Habits 2 Goals: The Habit Factor® Podcast With Martin Grunburg | Goal Achievement, Productivity & Success Simplified

"Our energy flows where our attention goes..." Today's FAF (Frequently Asked Friday) is: "How can I overcome challenges of the past to focus on a bright future?" MG runs through five paradigm shifting mindsets —a recipe— for anyone to get over an unfortunate past situation and get back on track! Tips/Steps: 1) Meaning: What is the meaning your currently giving the situation? Can you spin it from defeating to empowering? 2) Time: Consider just how fluid/dynamic life is, specifically how quickly time moves and this helps you to realize and guide your metamorphosis! 3) Focus: Our focus determines how we feel. Direct your focus toward "things" bigger than you and away from yourself! How can you be of service to others? 4) HabitStrength!: Knowing that even discipline is a habit empowers you to realize that anything that is difficult now can and will become easier overtime with effort and practice. 5) Results!: Assess results continuously using the feedback not to beat yourself up but to inspire you. Scientists don

"You can recognize truth by its beauty and simplicity." ~Dr. Richard Feynman “I am lazy and anti-authoritarian. I have a short attention span, a shorter memory, and no intellect. I am devoid of marketable skills and I despise routine. I have never held a job for longer than two months and, in the entire history of the United States government, I am one of five people (at most) to have been fired from a civil service job. Fortunately, these are ideal qualifications for an entrepreneur. ” Fred Gratzon It seems as though Fred Gratzon has lived several amazing lives. Ask him how it's happened and to where the credit ought to go, he's quick to reference one thing; Transcendental Meditation. In 1979 with no money, no business experience, and no knowledge whatsoever of how to make ice cream Fred founded, The Great Midwestern Ice Cream Company. 1984, it was judged by People Magazine as “the best ice cream in America”. Fred had signed a non-compete clause with the investors of Great Midwestern Ice Cream which forbade

"All men's miseries derive from not being able to sit in a quiet room alone." ~Blaise Pascal How over-stimulated are you? Most people don't know and here's how to find out, just try to meditate. Blaise Pascal wasn't being overly dramatic with his above statement. It's hard to be creative or productive when you are overstimulated. MG suggests that for every minute you mediate you'll  get ten minutes back, much like what happens when you take time to proactively plan. Stillness, silence and emptiness (nothingness) is THE source of not just us but the solutions we seek.  Too many people listening will just shake their head, "Yep, I know, I should meditate." But in their head, they're telling themselves they don't have the time." Don't know how? There is a discussion around that as well! Enjoy the episode! Feel free to share and leave a review on iTunes!  Thanks for your help in selecting our Season IV Cover art! The Success Principles (Jack Canfield) Getting Things Done! (Allen's Great Book!) TRELLO! Enjoy and

"Pressure like habit is neither good nor bad. It's a neutral, super-natural force. Pressure may  be the greatest creative force in the universe." This episode begins where the last FAF (Frequently Asked Friday) left off. After covering why he wrote The Habit Factor® the discussion here carries onward to the subject of pressure with TPP, (The Pressure Paradox™). After The Habit Factor was published there was pressure (so to speak) to better understand how our environment, in particular, pressure influences our behaviors and habits. In fact, the basic laws of physics related to Pressure; for instance, P = F/A has significant application to our personal productivity, performance and even our peace of mind. That's right, discover how pressure is a requirement for peace of mind. Enjoy the episode! Feel free to share and leave a review on iTunes!  Thanks for your help in selecting our Season IV Cover art! The Success Principles (Jack Canfield) Getting Things Done! (Allen's Great Book!) TRELLO! Enjoy and share! Tha

"I've always felt my best when I was near, in, at, or on water... Blue Mind isn't about what we're adding, it's about what we're removing." ~Wallace J. Nichols Dr. Wallace "J" Nichols, called “Keeper of the Sea" by GQ Magazine and “a visionary" by Outside Magazine is an innovative, silo-busting, entrepreneurial scientist, movement maker, renown marine biologist, voracious Earth and idea explorer, wild water advocate, bestselling author, sought after lecturer, and fun-loving Dad. He also likes turtles (a lot). In this engaging interview MG and Dr. J cover all sorts of ground from creativity and happiness theories to even a bit of Shakespeare. Wallace moved from New York to Chicago and ultimately received his Ph.D. in Tuscon — just a hop and skip to Mexico's shores where he studied sea turtles. "This was the book I really wanted to read but I couldn't find anywhere. Ultimately, I tried to get a mentor of mine to write it, although his reply was, 'great idea! You write it!'" Blue Mind is much bigger than just th

"We all have it... the freedom of choice, the ultimate freedom and it lies in that space..." This was originally slated to be the kickoff episode for Season IV but it got pushed back a bit... ; ) How well do you use what is likely your greatest gift; your freedom to choose? "There are three great constants in life" Dr. Covey used to say. In this episode key ideas about choice and how it influences everything from our emotions (including happiness) to the meaning we give events and even, the outcomes we experience. How we choose our thoughts directs our energy. Our energy / focus directs how we feel. How we feel influences our actions and results. So, are you selecting conscientiously and wisely? Do you select thoughts that support your goals and ideals? Do you select thoughts that make you feel good and empowered? Finally, there is a classic, powerful FORMULA that emerges to us produce those outcomes we desire! Enjoy the episode! Feel free to share and leave a review on iTunes!  Thanks for your help in selec

"This probably sounds super-corny...  around 2003, I felt absolutely compelled to write the book..." MG kicks this one off with his "GTR" (Good Things Report) about a wonderful teacher at a university in Canada who emailed requesting to use the GRIT Pyramid artwork (a top shared post) for her class. In this  "FAF", Frequently Asked Friday, MG delves into some deeper background about the germination of The Habit Factor®, the inspiration for the book and app and his personal experience that wonderfully help to make the ideas more practical. Then, he takes a turn into a much bigger "WHY" and comes to a point, "I didn't know we were going to go there" calling it a "confession" of sorts. Enjoy the show! Thanks for your help in selecting our Season IV Cover art! The Habit Factor® Book (Amazon Kindle) The Pressure Paradox® Book (Amazon Kindle) Getting Things Done! (Allen's Great Book!) Enjoy and share! Thank you! >>>FREE RESOURCES to keep your mind tuned!! >> The Path to Habit Mastery! (Free Webinar) TRELLO! As a Ma

"I don't think it's about finding purpose... it's about taking what you're already doing and putting purpose into it." ~Jairek Robbins LEARN IT. LIVE IT. GIVE IT. That's Jairek's motto and mission and few people on the planet are as well versed on personal development as Jairek Robbins. And, the best part may be that Jairek is a consummate student who actively studies and, more importantly, practices what he preaches. In this entertaining interview, made more so by an amazing technical error at the most inopportune time (not edited out) Jairek and Martin roll through his many experiences including his education at USD (a semester at sea) and then a semester off to volunteer and serve in Africa. The experiences led to many great stories and insights about joy, happiness and purpose— to name a few. Jairek shares these stories and a near death experience that greatly influenced the course of his life. Finally, JR shares some wonderful tech tools (apps) and books that continue to provide value to his life and tho

"Once again, the answer reveals itself to be BOTH... we must not take life too seriously AND we must take it very seriously." ~Grunburg Often we'll hear, "he/she takes life too seriously." Sure, there are many times that can be a real problem. After all, "nobody gets out alive" right? At the same time, it's important to recognize that real success isn't an accident and that those who "arrive" in life, so to speak, know exactly what it is they want and are clear about where they are going. To put it simply, they are serious— they become very intentional and believe they can influence the direction of their life. Ralph Waldo Emerson put it this way, "The world makes way for the man who knows where he is going." In this episode Martin reaffirms this crucial idea: ONLY you know what it is you want and in order to get it you must become very responsible and intentional about its achievement. MG shares this great reminder his own pursuit of a personal (health) goal and what exactly he believes makes all the differe

"Habit is neither good nor bad... it's a neutral force we can either craft intentionally to serve our goals or they will form unintentionally, which rarely serves our goals.".." This one begins with a chuckle as MG explains how this episode is a "part deux" recap of Season One's most popular episodes. Due to its popularity, MG wants to set the record straight and revisit both WHY the show has this title in the first place and than address the question itself, "what makes a good habit?" Enjoy the show! Thanks for your help in selecting our Season IV Cover art! The Habit Factor® Book (Amazon Kindle) The Pressure Paradox® Book (Amazon Kindle) Getting Things Done! (Allen's Great Book!) Enjoy and share! Thank you! >>>FREE RESOURCES to keep your mind tuned!! As a Man Thinketh Free Webinar: (Mini Course)Why Happiness is a Habit and how to cultivate it! Free Webinar: (Mini Course) Focus & Discipline >> The 28 Day Breakthrough! TRELLO! Check it out and be sure to subscribe! >> Thank YOU for checking out this episo

"There was nothing in that work that fed my soul and I can remember... I just felt like my soul was dying" ~Roz Roz Savage holds a law degree from Oxford, is a Yale World Fellow, a Guinness World Record Holder, and the only woman to have rowed across three oceans: The Atlantic, Pacific and Indian (in that order). Yet, Roz spills her guts in this candid interview about being a "recovering management consultant" terribly unhappy chasing a three-car garage and professional career, all while she sensed her "soul was dying." Out of desperation and a great sense of urgency, "while there was still a soul left to shrivel," she dives into the world of self-help/personal development and comes across Covey's great work, The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People. She is struck by Habit #2, which is: "Begin with the end in mind,"  so she does exactly that by writing two versions of her obituary, one as if nothing were to change and the other as if she had led her ideal life. Check it out! BTW: Be sure to look out for he

"The mind is for having ideas not holding them." ~David Allen How often do you write down your thoughts? Do you have a system for doing so? Season IV is finally here and Martin breaks down Allen's profound insight in today's MBM (Mind Bullet Monday). His point; the best use of our minds is for creating new ideas but NOT for holding them. Note: There is an added bonus when we write our ideas down... can you guess what it is? Thanks for your help in selecting our Season IV Cover art! Getting Things Done! (Allen's Great Book!) TRELLO! Enjoy and share! Thank you! >>>FREE RESOURCES to keep your mind tuned!! As a Man Thinketh Free Webinar: (Mini Course)Why Happiness is a Habit and how to cultivate it! Free Webinar: (Mini Course) Focus & Discipline >> The 28 Day Breakthrough! Check it out and be sure to subscribe! >> Thank YOU for checking out this episode and we're always grateful when you SHARE our stuff w/ your friends and help us by writing a review ; )   ---------- More Resources (FREE! The Habit Factor's T

"I am the wisest man alive, for I know one thing, and that is that I know nothing." ~Socrates How much do you value the unknown? How much do you appreciate what you do not know? Rumi - the great Sufi mystic put it this way. "Sell your cleverness and purchase bewilderment." And, Lao Tzu the great Chinese philosopher said, “To know that you do not know is true knowledge. To think you know when you do not is a disease. Recognizing this disease as a disease is to be free of it.” So, Socrates put it one way, Lao Tzu and Rumi another! On the cusp of Season IV, (BE SURE TO VOTE FOR THE NEW COVER ART HERE! It takes just two clicks!!) This "bridge" episode challenges the listener to embrace the unknown. "Not knowing can be incredibly liberating and lead you to a place of trust and faith." Rather than being totally self-defeating, learning to appreciate and accept what you don't know can take you to a place of powerful humility. The smartest most logical people in the world ultimately, run up again the unknown. Logic

"Be like water..." ~Bruce Lee [STEP #9, MASTERY, in this BREAKTHROUGH mini-series, "How to Make 2018 Your Best, Breakthrough New Year Ever!"] Step #9 =  The Mastery Mindset! Step #1: Decide Step #2: Assess Step #3: Values, Mission and Vision Step #4: Passion & Purpose Step #5: Energy & Enthusiasm Step #6: GOALS! Step #7: HABIT! HABIT! HABIT! Step #8: HabitStrength™ When you think about the concept of "mastery" what comes to mind? Martin begins this show reviewing that invariably, after you go through each of the first 8 steps, you will come upon OBSTACLES. It's the true Master who regards obstacles as simply opportunities in disguise. Recall, that there are three great constants in life; change, choice and principles. Therefore the idea of mastery as a destination— an arrival point— can only be an illusion. If change is a constant, and it is, the idea of perpetual learning to become a "master" is essential. In this episode Martin recaps the very traits essential to the Mastery Mindset and even takes h

"Discipline is a habit. GRIT is a habit. The more good behaviors you can habituate the less you will need to rely on willpower." [STEP #8,  (week #8) in the BREAKTHROUGH mini-series, "How to Make 2018 Your Best, Breakthrough New Year Ever!"] Step #OCHO =  HabitStrength!! Step #1: Decide Step #2: Assess Step #3: Values, Mission and Vision Step #4: Passion & Purpose Step #5: Energy & Enthusiasm Step #6: GOALS! Step #7: HABIT! HABIT! HABIT! And, now we delve into... part deux of Habit; HabitStrength! Think about habit development just like muscle development. It isn't about a set number of days, it's about a process and the P.A.R.R. process/method we covered in the last episode. People don't go to the gym and ask, "How long will it take to develop my biceps?" No. They start with 15lbs and curl that weight until within a few weeks it feels light (they get stronger) so they up the weight to 20lbs then 25, 30, 35lbs, etc. Each successive week of planning, acting, recording and reassessing helps to develop t

"Cosmic Habit Force is the greatest of all natural laws. It is Nature's comptroller through which all other natural laws are coordinated.” ~Napoleon Hill [STEP #7,  (week #7) in the BREAKTHROUGH mini-series, "How to Make 2018 Your Best, Breakthrough New Year Ever!"] Step #7 =  HABIT! (Cosmic Habit Force, Habit Alignment & P.A.R.R.) Step #1: Decide Step #2: Assess Step #3: Values, Mission and Vision Step #4: Passion & Purpose Step #5: Energy & Enthusiasm Step #6: GOALS! And, now we delve into... HABIT! HABIT. HABIT. HABIT. It's worthwhile to keep in mind that when The Habit Factor® was first  introduced, habit was an afterthought if any thought at all when it came to goal achievement. This was primarily due to its negative connotation, "smoking, drinking, drugs," etc. Even in what is regarded as one of the best self-help books of all time, Think & Grow Rich, habit, as a force for goal achievement was NOT identified, not as a specific process to develop and align habits to one's goals. In fact,

"Success is goals, and all else is commentary.” ~Brian Tracy [STEP #6,  (week #6) in the BREAKTHROUGH mini-series, "How to Make 2018 Your Best, Breakthrough New Year Ever!"] Step #6 =  GOALS! Step #1: DECIDE. Step #2: Assess Step #3: Values, Mission and Vision Step #4: Passion & Purpose Step #5: Energy & Enthusiasm And, now we're on to step #6, GOALS!!! BT is a hero and a living legend in the personal development space and I'm fairly sure NOBODY has created more quality personal development content than Mr. Brian Tracy. Point is... the man is a walking 'master-class' in personal development and if he's suggesting goals are (equal to) success, than we probably ought to pay more attention to them, right? So, in this episode we do just that... Zig Ziglar used to say, "Don't be a wandering generality, you must become a meaningful specific." Goals allow us to become a meaningful specific. What is your #1 Goal right now? Where is that goal written? Is it posted somewhere were you can see it? Do you revisit

"Nothing great was ever achieved without enthusiasm.” ~R.W. Emerson [Here's STEP #5 (week #5) in our BREAKTHROUGH mini-series, "How to Make 2018 Your Best, Breakthrough New Year Ever!"] Step #5 =  Energy & Enthusiasm! Step #1 was about Deciding. Step #2 was about Assessing Step #3 was about Values, Mission and Vision Step #4 was about Passion & Purpose And, now we're on to Energy & Enthusiasm! It's simple math really... YOU are energy and your goal is going to require energy in order to be achieved.  Mark twain once quipped, "And what is a man without energy? Nothing— nothing at all." It cannot be over-stated... the quality of your energy and enthusiasm will have a direct influence upon the achievement of your goals. The quality of your energy and enthusiasm will have a direct influence upon your goals! #habits #goals (tweet that one ; ) So, when it comes to your "energy being" what do you do DAILY to optimize your energy? What is your diet like? Have you fine-tuned your diet lately? Are you track

"The unexamined life is not worth living.” ~Socrates [This is STEP #4 in our BREAKTHROUGH mini-series, "How to Make 2018 Your Best, Breakthrough New Year Ever!"] Step #4 =  Passion & Purpose. Step #1 was about DECIDING. Step #2 was about ASSESSING Step #3 was about Values, Mission and Vision And, now we're on to passion and purpose! You may be thinking... "Oh no! More work!?" Recall Lao Tzu's famous statement, "Knowing others is wisdom, knowing our self is enlightenment"" So, in this episode, we do exactly that, further examine ourselves; our passions,  strengths, weaknesses and in the process may just discover our purpose. The good news is this, if you've been struggling to identify your purpose, chances are these exercises are going to help get you a lot closer. Finally, to underscore the significance of this important step, "Your purpose in life is to find you purpose and give your whole heart to it." ~Buddha So, get AFTER IT! Be sure to click on the F RE E resources: PDF's (pdf 1 and 2- Strength &

"Work harder on yourself than you do on your job. When you work hard on your job you make a living and when you work hard on yourself you'll make a fortune.” ~Jim Rohn [NOTE: This is our NEW YEAR BREAKTHROUGH Series, "How to Make 2018 Your Best Breakthrough New Year!"] Step 1# is about deciding. Step #2 is about awareness and assessment. So, STEP #3 is... YOUR CORE VALUES. MISSION and VISION That sounds like some work doesn't it? Which is why 95% of people never go through these exercises. They require deep introspection, humility and courage. But, it's no coincidence that the greatest organizations and companies do these exercises they have figured this out. Truth is, it was only after doing this exercise for my company that I realized I HAD TO DO THIS FOR MYSELF and it was a game-changer! Thus, it's part of the FOUNDATION for our Personal Breakthrough Series. Why don't most people do these exercises for themselves? First, they require work (time and energy). The other reason is people begin to doubt themsel