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

"If you cannot be happy unloading a dishwasher, you cannot be happy." Today's episode is all about real happiness. Happiness involves a couple major ingredients: choice and gratitude. Consider for moment all the incredible "things" that must take place for you to be unloading your dishwasher. You can begin with the obvious: Unloading a dishwasher likely means you have eyes, hands, fingers, and arms, and that you're standing (legs and feet), for starters. Then, consider the first-world commodities at your disposal: plumbing, electricity, not to mention a home and shelter. Finally, if you're unloading a dishwasher, it likely means that you had some food to eat! Of course, the very same awareness should be applied to various other "chores": Laundry, making your bed, mowing the lawn, washing your car, maybe even being stuck in traffic! Thus, unloading the dishwasher is a terrific litmus test of one's capacity for true happiness. So, if you cannot be happy unloading the dishwasher, chances are good, you cannot be

"The roots create the fruits; the fruits reveal the seeds." In today's episode, we invite Jen Grant back on the program to discuss our Mind-Bullet: The Fruit! What do ALL fruits have in common? Correct. Seeds! While we should probably be more focused on the process (our habits/the roots) that creates the fruits (money, car, big home, etc.), it turns out that focusing on the fruits reveals something extraordinarily important: seeds! Tony Robbins likes to say, "Success leaves clues!" MG seconds the observation and points out that fruit, by definition must contain seeds. Further, it's the seeds that offer the promise that, when planted and cared for within a conducive environment, they will produce rewards! Jen and MG further the analogy by referencing the resistance each seed experiences initially as it struggles to see the light of day. Similarly, its our efforts—building new habits—that experience extreme resistance as we put in the practice, work and discipline in order for the seeds to produce fruit. The gr

"Discipline is a habit: cultivate it." "No man is free who cannot command himself." Pythagoras If you are not in control of yourself (your thoughts, emotions, and behaviors), you will never know true freedom. In today's episode, MG shares how, for many years, he grappled with what appeared to be conflicting primary values: freedom and family. Upon further reflection, he made the realization that the banks of a river provide direction, power and strength. Similarly, a family also can provide the very same qualities: direction, power and strength. Thus, the values of family and freedom don't necessarily conflict; rather, family and freedom can be complementary values that guide our energy. A similar analogy can be made for tracking behaviors and habits while cultivating discipline. When we track our habits and behaviors, like the banks of a river, we add controls and constraints to our energy force, further guiding and directing our power. It turns out that we discover real freedom when we develop discipline in

"At birth, you have only instincts, no habits." How many beliefs are you born with? How many habits are you born with? In today's episode, MG revisits the concept of Tabula rasa—blank slate—to help us recognize and challenge any limiting beliefs and habits that may be keeping us stuck. It's important to know that we've acquired these limiting thought and behavior habits. They weren't ours since birth; they've been inscribed upon our character (Tabula rasa) as we've lived our lives, dealing with life's daily challenges and struggles. Knowing that we've picked up self-deprecating thoughts and habits along the way also means we know we can change them. With intention, reflection, and practice (PARR), we can inscribe new habits of thought and behavior to produce new, different, and better outcomes. Tabula rasa is a powerful awareness tool, helping us to understand that how we view ourselves and our limitations is just a story we've acquired via habit. Habits are strengthened by repetition, over time. However, unl

How often do you judge your own judgment? We often tell our kids, "Use good judgment!" Yet, when it comes to our own judgment, we tend to forget the advice. In this week's episode, MG invites Jen Grant to co-host as they explore the significance judgement plays in our life. When is judgment valuable? When is judgment harmful? If we ruminate in the negative feelings judgment may bring, it can be harmful. If judgment derails your progress and keeps you off track for too long, it's harmful. However, great value arises when judgment helps us to identify improvement and how we can move toward our goals and ideals more effectively and efficiently. Good judgment is what helps companies to improve their products and services, making them more successful. Be sure to assess the value of your judgments. Notice if your judgments are derailing you. Should that happen, do your best to pause, filter through the debris and find the value. Good judgment can help anyone to make better decisions, form new habits, and move towar

“Everything is hard before it is easy." ~Goethe Why do humans possess a subconscious mind? In season two, we covered the subconscious mind relative to the "Super-Conscious". In today's episode, we wonder why the subconscious mind exists. As science is about studying "things" that can be measured and observed, some scientists may even argue the subconscious mind or even the "mind" itself, does not exist. MG speculates otherwise and reiterates the important distinction between the mind and the brain, an idea covered in The Habit Factor® (book). Unlike animals born with "instincts", humans are endowed with the capacity to program their subconscious with new habits and skills. Not unlike a computer programmer, we can write a script (with  intention and practice) that automates a behavior or skill over time. The process to program the subconscious with a new habit or skill—is by following P.A.R.R. (Plan, Act, Record & Reassess). As humans develop new skills and habits the behaviors ascend through the various l

“It doesn't matter how slowly you go as long as you do not stop." ~Confucius Some days are better than others. Sometimes you're on track and sometimes you are not. A way to ensure you keep moving forward, despite setbacks, is to begin tracking your habits.  By tracking your habits, you reinforce both your intention and commitment. So, when setbacks happen, you're able to get back on track more quickly. MG recounts a couple stories about getting thrown off track and how considering these days as "throw-away days" helps him to reset more quickly and keep moving forward. Further, he shares a story about a guy he recently coached to follow the tracking process and P.A.R.R. who experienced multiple setbacks, including; a colonoscopy, a tax deadline and a family member needing medical care, all of which derailed his progress. In short, he didn't experience a throw-away day, he experienced a throw-away week! The best part, he was already tracking his habits and knew to expect throw away days. Thus, the real key—the

“Be kind whenever possible. It is always possible." ~Dalai Lama Kindness is a habit (and trait) that is learnable and strengthened with practice. In Season 5, episode 50 the "Kindness" topic was previously explored. In this episode, MG expounds on the subject, citing his experience tracking "TKT" ("The Kind Thing"), a habit he's had fun working on. MG gives credit for the idea to a fellow entrepreneur who decided to start tracking his "kindness" habit in a goals accountability group. Using The Habit Factor app, Martin code-named "The Kind Thing" as "TKT" and suggests that tracking acts of "kindness" is up there with the other "pro tips" like tracking at least one diet and one exercise habit, regardless of the overarching goal. You're encouraged to give "TKT" a try and add it to your habit tracking. Not only is "TKT" likely to make you feel better about yourself but it's likely to foster a habit which will serve you for a lifetime. Enjoy the episode! How much do you really know about habits and goals? Check ou

“Success is nothing other than a feeling. Some people feel 'successful' after taking their dog on a walk. Others feel like a failure if they don't get 1,000 likes on Instagram." What is success, really? Part of understanding success is knowing how you define it— that is, what are you aiming to achieve? Having said that, there's a great argument to be made that success isn't something to be achieved as much as a moment to be appreciated. Chances are good, though, that the truth lies in the middle. Success is both something to achieve and something to appreciate that generates a feeling of success. For some, a big house makes them feel successful; maybe for a day, maybe for a month or year. For others, success includes a life of service and contribution that provides fulfillment. Both situations equate to a moment in time when one FEELS SUCCESSFUL. Thus, to feel successful, it's important to understand how you define success, know what makes you feel successful, and how to manage your emotions with precision mo

“During the darkest days of the Model 3 program, I reached out to Tim Cook to discuss the possibility of Apple acquiring Tesla (for 1/10 of our current value). He refused to take the meeting." @elonmusk As much as rejection sucks, often, the further removed from it we become, the more it seems like a blessing. After a rejection, two narratives may emerge. One takes us toward a direction of doom—a story and outcome we do not desire. But the other narrative can be hopeful—a story of possibilities.  The idea is to consciously redirect rejection toward the positive narrative which fosters the emotions that set you up for a win, later. In fact, rejection's greatest value may be that it fosters emotional resilience and self-reliance! After a rejection, be aware of the story you're telling yourself. For example, "Oh sh*t! I didn't get that job, nobody's going to hire anyone my age," or, "They wouldn't fund our company, we have way too much debt, nobody is ever going to invest in our company." If you're spiraling dow

“What if hell was the experience of meeting the person you could have become the moment before you die, and heaven was the same experience because you fulfilled your potential —or came close?" Today’s Mind Bullet challenges us to reimagine a new and different concept of heaven and hell. MG's always recommending imagination exercises, so this one grabbed his attention. Consider the best version of yourself—the ultimate person you ever could become. Whether or not you actually get there is beside the point; the pursuit is the success. In fact, this, arguably, is what the Habit Factor is all about: the pursuit of idealization (see our episode devoted to idealization). How do you match up with your ideal version? How have your habits matched up with that fully idealized future self? It doesn’t matter if you’re not there yet, or not even close. You have the power to pivot, change direction, forge new habits, and continue pursuing the future of your dreams. This mental exercise is an excellent wake-up call for all

“If you had a $10 million racehorse, how would you treat it?" Today's Mind Bullet exposes a basic truth about you and your place in the world. Each of us has been given a $10 million racehorse, and that very gift begs us to ask this simple question: "How are you going to treat this expensive thoroughbred?" Quick contemplation should lead you to one answer: VERY WELL. In other words, you'll ensure it gets the proper nutrition and enjoys ample exercise and sleep. In short, you're going to make absolutely certain its wellness habits are in order. The punchline is this: YOU ARE THE PRICELESS THOROUGHBRED. Building on an old story Zig Ziglar used to share, MG reiterates this message. Whether you feel like a $10 million thoroughbred or not, you are! And NOW—this moment—is the only time that really matters to make the choices that support this truth! Enjoy the episode! How are you going to improve your results in 2021? NOW ON-DEMAND! Visit: https://thehabitfactor.com/challenge *** New listeners: By texting the word

“Balance is key. Balance good, karate good. Everything good. Balance bad; better pack up, go home.” ~Mr. Miyagi (Karate Kid) Today’s Mind Bullet explores the monster concept of BALANCE. Balance may be one of the most misunderstood life principles, yet it is a master key to an effective life. Thus, Mr. Miyagi nailed it when he said, "Balance bad; better pack up and go home. Understand?" The first core principle is that balance is NOT something you should ignore, and it isn't a MYTH, as many "gurus" proclaim. Balance is a very real and inescapable concept and principle essential to understand for one's general wellness. The first core idea is that balance is less about a moment in time and much more about a process—it's about adjustments. Thus, the feeling at any one moment in time that you are off-balance is actually a positive signal, guiding you to make adjustments. Einstein put it brilliantly when he said, "Balance is like riding a bicycle; in order to keep your balance, you must keep moving." Consider the

“Give me six hours to chop down a tree and I will spend the first four sharpening the axe.” ~Abraham Lincoln Today’s Mind Bullet explores the famous Abraham Lincoln quote above, and like many of our mind bullets, we'll tackle it from a few different angles. In The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People, the late, great Stephen Covey uses the above quote as part of the 7th habit, “Sharpen the Saw.” Sharpening the saw, (or axe), is about refreshing ourselves and making ourselves better. (Check out our Automaticity and Learning episodes for more on this idea.) Learning, working out, and taking care of ourselves are examples of sharpening the saw. Anything we do to better ourselves improves our efficiency and our effectiveness. When you devote time to your energy, your energy gives you back time. Effectiveness is doing the right things. Efficiency is doing them correctly. Little point in being efficient if we aren’t first effective. Listen in for more on sharpening the axe and saw to make yourself more efficient

“A ship is safe in the harbor, but that’s not what ships are built for.” – William Shedd Today’s MBM is a quick hitter that ponders the topic of motivation. What is it that REALLY gets us moving, helping us to take action and gain momentum toward our goals? We've hit this topic from many angles in the past, for example, asking ourselves WHY we seek out a goal, but the real litmus test is emotion. Think about a situation that riles your emotions. For example, what if you’re in a restaurant with poor food and service. You’ll be motivated to take action—leave, consult a manager, etc. We take action when we're emotionally charged, and we can use this type of passion to motivate ourselves enough to get moving toward a goal. We often THINK we want to do something. We think there's a goal and a desire, but nothing truly changes because we’re lacking the emotional spark. Years can go by with a vague desire in the back of our minds, but no real emotional catalyst. Think about a habit you’re trying to create or a goal

“A book holds a house of gold." - Chinese Proverb Learning is remembering, and mastery is repetition, so this episode circles back to some basic learning elements we should keep in mind as we continue our goal-achievement journey. We’ve covered the topic of learning in the past, notably with “What's the Best Way to Learn?" (Season 6) and "Learning Mastery" (Season 3), but today we’re focusing on learning as a core element for growth and goal achievement. Our language constricts and confines our thought process. For example, think of the word “habit.” For too many years, and even to some extent today, habit had a negative connotation. There was no defined process for focusing on and tracking habits to achieve goals. (In fact, some in academia even thought habits formed from achieved goals, not the opposite.) If language forms our logic, and we are the programmers of our lives, it behooves us to read and learn from as many resources as possible, both inside and outside our usual interests. By constantly learnin

“The ultimate guru is you." It’s almost inevitable that we’re revisiting the topic of Control, which we first pondered in 2019 and are now circling back to discuss. (Listen to our earlier thoughts on Control.) This MBM was sparked during a plane ride, where MG was listening to a podcast from a “guru” talking about control. He theorized that for our entire lives, we've deceived ourselves into the idea of controlling things. His point: We control NOTHING. Our problem/challenge with this idea is that it’s dichotomous thinking. While we’re not in control of millions of things, including the environment and other people, we ARE in control of our thoughts and much of our behavior. It’s not an either/or situation: We’re not in control, and we are in control. It’s important to accept what we’re NOT in control of, and then take responsibility for what we can control. If we do as the "guru" advised and let go of all control, we’re abdicating our personal responsibility to direct our lives. (Another reason why YOU are y

“Everything is difficult before it is easy.” ~Goethe It may be a big word, but automaticity is what we're looking for on the path to goal achievement, and it's why we practice (for more, check out our Practice episode). Automaticity is the process of turning the "difficult" into the "easy," and it's what guides our ideas about habit formation and HabitStrength.  Think about tying your shoes—a task so difficult and frustrating when we're trying to learn, but which becomes so easy we're barely even conscious when we do it. Automaticity is the underlying strength of habit and skill. When we develop automaticity of the habits that truly matter, we re-wire our brains to put these behaviors on auto-pilot.  Listen in for more on programming your brain via automaticity as you intentionally align your habits and behaviors with your goals.  Enjoy the episode! How are you going to improve your results in 2021? NOW ON-DEMAND! Visit: https://thehabitfactor.com/challenge *** New listeners: By texting the word "HABITS" to t

“If the path is clear, we're probably on the wrong path.” Progress is rarely, if ever, a straight line. Rather, progress will often look more like a zig-zag—a bit of a back and forth—as refinements are made along the path to our goals. In this episode, MG shares how his recent goals have gone sideways as well as why and how he's taking it in stride. Even with habits aligned and a clearly envisioned outcome, there are always external forces at play that have the ability to influence, for better or worse, the desired result. When things go sideways, first take inventory of the few (or many) things that went right, then adjust the plan and keep moving forward. Goals are intelligence in action, and failure to achieve a goal reveals helpful information—whether it's the first effort or the 15th. Enjoy the episode! How are you going to improve your results in 2021? NOW ON-DEMAND! Visit: https://thehabitfactor.com/challenge *** New listeners: By texting the word "HABITS" to the mobile phone number "33444" you will in

“The deeper truth is we act from underlying values and hopes and dreams when we become fulfilled human beings..." Today's episode features an in-depth interview with Justin Brown, founder of Ideapod, whose mission is to provide ecosystems of thought around important ideas and to raise provocative questions that aim to inspire personal growth and group-think. Justin grew up in Melbourne and was on the academic fast-track with a Bachelor's in Commerce and a Master's in International Relations. He was then accepted into a paid scholarship program in Europe for another Master's degree, spending time in both Poland and London studying economic history. Then, after three years as a financial consultant, he was accepted to the Ph.D. program for International Political Economy at the University of Warwick, where Ideapod became a side project. Justin's vision was to share important ideas outside of academia, which, to him, appeared to be "trapped in academic silos." Justin quit his doctoral studies and moved to New Yo