how do you know what you have sincere commitment? Easy.
— Is there a PLAN?
— Is there consistent action? Have the core behaviors/habits been identified?
— Are you TRACKING these behaviors? If you are not tracking your progress you are not serious about your goal.
— Be sure to Reassess - your strategy, your results and be flexible in your approach!
"I had no plan, I took limited action and I really wasn't committed to tracking or even assessing any progress along the way. It was just talk...."
Near the end of the episode Martin shares an old parable about the hen and the pig who decide to open a restaurant together as equal partners. However, the pig objects and for good reason!
Find out why... listen to episode and be sure to share this Mind Bullet Monday.
***NEW Giveaway! Each week we select ONE, new iTunes review (good, bad or indifferent) and send a FREE signed book.
Either email the review screenshot or add your twitter handle and we'll find you that way!
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Resources
The Chicken and the Pig Parable
"In life, goals are not optional." #thehabitfactor
"The first thing goals do is give you direction. Direction provides a sense of purpose, and purpose leads to funny things like happiness and contentment."
This show kicks off with Martin sharing a story about a woman who approached him after a workshop simply to say, "Thank you! I used to HATE the idea of goals!" She was frustrated! She really disliked the thought of goals because it reminded her of a nagging husband who insisted she set some goals that included "losing weight."
This lady was so relieved to learn that by using The Habit Factor process, she could place her attention and focus on just a few, recurring behaviors (habits) instead of the goal itself.
Then, Martin reviews The Habit Factor's P.A.R.R. methodology and how it stacks up against the popularized Cue, Routine, Reward method. He shares how the P.A.R.R. methodology is forward looking while Cue Routine Reward is oriented toward assessing previous behaviors. Cue, Routine, Reward doesn't take into account simple and critical components of habit building, such as Recording (tracking), Reassessment, or, really, a defined process for planning.
Check out this short episode now and discover the insights that have shifted an entire industry...
________________
**NEW Weekly Giveaway! Each week we select ONE, new iTunes review (good, bad or indifferent) and send a FREE signed book. Either email the review screenshot or add your Twitter handle and we'll find you that way!
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Resources
Goal Achievement Theory: Why SMART Goals Aren’t and How To Accelerate Your Achievement
Listen to this show: The Law of Cosmic Habit Force
"If we're focused, confident and relaxed we have a much better opportunity to execute what we want..."
"We know that our behaviors and our habits lead to our results..."
A former pro golfer, Rick earned his doctorate in Applied Sports Psychology. He is the author of Golf: The Ultimate Mind Game and is former editor of Golf Tips magazine.
A high school football injury directed Rick toward the sport of golf, and what he's learned since has truly been life-altering.
In a competitive playoff for the right to join his college golf team as a walk-on, as he describes it, he "choked" under pressure. It was that "failure" that became a formative life experience and sent Rick toward the study of peak performance strategies.
Today Rick is a sought-after peak-performance coach who trains aspiring professionals and helps corporate executives apply his many strategies and insights on peak performance, leadership and teamwork.
In this episode, Rick shares:
- How to re-write your story to serve your ambitions
- Physiological influences of performance
- Why and how love (passion) is a critical component for peak performance
- His strategy for the golf-course "workshop" with executive teams!
- How his workshop reveals so much about decision making, leadership and communication
- How he applies The Habit Factor in his training to carry his clients beyond just the mental game, and how that was a breakthrough
- How he defines "success"
- How appreciating your life's "roles" helps you create greater attention and mindfulness
- How to get a little better every day
- And, so much more...
“It's the exercise and the process behind it -- how did they come to the decisions as a team and what happens when someone played poorly? Did they react and judge them?"
Why could I not perform under the pressure, when it mattered most. Yet, when I put some of those mental and emotional skills and trained them, I was able to perform at a high level afterwards..."
“I'm a BIG believer that leadership starts with the individual, not with the team. You have to be able to lead yourself first before you can lead anyone else."
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Resources
Rick Sessinghaus — Perform For Success
The Habit Factor Certified Coaching Program
HeartMath (link)
Rick's PODCAST! PERFORM FOR SUCCESS! (iTunes)
Books Rick Referenced:
Unlimited Power by Tony Robbins
Breaking the Habit of Being Yourself Dr. Joe Dispenza
Coherence Alan Watkins
If happiness is, in large part, tied to the quality of our relationships, this episode is a MUST Listen...
"This is how and where the championships are won and the bridges are built..."
Unfortunately, most people grow up believing that independence is the highest form of maturity.
Martin shares some of his personal experience and the big, ah-ha in reading The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People. Dr. Stephen Covey points out that it is interdependence and not independence that is the highest form a maturity.
Further, Covey shares that the most troubled relationships tend to break down, whether it's a team, company or in a personal setting, when the FIRST THREE HABITS (he calls, "the personal victory") are not first honored and addressed. Those habits are: Be Proactive, Begin with the End in Mind, Put First Things First!
In fact, it's those first three habits that build the foundation and help to foster a strong, capable and long-lasting, interdependent relationship.
Check it out now.... hear and share this Mind Bullet Monday. ***NEW Giveaway! Each week we select ONE, new iTunes review (good, bad or indifferent) and send a FREE signed book. Either email the review screenshot or add your twitter handle and we'll find you that way!
BTW: It's easy to SUBSCRIBE and to have each episode sent to you automatically.
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Resources
The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People.
After selling his company for millions at age 26, Jon Carder briefly retires to surf the South Pacific. It turns out to be a very short "retirement" that lasts only about 3 weeks...
“I think doing a business for money is absolutely the wrong motivation and will actually lead to a lot of challenges.
“The only thing you have to do to be successful is to be better than just about everyone else at just one thing. It's simple but it's not easy." ~Jon Carder
At just 26, Jon Carder was featured on the cover of Fortune Small Business magazine (link) wearing just board shorts and holding a surfboard as the sun set with the title, "Time to Sell?" He had just sold his company for millions and was ready to "retire" and surf.
But Jon Carder isn't your typical Southern California surf rat. He's also been featured in Business Insider and dozens of other publications and is an active member of the Entrepreneurs Organization and a mentor with The Founders Institute. He has founded several multi-million-dollar companies, and along the way has raised upwards of $35 million.
While his "success" story is legendary, it's actually his entire story— the failures, the struggles and all the hard work, agility and perseverance — that make for a very educational and entertaining interview, particularly for the aspiring entrepreneur.
In this episode, Jon recounts his unique journey from selling microwaved hot dogs in his neighborhood as a kid, to selling baby products at a swap meet in college and later selling one of his companies for millions. Today, Jon is on the precipice of changing the face of online-to-offline commerce with his innovative technology.
In this episode JC shares:
- Why not to start any business
- The surfing insight that led to his abundance mindset
- How following others' insights helped him evolve his companies
- Why great marketing can never make up for poor customer service — there's a funny story here
- The critical importance of focus
- How he picked himself up through failure and depression to start his second company— the one he ultimately sold!
- How three months into his next company they netted over $100,000
- How he actually applied the lessons learned from his prior company failure
- The birthing of MojoPages, MOGL and of course, Empyr
- His desire and passion to create a positive impact
- Donating about 1 million meals to help feed those in need
- The origination of his online-to-offline platform and API, a HUGE opportunity resulting from his persistence and something known as the "corridor principle"
- The KEY mindset that carries him through the darkest of times
- Relax HARD!
- His key success habits these days
- and so much more...
“What really makes me happy is following that journey, and not just for the ups and downs, but doing it for the potential positive impact…the bigger the impact the more thrilling the ride."
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Resources
EMPYR - Empyr
Business Insider Article on Jon Carder
Elon Musk (book) Jon mentions
The Score Takes Care of Itself - Bill Walsh
(Correction: MG mistakenly thinks JC is talking about Bill Walton... This is a great book by the former legendary Forty-Niner Coach, Bill Walsh!)
"There is no way to happiness. Happiness is the way." ~Buddhist Proverb
While happiness, as the Buddhist proverb goes, can and should be a choice (most often) there is no doubt our present circumstances and events have great influence upon our current level of happiness.
In fact, what happens more often than not is that we will assign and craft stories about events (in the present) and then layer on our own subjective and speculative implications (stories) about how that event will influence our future.
Interestingly, these future stories (that WE are always, habitually creating at will) in turn than influence our present level of happiness.
The question becomes, do we have the power to change the story, our attention and focus?
Martin touches on the R.A.S.; the Reticular Activation System, a part of the brain helps selectively guide our focus, to see and find those things that we are seeking OR patterns we've seen in the past.
"We tend to see what we put our focus upon... If that future story or image projection is not what we would like to see we actually get to change it."
In fact, you might argue that becomes a core responsibility in our life.
Martin recounts Jobs' biography by Walter Isaacson, simply titled, Steve Jobs. In the book, Jobs is famous for something Isaacson coined as his "reality distortion field". This reflected Jobs unrelenting ambition to distort "reality" and current information and events into something that would ultimately serve his imagination and his goals.
Can we not do this?
Martin challenges the listener to try to alter their focus and to craft a story about a positive, hopeful and optimistic future despite any negative current events or circumstances. And, to notice how that impacts your present level of happiness!
Listen now to the latest Mind Bullet Monday and don't miss a single episode— It's easy to SUBSCRIBE and to have each episode sent to you automatically.
"Your imagination is your preview of life's coming attractions.” ~Albert Einstein
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Resources
Your R.A.S. in action — See this video!
Steve Jobs by Walter Isaacson
“You can't build a reputation telling people what you are going to do!” ~Henry Ford
It's a commonly accepted practice after all... tell everyone about your goals so you are accountable and extra motivated to push forward, right?
Well surprise - surprise! It turns out that announcing your goals is one of the biggest drains of energy and it often proves to diminish your chances of success as you strive to achieve your goal.
Martin discusses his personal experience with this concept and how he noted his energy was best expended NOT in talking about his goals but in the act of getting busy to accomplish them— forging the habits that will accelerate the goals achievement.
Martin then shares a related TED talk by Derek Sivers (link below) and some of the science Derek cites that contradicts the often promoted "tell everyone" tactic.
Check out this week's F.A.F. and learn how keeping your trap shut is likely to put you on the fast track to goal achievement!
If you still want to tell someone... Martin discusses exactly who you can share your most important goals with!
________________
Quick note of thanks and request: If these short episodes are helpful and provide value please share a review on itunes to help others find the show!
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Resources
Derek Sivers website: Sivers.org
The TED talk by Derek Sivers "Keep Your Goals to Yourself"
“Companies see that there is so much value that comes from doing good in the community and it adds so much business value as well."
“And I realized that through my many zigs and the zags I picked up experiences that really helped me to grow as a consultant." ~Frank Scarpaci
Frank Scarpaci, a sought-after B corp and corporate social responsibility consultant, reviews a vast array of benefits related to becoming a "B" corporation (short for a "Benefit" corporation), a new type of corporation that puts social, community and environmental causes and stakeholders at equal value with corporate profits.
Today, certified "B" corps span 47 countries and more than 130 industries and encompasses a growing community of more than 1,600 businesses!
In this episode, Frank recounts his unique experience and the journey that led to him to becoming a leader in the space and a well-known consultant for aspiring businesses looking to become B corp certified.
Frank shares many smart insights in this episode, including:
- How the B corp came about
- The TOP well-known brands/companies that are B corps
- How he came to be recognized by AMEX as one of only 150 employees (out of 85,000) as a team member who embodied their "Good Citizenship" Value
- How to FIND A JOB with a B Corp
- How to take the "B Impact Assessment" for your existing company
- Why it's important to share the good that you and your company provide for your community
- For business owners: Be sure to share and talk about the causes that matter to you and your company!
- Great places to work — a ranking of great companies to work for as well as other resources
- How to check up on non-profits you are interested in and look under the hood
- Frank's best habits, favorite books and how he defines "success"
“We are in a perfect time where we are seeing this shift in the business community to start taking a look at a lot of these challenges..."
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Frank has more than 30 years experience with corporate social responsibility, strategic planning, meeting facilitation, and event management experience and helps companies connect their business success to social good.
Frank is a passionate advocate for the growing B Corp movement— simply a better way to do business. Frank's company, VIANOVA, was one of the first companies to earn B Corp certification in 2008.
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Resources
VIANOVA - Frank's Company
"Humans are justifying creatures... we'll craft a story and then we'll dig-in and get behind it. The exercise is, I think, to challenge our story recognizing that is our nature."
While many people may be naturally gifted when it comes to interpersonal skills, others struggle in the area and it often holds them back and expends a lot of time and energy.
What most people fail to recognize is that arguments are often rooted in the simple truth that nobody wants to be thought of as stupid or dumb and therefore will do whatever they can to position themselves as "right" and justify their actions, no matter what they might have been.
Consider this truth and how it might be useful when understanding and relating to friends, family and others better— to help avoid unnecessary arguments.
Whether it's as mundane as not doing the dishes or as horrible as murder one tends to justify their actions. And, it's important to note that people will as fiercely defend their non-actions as their their actions!
"People will either show you their results or they will show you their excuses."
Martin asks listeners to examine various aspects of their lives, analyze those results and simply ask, "What am I justifying?"
Check it out now... hear all about it n this Mind Bullet Monday!
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Resources
Brian Tracy: Maximum Achievement: Strategies and Skills That Will Unlock Your Hidden Powers to Succeed
After searching for nearly 20 years Napoleon Hill finally declares he's discovered the missing link— the secret that he unintentionally left out of his bestselling classic, "Think & Grow Rich".
It appears that The Law of Cosmic Habit Force is only something Napoleon Hill could have discovered after writing Think & Grow Rich and hearing from many that, "it didn't work" and wasn't making them rich.
A distraught Napoleon was confounded as he heard this sort of feedback repeatedly. Even though it worked for many, his 16 principles fell short for a number of other readers.
“WHAT was missing!?”
Well, Mr. Hill pondered that question long and hard, and, as he explained it, he found himself meditating upon this “missing link” FOR ANOTHER 20 YEARS!
So, what was missing!?
Well, it’s almost unfair to tell you/share it ; ). Consider that Napoleon Hill spent 20 years of his life formulating this success philosophy and authoring Think & Grow Rich, then another 20 years trying to figure out what the “MISSING LINK” was (those are HIS words) —40 Years total!
This may be too BIG a topic for a short Mind-Bullet Monday but Martin does his best to shed light on this mystery in about 12 minutes and encourages those who want to learn and understand more to check out thehabitfactor.com blog and / or the book. An article/post specifically about it is linked here and below.
When completely understood there may be nothing more powerful and impactful to one's life. Check it out now and learn about Hill's unbelievable insight in this Mind Bullet Monday!
________________
Quick note of thanks and request: If these short episodes are helpful and provide value please share a review on itunes to help others find the show!
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Resources
Think & Grow Rich (Book) Amazon
The Science of Personal Achievement: Follow in the Footsteps of the Giants of Success (Amazon)
Note: In this program he adds the 17th principle— the Law of Cosmic Habit Force (not in Think & Grow Rich)
YOUTUBE VIDEO - Napoleon Hill Describing The Law of Cosmic Habit Force - watch and listen 3 x!
The Habit Factor Article "NAPOLEON HILL Missing secret LINK
“The primary mark has to work in black and white and it has to be as simple as possible"
“That logo was talking to me... and it was talking to everyone..." ~Thom McElroy, Co-Founder Volcom
Thom McElroy covers a ton of ground in this special interview (recorded live from his ultra-modern, beachfront crib in Laguna Beach ; ).
He speaks candidly about his early days, being a "grom" growing up in Huntington Beach, as a graphic design major at SDSU, and yes, the creation of the Volcom logo and all the graphics that rallied the "YAE" Youth Against Establishment".
The interview covers his inspirations and thoughts on logo and design, the rise and early struggle of the rebellious surf, skate and snowboard company Volcom.
Thom pulls no punches and shares
- The crazy story that led him to SDSU— it's surf related!
- Growing up in Huntington beach
- How his life pivots toward art and graphic design
- How he defines success
- His most important habits
- The birth and evolution of the Volcom logo
- His design influences
- The essence of a great logo and the technique to get there!
- & so much more!
“I love reading books about the struggles and how to get over the struggles and how to still win."
When Volcom went public in 2005, Thom went on a leave of absence that eventually lead to his retirement. For the past ten years he has consulted with many new companies and young CEOs and invested in several emerging brands. Thom currently sits on the Campanile Board of Directors and Chairs the Alumni Engagement Committee. He also mentors at the Lavin Entrepreneur Management Center and is involved in the School of Business, the Zahn Center of Engineering and The College of Professional Studies and Fine Arts at SDSU.
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