Building Success Habits

You have more control over your success than you think, but your “if only” excuses might be holding you back. Imagine what could change if you stopped waiting for the perfect conditions and started acting now.

What You Need to Know

Excuses are everywhere. In this episode, Londina Cruz and Donna Kunde explore the sneaky alibis—those little “ifs”—that keep us from moving forward. Whether it's blaming a lack of money, education, time, or good fortune, these are just stories we tell ourselves. Inspired by Napoleon Hill’s "Think and Grow Rich," the discussion outlines the 55 most common excuses people use to justify inaction or failure. The key idea? While facts might change, the truth that excuses won't build your future remains steady.

What You Need to Do

Start by paying attention to your own inner dialogue. Make a list of the “if only” statements you use—anything from “If I had more time” to “If people just understood me.” Challenge each one honestly. For every excuse, ask yourself: Is this really true? Could someone in my situation find a way forward? Then, pick just one excuse to let go of this week. Replace it with a small, positive action. Say no to waiting on perfect circumstances, and yes to progress, however small.

Your Next Step

Grab your free copy of "Think and Grow Rich." Remember: excuses might feel comfortable, but success begins the moment you choose action over alibi. Take one honest step today—your future self is counting on it.

Want more insights on persistence and success habits?

👉 Connect with Londina Cruz at Londina.com for resilience coaching and daily motivation.

👉 Work with Donna Kunde at DonnaKunde.com to shift your mindset and grow your business with confidence.

👉 📥 Download this season’s resources to uncover hidden excuses and build unstoppable persistence.

⭐ Loved this episode? Share it with someone who needs to break free from excuses!

00:37 The Habit of Persistence

01:16 Show Notes and Community Resources

02:05 Understanding Common Excuses

03:25 Exploring the 55 Alibis

05:33 Managing Time and Self

07:09 Overcoming Limiting Beliefs

09:45 Encore Entrepreneurship

11:45 Final Thoughts and Break

Sometimes the only thing standing between you and the results you want is an excuse dressed up as a reason. Persistence isn't just a nice-to-have trait—it's the vehicle that drives you all the way to your goals, no matter how bumpy the road gets. Are you ready to cut through the noise and build the habit that separates the finishers from the dreamers?

What You Need to Know

Success doesn’t come with a shortcut or a straight line—there are always challenges, temptations to quit, and, yes, plenty of "airtight excuses." Donna Kunde shares that true growth starts with healthy thinking, and Londina Cruz reminds us how the brain is wired to conserve energy and avoid hardship. The result? We make up believable alibis for a lack of persistence. Drawing directly from Napoleon Hill’s classic "Think and Grow Rich," this episode spotlights 55 classic excuses that hold us back and how most people would rather defend those excuses than push forward. If you’ve ever heard yourself say, "You don’t understand, my situation is different," you’ll want to dig into these insights.

What You Need to Do

Start by examining your own thinking: which excuses have you accepted as unchangeable truths? Challenge yourself to spot them as soon as they appear.

Tune in to hear all 55 excuses, and be honest—mark the ones that sound most like you. Participate in discussions that help get you back in the driver’s seat of your success journey.

Your Next Step

Download the resources. Review the list of 55 excuses, and pick just one to tackle this week. Commit to eliminating that excuse from your thinking. Growth isn’t about waiting—it’s about acting with persistence, starting now.

Ready to show up differently? This episode is your call to action.

Want more insights on persistence and success habits?

👉 Connect with Londina Cruz at Londina.com for resilience coaching and daily motivation.

👉 Work with Donna Kunde at DonnaKunde.com to shift your mindset and grow your business with confidence.

👉 📥 Download this season’s resources to dive deeper into persistence and eliminate excuses from your path to success.

⭐ Loved this episode? Share it with someone who needs a push to stay persistent!

00:00 Introduction to Building Success Habits

00:29 Meet Your Hosts: Donna Kunde and Londina Cruz

01:00 The Importance of Healthy Thinking

03:00 Understanding the Brain and Emotional Connection

05:21 How to Connect with Us and Get Involved

07:02 The Success Habit of Persistence

08:09 Join Our Community for Exclusive Resources

09:47 Excuses vs. Success: Uncovering Hidden Blocks

11:12 Background Learning with IBGR

11:42 Conclusion and Final Thoughts

Fear tries to stop us at every turn, but regret is always waiting on the other side if we give in. If you’ve ever wondered why your good intentions keep getting hijacked by excuses, this episode gives you the science and strategy to break the pattern—for good.

What you need to know

Most of us think we control our mind, only to find ourselves stuck in habits we swore we’d move past. Donna and Londina dig into the real challenge: controlling your thoughts isn’t about force, it’s about creating new habits and rewiring your brain.

Scientific research shows it takes more than a few weeks—it’s more like 61 days—to build new, positive pathways in your brain. Excuses?

There are 55 common ones (according to Napoleon Hill) that keep us stuck, but most are just patterns your mind runs on autopilot. And behind every judgment you pass on others lies a hidden self-judgment within.

What you need to do

Start by paying attention to your automatic excuses—especially the “always” and “never” statements.

When a familiar excuse pops up, ask yourself: Is it really true? Is there evidence?

This simple question interrupts the old brain pattern. Dedicate 15 minutes a day to focused, intentional thinking about your goals or the habits you want to build (as Londina suggests from her own experience and experts like Dr. Caroline Leaf).

And remember, lasting change comes from small, consistent actions, not just quick bursts of willpower.

Your Next Step

Track your most common excuses this week. Every time you catch yourself using one, stop and question it—write down what you discover.

Commit to one positive habit for the next 61 days and carve out daily time for focused thought.

Listen to this episode to hear the full list of excuses and learn how to rewire your thinking for unstoppable persistence.

Want more insights on persistence and success habits?

👉 Connect with Londina Cruz at Londina.com for resilience coaching and daily motivation.

👉 Work with Donna Kunde at DonnaKunde.com to shift your mindset and grow your business with confidence.

👉 📥 Download this season’s resources to deepen your understanding of persistence and eliminate excuses from your success journey.

⭐ Loved this episode? Share it with someone who needs a mindset shift!

00:00 Introduction and Welcome

01:01 The Power of Controlling Your Thoughts

03:11 The Challenge of Changing Habits

04:55 Scientific Insights on Habit Formation

08:15 Common Excuses and Self-Judgment

11:39 Conclusion and Final Thoughts

Success Habits for the New Year: The Habit of Persistence

In this episode of 'Building Success Habits for the New Year,' originally aired on the IBGR radio network, hosts Donna Kunde and Londina Cruz explore the importance of persistence as a key success habit. They discuss how eliminating excuses and understanding the mind's workings can lead to better business and personal results.

The episode also features a focus quote by Bill Bradley and delves into 55 famous alibis for failure from Napoleon Hill’s book 'Think and Grow Rich.' The hosts share insights from their extensive experience in business coaching and brain science, encouraging listeners to engage with them for further resources and support.

00:00 Introduction to Building Success Habits

00:29 Meet Your Hosts: Donna Kunde and Londina Cruz

01:00 The Importance of Healthy Thinking

03:00 Understanding the Brain and Emotional Connection

05:21 How to Connect with Us and Get Involved

07:02 The Success Habit of Persistence

08:09 Join Our Community for Exclusive Resources

09:47 Excuses vs. Success: Uncovering Hidden Blocks

11:12 Background Learning with IBGR

11:42 Conclusion and Final Thoughts

Ready to upgrade your business habits and mindset in the new year? Discover the key difference between growth and fixed mindsets and how simple shifts can unlock powerful transformation in your work and life.

Success in business isn't just about strategy or grit—it's about being open minded. Why? Because open minded habits help you navigate challenges, learn from mistakes, and spark innovation. In today's episode, Donna and Londina dive deep into practical ways to cultivate growth, resilience, and persistence so you can build a business (and life) that keeps evolving.

What You Need to Know

• Open mindedness is rooted in having a growth mindset versus a fixed mindset. Growth-minded people see challenges and mistakes as steps to improvement, while fixed-minded thinking halts progress.
• Success relies on daily practices that train your brain, develop grit, and put effort before natural talent.
• Reflection—both at the start and end of your day—serves as "bookends" to visualize, plan, and review your actions and emotions.
• Grit is different from grinding; it's about inner determination and persistence, not just pushing through exhaustion.
• You can't outperform your self-image—real transformation requires internal change and celebrating progress, not demanding perfection.

What You Need to Do

• Disassociate improvement from failure: See room for growth as opportunity, not evidence of mistakes.
• Build in regular opportunities for reflection, morning and evening, to visualize and review your day.
• Celebrate effort before talent, and highlight the connection between learning, mindset, and "training" your brain.
• Cultivate grit and persistence, especially when faced with business challenges.
• Use empowering language, like "not yet," to remind yourself that learning is a process.
• Make new goals for each milestone, take risks in the company of trusted peers, and take ownership of your attitude every day.

Your Next Step

Connect and share how these habits are shaping your journey—because your growth is only just beginning. Celebrate your progress, map out your next goal, and remember: mastery is built day by day. Tune in next week for an episode focused on persistence and overcoming procrastination with actionable insights from "Think and Grow Rich."

Want more insights on developing a growth mindset and building success habits?

👉 Connect with Londina Cruz at Londina.com for resilience coaching and daily motivation.

👉 Work with Donna Kunde at DonnaKunde.com to shift your mindset and grow your business with confidence.

👉 📥 Download this season’s resources to deepen your learning and apply these success habits to your life and business.

⭐ Loved this episode? Share it with someone who needs encouragement to embrace a growth mindset!

00:00 Introduction and Welcome

00:57 Exploring Growth Mindset

02:02 Practical Tips for Success

04:44 The Power of Grit and Persistence

07:29 Setting and Achieving Goals

11:06 Conclusion and Next Steps

Are you tired of feeling stuck at the same level, watching others move ahead while you question your own growth? What if embracing your imperfections could be the key to unlocking your true potential this year?

In this episode of Success Habits for the New Year, hosts Londina and Donna break down the powerful connection between open mindedness and the growth mindset, revealing habits that drive real achievement.

When it comes to your future, adopting a growth mindset isn’t just a nice idea—it’s essential. Fixed thinking keeps you plateaued, avoiding risk and missing out on opportunities. But by swapping out perfection for progress, you can transform how you tackle challenges, setbacks, and even criticism. This is about more than positive thinking—it’s about retraining your brain for real, measurable change.

What You Need to Know

• Growth vs. Fixed Mindset: Research by Carol Dweck shows the stark difference. In a fixed mindset, intelligence is considered static, leading to avoidance, giving up easily, and ignoring feedback. With a growth mindset, intelligence is seen as expandable. You embrace effort, learn from criticism, and rise to ever-higher levels of achievement.
• Open mindedness fuels growth: A willingness to see imperfections, celebrate effort over results, and reframe “failure” as “learning” builds long-term success.
• Your brain is adaptable: Studies on brain plasticity prove that your mental habits shape neural pathways. Every thought and choice can either nurture new possibilities or keep you stuck.

What You Need to Do

1. Acknowledge and embrace imperfections: Stop hiding from your weaknesses. Facing them is the first step toward overcoming them.
2. Fail forward: Treat mistakes as learning opportunities, not final verdicts.
3. View challenges as opportunities: Seek out new experiences as chances for personal growth.
4. Try different learning tactics: Remember, there’s no one-size-fits-all path—experiment to see what works for you.
5. Replace “failing” with “learning”: Shift your language and mindset to celebrate effort and discovery.
6. Value the process, not just the results: Success is about the journey—enjoy and invest in your development daily.
7. Celebrate growth with others: Share your wins and surround yourself with supportive people who encourage your progress.
8. Reward actions, not traits: Focus on what you do and how you improve, rather than innate abilities.
9. Redefine genius: Talent isn’t just natural—it’s built through hard work and dedication.
10. Portray criticism as positive: Welcome constructive feedback as a tool for improvement.

Your Next Step

Identify one area where you previously saw a limitation, and reframe it as an opportunity for growth. Journal about one imperfection you’ve been avoiding, and list a single step you’ll take to address it this week.

For ongoing support, check out the episode show notes for extra resources and stay connected with the Success Habits for the New Year network.

Ready to embrace imperfection and choose growth for lasting success? Listen in now.

Want more insights on developing a growth mindset and building success habits?

👉 Connect with Londina Cruz at Londina.com for resilience coaching and daily motivation.

👉 Work with Donna Kunde at DonnaKunde.com to shift your mindset and grow your business with confidence.

👉 📥 Download this season’s resources to deepen your learning and apply these success habits to your life and business.

⭐ Loved this episode? Share it with someone who needs encouragement to embrace a growth mindset!

01:44 Exploring Open-Mindedness and Growth Mindset

03:49 Practical Steps for Developing a Growth Mindset

04:04 Embracing Imperfections and Continuous Growth

05:40 The Importance of Brain Plasticity

07:02 Valuing the Process Over Results

09:06 Celebrating Growth and Purpose

10:08 Final Tips for a Growth Mindset

11:17 Conclusion and Episode Wrap-Up

Are you tired of hearing "That's just the way things are" in your business, or telling yourself, "I can't change"? This episode dives into the powerful habit of open mindedness, revealing how you can break free from limiting beliefs and ignite real growth—in your company and your personal life.

Open mindedness isn't just a feel-good phrase; it's a cornerstone of true success. Whether you're a business owner, leader, or team member, how you approach challenges and new ideas determines your ability to adapt, innovate, and thrive. Fixed mindsets keep you stuck. Growth mindsets propel you—and everyone around you—forward.

What You Need to Know

• Open mindedness is the ability to approach tasks, problems, and opportunities with a growth mindset, as opposed to a fixed mindset.
• Carol Dweck's concepts of "growth mindset" and "fixed mindset" shape how we respond to failure, adversity, and new perspectives in business and life.
• A fixed mindset says, “This is just the way I am; I can’t change,” or, “This is how we’ve always done it.”
• A growth mindset asks, “How could I or we do this differently?” and embraces learning from mistakes.
• Bringing team members with open minds fosters innovation and a healthy business culture.
• The episode connects open mindedness to the previous show on "Failing Forward," explaining that learning and adapting is how lasting success is built.

What You Need to Do

• Reflect on your approach: Do you default to "always" and "never"? Catch yourself and ask if a different viewpoint or approach is possible.
• Invite fresh ideas—listen to your team, especially new members who may see better ways to achieve results.
• Be willing to meet people where they are, even if you disagree. Mutual understanding can lead to growth.
• Limit forcing your beliefs onto others; instead, allow space for healthy, respectful debate.
• Keep your mind open to possibilities and your mouth closed on matters you don't know about, as Amy Poehler suggests.

Your Next Step

Start by downloading the free PDF of Napoleon Hill’s "Law of Success" book offered by Donna and Londina.

Listen to the episode as you work—let it challenge your thinking and spark new ideas. Commit to catching yourself in moments of fixed mindset this week, and choose the success habit of open mindedness instead.

Ready for real change? Play this episode, embrace open mindedness, and unlock your potential today.

Want more insights on shifting to a growth mindset and building success habits?

👉 Connect with Londina Cruz at Londina.com for resilience coaching and daily motivation.

👉 Work with Donna Kunde at DonnaKunde.com to shift your mindset and grow your business with confidence.

👉 📥 Download this season’s resources to deepen your learning and apply these success habits to your life and business.

⭐ Loved this episode? Share it with someone who needs to hear it!

00:00 Introduction and Hosts' Background

04:29 Success Habit of Open Mindedness

05:28 Growth Mindset vs. Fixed Mindset

10:07 Engagement and Resources

11:11 Conclusion and Next Steps

If you never fail, are you taking enough risk in your life or business? Playing it safe might feel comfortable, but it can keep you from growing into the next version of yourself. This episode goes deep into the success habit of "failing forward"—how to approach setbacks with purpose and use them as stepping stones for real transformation.

Why does this matter? Because standing still isn’t an option. Time keeps moving, whether you do or not. Both Donna and Londina highlight how embracing risk and owning your responsibilities is essential for anyone looking to break out of their comfort zone, bounce back from mistakes, and actually create the life and business they want.

What You Need to Know

• Success and safety aren’t the same. If everything you do is easy and successful, you may not be challenging yourself enough.
• Calculated risks are essential for growth. The show discusses the difference between repeated safe behavior and pushing into uncomfortable territory where learning happens.
• Reflection and ownership are key. Take responsibility for your failures instead of blaming circumstances or others. This self-honesty is what leads to meaningful change.
• Failure isn’t permanent unless you quit. Course corrections are a natural part of any journey, just like a plane adjusting its path as it flies.

What You Need to Do

• Evaluate your recent failures and, more importantly, own your part in them. Don’t just try again—reevaluate and adjust your approach.
• Take responsibility for where you are. It doesn’t matter where you started; what matters now is your willingness to make choices that move you forward.
• Let go of yesterday. Whether it was a success or a failure, give yourself 24 hours to feel it—and then move on.
• Look for partnerships or build a team to support you where you’re not as strong. You don’t have to do it all yourself.
• Celebrate your growth. Every setback is an opportunity to see what you couldn’t before, learn, and move ahead.

Your Next Step

Get honest about the risks you’re willing to take. Are you playing it safe or stretching beyond your comfort zone? Reflect on what in your business or life needs a calculated risk, own your next move, and start charting a path to your next level.

Want to go deeper into mastering success habits?

👉 Connect with Londina Cruz at Londina.com for resilience coaching and daily motivation.

👉 Work with Donna Kunde at DonnaKunde.com to shift your mindset, grow your business with confidence, and download this season's resources.

⭐ Loved this episode? Share it with someone who needs encouragement!

00:00 Introduction and Welcome

00:48 The Concept of Failing Forward

01:18 Embracing Risk and Growth

03:05 Taking Responsibility for Failures

07:01 Creating the Life and Business You Want

08:07 The Importance of Continuous Growth

09:54 Conclusion and Next Episode Preview

It’s time to leave “that’s just the way I am” behind. Discover how a shift in your mindset isn’t just theory—it’s the game-changer for breakthrough business innovation.

We’re talking about more than positive thinking. In today’s uncertain world, the difference between a business that adapts and one that disappears often comes down to mindset. Which will you choose: seeing limits or seeing possibilities? How you answer affects every hire, customer, and opportunity that comes your way.

What You Need to Know

A fixed mindset believes your abilities are set in stone. If you hear yourself or others saying “I always” or “I never,” you’re seeing this in action. It’s all about protecting what you know, avoiding risks, and fearing any kind of failure because it feels permanent.

Growth mindset is the polar opposite. With this, you see every challenge as a chance to get better. You believe talents and intelligence are developed through hard work, creative problem-solving, and learning from every outcome.

Businesses that use this mindset aren’t boxed in by what’s “always been done.” Instead, they find new ways to serve, pivot quickly, and create new opportunities (even during tough times like the pandemic).

What You Need to Do

Start listening for fixed mindset language—words like “always,” “never,” or “I can’t.” Interrupt those thoughts. Begin asking, “What could be possible if I tried something new?”

When you hit a roadblock, challenge yourself or your team to find at least three different solutions, even if they seem a little out there. Seek people for your inner business circle who share a commitment to growth and learning, not just a desire for praise.

Your Next Step

Reflect on one area of your business where things have felt stuck. Pinpoint the fixed mindset story you (or your team) have been telling yourselves. Rewrite that story as a possibility, and brainstorm one action you could take this week to move toward growth.

Want more insights on developing a growth mindset and building success habits?

👉 Connect with Londina Cruz at Londina.com for resilience coaching and daily motivation.

👉 Work with Donna Kunde at DonnaKunde.com to shift your mindset and grow your business with confidence.

👉 📥 Download this season’s resources to deepen your learning and apply these success habits to your life and business.

⭐ Loved this episode? Share it with someone who needs encouragement to embrace a growth mindset!

00:00 Introduction and Welcome

01:24 Understanding Fixed vs. Growth Mindset

02:34 Real-Life Examples of Mindsets

06:43 Impact of COVID on Business Mindsets

09:31 Embracing a Growth Mindset

10:55 Conclusion and Next Steps

Setbacks happen to all of us, but what if every failure was just a detour on the road to success?

In this episode, Londina and Donna break down what it truly means to “fail forward”—and how you can turn every misstep into a powerful stepping stone.

Most people think failure is the end of the story. But the truth is, quitting on yourself is the only real failure. Learning to distinguish between a temporary defeat and a permanent setback can change how you approach challenges in work, business, and life.

What you need to know

Not all setbacks are failures. Sometimes, things don’t go as planned, and that’s a temporary defeat—not a final destination. The difference lies in how you respond.

Both Donna and Londina encourage looking beyond mainstream thinking: instead of repeating negative stories, recognize your thoughts and habits, and see every obstacle as a chance to learn.

Your mind will look for evidence of what you focus on—so set it on opportunity instead of disappointment.

What you need to do

Release the habit of negative self-talk and train your mind to spot growth opportunities. When you’re tempted to give up, ask yourself: is this a conscious decision, or are you quitting on something you still desire?

Find ways to turn “failures” into advantages. Take calculated risks and prioritize action, even if it feels uncomfortable.

Get out of your safe zone. As Londina shares, growth happens when you decide to do something harder, not when you stay comfortable. Visualize how you want to think and act, then bring those intentions into each day.

Your Next Step

Download the show notes and grab your free copy of The Law of Success by Napoleon Hill for deeper insights.

Connect with Donna and Londina, get support, and share your questions as you apply these habits to your own path.

Catch the next episode, put these strategies into action, and start failing forward—your success story is just getting started.

Want more insights on failing forward and building success habits?

👉 Connect with Londina Cruz at Londina.com for resilience coaching and daily motivation.

👉 Work with Donna Kunde at DonnaKunde.com to shift your mindset and grow your business with confidence.

⭐ Loved this episode? Share it with someone who needs encouragement!

00:45 Episode Overview

03:43 Recognizing Failure vs. Temporary Defeat

08:15 Turning Failure into Advantage

09:07 Taking Calculated Risks

11:42 Pushing Beyond Comfort Zones

12:16 Conclusion and Break