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

This Habits 2 Goals episode is FREE for ALL subscribers.“Where there is no vision, the people perish.” ~ ProverbsThe Greater the Vision, the Greater the PossibilitiesImagine yourself staring at a chessboard, lost in the tangle of pieces. Suddenly, a move leaps out, clear as day. Not because you’re a grandmaster, but because you finally saw the board differently. This is the magic of vision. It's not just about eyesight, it's about perspective, understanding, and the ability to see greater possibilities Outstanding quarterbacks and point guards have one thing in common, great vision.They see things differently and thus, better options unfold. Coaches call it “field vision” and it's often the difference between a good player and a game-changer.But vision isn't just about sports and games. Throughout history, great leaders and thinkers alike have emphasized its importance.Even in the Bible, Proverbs 29:18 says, “Where there is no vision, the people perish,” underscoring how a clear vision guides individuals and

This Habits 2 Goals episode is FREE for ALL subscribers.“If it bleeds, it leads.” ~ William Randolph HearstCloudy with a Chance of SuccessThere’s a reason the phrase “If it bleeds, it leads” exists in the media, it captures people’s attention.Eyeballs and ears gravitate toward sights and sounds of fear and panic.Imagine: You’re about to cross a rickety bridge. Mr. Optimism skips along, whistling a happy tune, while Ms. Pessimism checks the planks, grumbling about “potential splinters and structural integrity.”Who comes out ahead? It depends. The pessimist may appear to be the party pooper. Yet, she might’ve just saved some lives.Humans are naturally, hard-wired with a built-in alarm system; constantly scanning for threats, risks, and what-ifs. Media companies know this and run stories accordingly.Isn't optimism the real ally though?Similar to “Expectations” (prior episode) the idea is that both pessimism and optimism can be superpowers when used wisely.The trick is finding the balance – the sweet spot – the p

“The man who views the world at 50 the same as he did at 20 has wasted 30 years of his life.” ~ Muhammad AliThis Habits 2 Goals episode is FREE for ALL subscribers.From Ring Conqueror to Hollywood CanvasForget the Rocky Balboa wannabes. Meet Michael Bentt. A man who claimed the World Boxing Organization (WBO) Heavyweight Championship title (1993) and would later star in the boxing classic “Ali” as Sonny Liston (2001).Our conversation reveals an intelligent, complex man whose life defied expectations; a tapestry of grit, resilience, and seized opportunity.Roots of a Champion:* Aviation Aspirations: A bright student at New York’s Aviation High School, Bentt harbored dreams of soaring as a pilot. Baseball, however, was his first love, a passion nurtured by his supportive father.* Fistic Footsteps: Fate had other plans. His father, a former boxer and aficionado, saw raw talent and a fighting spirit in young Michael and steered him toward the ring. This wasn’t just about toughening up; it was about channeling raw

“The unexamined life is not worth living.” ~ Socrates This Habits 2 Goals episode is FREE for ALL subscribers.AUDIT-U: Your Year-End Personal Inventory for Wellness and Optimized Living“The only person you are destined to become is the person you decide to become.” ~ Ralph Waldo EmersonAs the confetti falls and champagne fizzles, marking the end of another year, we often turn inwards, reflecting on the journey just passed. Resolutions flit across our minds, fleeting promises whispered to the new year.Wouldn't it be more effective to approach personal growth like a savvy CEO, conducting a thorough audit of her company?Imagine yourself as the head of LIFE Corp. You are responsible for your well-being, success, and happiness. Just as any business undergoes regular audits, so too should YOU. Dive deeply into the following eight key areas of your life, assessing, optimizing, and strategizing for the year ahead.The Core Four Pillars of Wellness: Building Solid Foundations* Mind: Did you nurture your intellect throu

“Discipline is a habit. Nobody is born discplined.” This Habits 2 Goals episode is FREE for ALL subscribers.Got Discipline? Cultivate it.Frequently Asked Friday: How can I be more disciplined?How to Be More DisciplinedA great definition of discipline comes from Jim Rohn: doing what you ought to do, when you ought to do it, whether you feel like it or not. Forget genetic predispositions or willpower superpowers. Discipline isn’t some magical quality reserved for the “chosen few.” Discipline is a habit, just like brushing your teeth or making your bed. And like any habit, it can be cultivated, nurtured, and strengthened over time.Think of building discipline just like building a muscle. Each time you choose the salad over the fries, the early morning jog over the extra hour of sleep, you’re flexing your discipline muscle. It will feel tough at first, but with each action, those choices develop into big changes.To develop discipline, follow the P.A.R.R. method.Plan, Act, Record, Reassess. This framework, develop

“To develop foresight, you need to practice hindsight.” ~ J. McGonigalThis Habits 2 Goals episode is FREE for ALL subscribers.Arrive at Tomorrow's Goals Faster by Reversing TimeWhen it comes to nailing your next big goal or New Year resolution, forget the “To-Do List” and “next steps”. After all, how many “steps” are there going to be? The answer is a lot. It often paralyzes the most ambitious and prevents them from starting.Try this instead: Imagine you’ve already attained the goal. CONGRATULATIONS!

“Personal transformation and goal achievement can begin at any level: Story/Thinking, Emotions/Feelings, Behaviors/Habits/Skills, Environment. However, for them to endure, each component must remain in coherhence.”This Habits 2 Goals episode is FREE for ALL subscribers.Be, Do, Have: Cliché or Cornerstone? The personal development mantra '“Be, Do, Have” often gets dismissed as a tired cliché. Enter the “3 Circles of Behavior Echo-System,”/Grunburg Behavior Model. The model reveals a striking parallel, it underscores “Be, Do, Have” and, reinforces the dynamic interplay of the essential components; thoughts (stories), feelings/emotions, behaviors/habits/skills, and one’s environment required for goal achievement and personal transformation.The Grunburg Model showcases three concentric circles: At the epicenter: Thoughts/Stories, the Middle concentric circle: Behaviors/Habits/Skills, and the Outermost concentric circle: Environment. Everyone resides/exists within their own “Behavior Echo-System.” It’s important t

“Good habits happen when planned; bad habits happen on their own.” ~M. GrunburgThis Habits 2 Goals episode is FREE for ALL subscribers.Refining Thought & Character HabitsFrequently Asked Friday: PARR (PLAN, ACT, RECORD & REASSESS) is great for developing ‘planned’ habits. How can I develop thought and character habits such as being more assertive? Especially since I don’t know when those opportunities will arise.P.A.R.R. Lite: One Savored Moment at a TimeWhile PARR excels at shaping physical habits, its latest sibling, PARR Lite (soon to be released in the app), empowers you to refine your inner diamond – your character– via thought and behavior habits. Take assertiveness, a potential virtue often hidden beneath layers of self-doubt. One app user asked the very question above.PARR Lite, soon to be released, will help strengthen these with each mindful moment.Imagine setting a daily threshold of “3 assertive actions.” Upon waking, PARR Lite whispers, “Be mindful of opportunities to speak up.” At work,

“Good habits happen when planned; bad habits happen on their own.” ~M. GrunburgThis Habits 2 Goals episode is FREE for ALL subscribers.Habits and Skills: The Fraternal Twins of Personal DevelopmentWe’re bringing back Frequently Asked Friday (w/ Season 12) – on a Monday!Frequently Asked Friday: Why do Habits and skills share the same space in the “3 Circles of Behavior Echo-System” / Grunburg Behavior Model?Upon further review, habits and skills share remarkable similarities, making them more like fraternal twins than distant cousins.Where Habits & Skills Reside:Both habits and skills, once fully formed, reside deep within the limbic system, specifically in the basal ganglia. Once a habit or skill is ingrained in the basal ganglia, it becomes seemingly “automatic.”The Four Stages of Learning or Competence:When it comes to developing good habits intentionally, it helps to reflect upon the four stages of learning and to think about how you would practice any skill you’re trying to cultivate.* Unconsciously I

“Life is a tragedy when seen in close-up, but a comedy in long-shot.”~ Charlie ChaplinThis Habits 2 Goals episode is FREE for ALL subscribers.Life’s Balancing Act: Tragedy & ComedyWhat feels like a world-ending personal disaster today may just become a hilarious anecdote tomorrow.Just a few years ago, everyone was panicking about the COVID-19 pandemic. It was the end of the world. It was a scary time, filled with uncertainty and fear. Today, the epoch provides comedians worldwide (just check Netflix and social media) with endless material for jokes. To be clear, nobody is laughing about the millions of fatalities. Having said that, they are laughing at the ridiculous things people did, particularly in the early days: hoarding toilet paper, wearing masks made of scarves, and Zoom meetings with our pets dressed up as co-workers.Consider another quote, or rather a formula, this time from Woody Allen: Tragedy + Time = Comedy.For example, imagine the grief and shock surrounding the assassination of President L

“If you want to find the secrets of the universe, think in terms of energy, frequencey and vibration.“~ Nikola TeslaThis Habits 2 Goals episode is FREE for ALL subscribers.What’s the first clue that the latest habits “Gooroo” knows little about habit development? They teach the idea that doing a behavior for a month or thirty days – is the key to habit development. Performing a behavior for thirty days is helpful, but it misses a core, fundamental precept of habit development: RHYTHM“Everything in the universe has a rhythm, everything dances.” ~ Maya AngelouWhen I set out to write The Habit Factor®, the first question I pondered, researched and even queried Google was, “Why do habits exist?”Google served up a grand total of ZERO answers – nothing. (See the book for a screenshot)After weeks of contemplating that question, the answer revealed itself. It was elemental: All life is energy. Energy has a predisposition for pattern and rhythm; consider sound waves, ocean waves, the rhythm of the seasons, high tide,

“Let everyone sweep in front of his own door, and the whole world will be clean. “~ Johann Wolfgang von GoetheThis Habits 2 Goals episode is FREE for ALL subscribers.Amidst the hustle and bustle of daily life, it's easy to get caught up in the pursuit of worldly goals, the accumulation of possessions, and fleeting pleasures.Yet, at the end of the proverbial day, the true measure of your life will not lie in material wealth or even accolades. Instead, it will be determined by the impact that was made – the lives you touched – the GOOD that you did.“The true worth of a man is to be measured by his deeds and not by his words.” ~ SenecaIn the realm of spirituality, a multitude of religions posit that we exist for a reason – to serve others – to do GOOD. It is not the length of our lives but the depth of our impact that matters.While the religions vary, the core message is the same: we are called to make a positive difference in the world, to use our gifts and talents to serve others and to make the world a better

“We are but dust and shadows, and like a lamp that is lit and then extinguished, so too will our lives be extinguished.” ~ Marcus AureliusThis Habits 2 Goals episode is FREE for ALL subscribers. In the vast expanse of time and space, our individual existence might seem like a fleeting flicker, a mere ripple in the cosmic ocean. A thousand years from now, our names will likely fade into obscurity, our actions lost to the annals of history. Despite this inherent insignificance, we also possess the power to leave an indelible mark on the world, to create a ripple effect that echoes through generations.Life is a paradox, simultaneously insignificant and immensely significant. On one hand, our individual lives are finite, destined to be consumed by the relentless march of time. Our achievements, no matter how grand, will fade into the background of the universe’s vastness.On the other hand, we are capable of extraordinary acts of love, compassion, and creativity. We have the power to inspire, teach, uplift, and he

“If the only tool you have is a hammer, you tend to see every problem as a nail.” ~Abraham MaslowThis Habits 2 Goals episode is FREE for ALL subscribers. The other day, a good friend (former professor and a professional writer) – a man whose top value is a “learning mindset” – said something that caught my attention.“I’ve realized the importance of ‘dumb stuff.’ It’s the dumb stuff that supports the smart stuff.”“The dumb stuff supports the smart stuff.”It’s brilliant! I loved the idea and sentiment.Running doesn’t require much intelligence yet; after he runs, he’s a better writer.Sleep doesn’t require much or any intelligence yet; after he rests, he’s a better writer.After a few days of contemplating the comment, it occurred to me that this “stuff” is only “dumb” in the context of ‘intelligence.’ In other words, how hard is your brain working while you’re running or sleeping?Chances are, not very hard.What if we viewed these behaviors not through an intelligence lens but through a wellness and health one?Eat

“Before focus, concentration; before concentration, selection.”This Habits 2 Goals episode is FREE for ALL subscribers. To focus for an extended period of time on anything can be challenging. In today’s world, it’s made far more difficult, particularly for people with ADD/ADHD.This episode promises to have you focusing better nearly instantly.Below are some tips on how to focus better, especially if you suffer from ADD/ADHD.First, a background story.The Habit Factor® (book and app) only exist because of my inability to achieve goals.I wasn’t aware of it at the time, but what I created was a goal achievement system that forced me to address my first fundamental challenge, FOCUS.FOCUS: DefinedThe center of interest or activity. “this generation has made the environment a focus of attention”An act of concentrating interest or activity on something. “our focus on the customer's requirements”By creating THIS tracking sheet (which is free btw ), I was forced to identify which core, related behaviors - habits - I w

“The only discipline that lasts is self-discipline.” ~Bum PhillipsThis Habits 2 Goals episode is FREE for ALL subscribers. It’s baaaaaack… The 36-hour, (once a week), fast ***WARNING** Please do your own research and consult your doctor before altering your diet.***What is it? Why do it? And, the backstory.In 2019, (at 51), I came to the sudden awareness that I’d never gone a day without eating. I wondered if I could fast for an entire day.The only way to find out… challenge myself. My plan was to cease eating around 8 p.m. on Sunday. Then, see if I could make it through Monday without food. If I could then make it to Tuesday at 8 a.m., I’d have gone 36 hours. The first fast was brutal!Afterward, I recall saying, “Maybe I’ll try that again next year.”Then a day went by and I said, “Maybe I’ll do that again next month.”Then another few days went by and I said, “I’m going to do that again next Monday!”The next thing I knew, it was 30 weeks later…30 consecutive weeks of fasting – 36 hours, once per week.I share

“No man is free who cannot command himself.” ~PythagorasThis Habits 2 Goals episode is FREE for ALL subscribers. To act according to your intentions…Arguably, it’s the crux of the entire personal development industry.How often have you said, “I’m going to…” Only to find, a week, month, or year later, “it” never transpired.Why?There are three main reasons.Reason One: PAIN.Chances are that the task at hand involved some pain; emotional, physical, mental, etc.Humans are wired to avoid pain and seek pleasure.PAIN versus PLEASURE: It’s a perpetual war that is being waged internally.Humans will go to great lengths to avoid pain, naturally.The challenge is that growth and personal development, lie on the other side of challenge and pain. Learning is painful, yet we become smarter as a result of the effort. Lifting weights is painful, yet the effort makes us stronger.How do we reconcile this? Well, the answer is fairly simple.In fact, the answer has been known for millennia and apparently, science has affirmed it re

“I cannot wait to see genes that operate in a vacuum.”This Habits 2 Goals episode is FREE for ALL subscribers. The “Nature vs. Nurture” debate can be traced to ancient Greece and perhaps earlier.In the entertainment world, there have been several books, plays, and movies that touch upon the subject matter.The riddle: How much influence does nature (genetics) versus nurture (environment: culture, family, friends, home, city, etc.) have upon one’s life?For example, Mark Twain’s The Prince and the Pauper, published in 1881, is a tale about two boys who were born on the same day, one a prince and the other a pauper; they accidentally switch places.Not coincidentally, Trading Places, the 1983 hit comedy starring Eddie Murphy and Dan Akroyd, pursued the exact same theme.Recently, I tripped upon a few well-done Khan Academy videos covering this debate. [I link to a few of their videos below.]The short story: While these videos are very well produced, and the instructors do a fantastic job, the longer you watch them,

“Take away paradox from the thinker and you have a professor.” ~Søren KierkegaardThis Habits 2 Goals episode is FREE for ALL subscribers. In 2014 I wrote It’s Both! Your (Habitual) Dichotomous Thinking is Killing You.That’s right, “Killing You!”I went a bit deeper on this concept in The Pressure Paradox™ (2015).It’s worth revisiting as the idea is essential to critical thinking and, interestingly enough, peace of mind. A sure sign of a mature mind is one that can hold two opposing ideas together, at the same time (most of the time).The reason we’re revisiting the concept is that I’m noticing it’s percolating elsewhere.Let’s begin with Matthew McConaughey’s latest book (Sept 2023) Just Because. Just Because is an illustrated kid’s book designed to teach children many life lessons.In so doing, it fosters “Both” thinking.” Few lessons may be more important to understand for children.Straight from McConaughey’s book, examples on Amazon.com.“Just because they don’t hear you, doesn’t mean you don’t have a voice.”“

“Yeah, Mr. White! Yeah, science!” ~Jesse PinkmanThis Habits 2 Goals episode is FREE for ALL subscribers!For our 25th anniversary, my wife and I visited Denmark, Sweden and Italy. One night, in Italy, our hotel’s satellite TV was down.Before heading to bed, she dialed up her Netflix account and soon enough, we found ourselves watching Breaking Bad; our third time through the series!Breaking Bad is ridiculously GOOD.What caught my attention in this particular episode (Season 1, Ep 7) is a fairly comical scene where Mr. White – a grossly overqualified high-school chemistry teacher – has to resort to a motivational/personal development cliché, with the hope of inspiring his would-be crystal meth-dealing partner.“JESSE, TODAY IS THE FIRST DAY OF THE REST OF YOUR LIFE!” Walter White begins shaking Jesse by the shoulders.The irony of White’s aspirational statement against their criminal intent is clever.Mr. White challenges his former student, Jesse Pinkmen to “think bigger” and not “live a life of fear,” as he req