Habits 2 Goals: The Habit Factor® Podcast with Martin Grunburg

“Everyone wants to improve the world, very few are willing to improve themselves.” Tweet This

Many people write-off self-help thinking that positive thinking just sets you up for disappointment later.

Zig Ziglar once put it brilliantly, "positive thinking won't allow you do everything, it only allows you to do everything better." For instance, positive thinking may not help you to dunk a basketball. But, it will make your efforts much improved.

The beauty is self-help isn't just about "positive thinking". First and foremost, it's an acknowledgment that the person responsible for their growth and development is themselves.

SELF HELP (at the proverbial end of the day) has been described as the only real help there is.

Self-help is also about accepting one's self as they are and then acknowledging ways they might improve. The pursuit of self-help assures a certain amount of humility.

“True nobility isn't about being better than others, it's about being better than you were before.” ~Wayne Dyer Tweet This

So, really, the beginning of all self improvement is an acknowledgement that you can be better and a belief that it's possible.

In this episode, Martin and I review his personal journey of self improvement (6:00) and then he discusses at least seven reasons why self-help doesn't suck (11:10).

1. It's the only true help there is


2. It helps you assume responsibility for your life.


3. Promotes a respectful understanding of self and humility.


4. Demonstrates a DESIRE to be better.


5. The concept of true nobility


6. It's the only thing you can inspiring others

He then reviews some top-of-mind favorite self-help books and authors. (26:00).

“Let everyone sweep in the front of his own door and the world shall be clean.”  Tweet This

Who hasn't felt STUCK before?

The good news is, it's common and something everyone is likely to experience at some point. The bad news is, it's an uncomfortable awareness that you've lost momentum and enthusiasm is gone.

That no matter what you try to do, nothing seems to move you or your career forward? Hence, you are STUCK.

And, when you’re stuck, it's important to know that it's not just an emotional but also a physiological state. Sometimes it even makes us feel alone or isolated.

“Motion creates emotion.” ~Tony Robbins Tweet This

To help you form some habits that will ultimately propel you forward, Martin and I review these eight tips to become UNSTUCK (time):

1. More Accurate Thinking


2. Move!


3. Use and Create Regret


4. Avoid the Comparison Game


5. Read Autobiographies and other books- keep learning
   


6. Challenge Fear


7. Acknowledge and Accept the Situation
   


8. Track- Track - Track (Did we say Track!?)
   

By tracking even your smallest, recurring behaviors (habits) that move your toward your goal, you build immediate momentum! Reaffirming exactly why the Free Habit Building-Tracking template is so popular and why the app works so well for so many people ; ).

Finally, at the end of the episode, Martin extends a gift for anyone who may be feeling stuck. So, check out the show and share a review please. Thank you.

Enjoy!

It seems everyone I know is "super-busy" and so many people are stressed-out... the question is, how many of them are making time to RELAX.

“The best time to relax is when you don’t have the time.” Tweet This

The most productive people I know schedule spa days, massages and recreation in the midst of their hectic schedules. That's right, the SCHEDULE relaxation as though it were any other responsibility on their list—and it is. They don't wait for a time when things will slow down... they proactively make the time and slow things down.

In order to be the best you can be in your personal and professional life, you must make the time to RELAX.

“I have just five letters for you: R-E-L-A-X.” ~ Aaron Rodgers  Tweet This

Uttered, Hall of Fame quarterback Aaron Rodgers after the Packers started the 2014 season 1-2.  Whether it was because of his statement, imploring PACKER nation to chill or not, the team turned things around and made a great run through the playoffs.

In this episode, Martin and I review the "B.R.A.D." acronym which can serve as reminder about how to minimize stress and return to a cool, calm, collected state (13:00):

• B- Breathe, Deep breathing reminds you to fill the diaphragm
  


• R- Release, expectations and the perfect outcome (know what it is and then let go)
  


• A- Accept, the situation... resisting any situation only prolongs the challenge
  


• D- Direct your attention positively in the present. Focus on the immediate task at hand!
  

Challenge yourself this week by scheduling recreation and performing your daily tasks differently (thinking of BRAD) and cultivate an appreciation for developing these habits of thought.  

“The more relaxed you are, the better you are at everything!” ~Bill Murray  Tweet This

“Every master was once a disaster.”  T. Harv Eker Tweet This

Life is similar to sports. What's interesting is sometimes we choose intentionally to PLAY and other times, without knowing, we've allowed ourselves to fall into the shadows and become a spectator.

While it's good to have periods of reflection and rest, too much inactivity or indifference impedes our growth, progress, happiness and success.

You know you're PLAYING to WIN when you have a goal defined — you can describe what the end-zone and even first downs look like.

“Good things happen when planned out. Bad things happen on their own.” Tweet This

To stay motivated and keep your head in the game, be sure to track and keep score! Just try to imagine any professional sport without a target and/or score.

Athletes know how they are doing because there is a score and it's tracked! Are you tracking?

This simple concept alone accounts for much of popularity of The Habit Factor® app (iOS) (Android) and  FREE tracking template (spreadsheet). Tracking creates momentum and provides invaluable feedback!

In order to meet the challenge of competition and play our best, Martin and I review the CRITICAL 3 P's. (17:22):

• Planning  - what is the end goal, ideal, objective?
  


• Preparing - what are the resources: people, tools, skills required?
  


• Practicing - Practice skills, refine and rehearse - simulate real "play"
  

Then, we challenge the listener to identify something they are working on and intentionally practice and track it this week.

Finally, we touch on the big trap that seems to hit so many people after a BIG win.

With a nice, satisfying win behind them, (just like some athletes) they lose focus and attention in the present. They become tentative and perhaps even unsure how or if they might repeat their prior success.

Forgetting of course that, “Greatness is a process.”  Tweet This

Are you tracking? Do you know what the short term first-downs are? What does the long-term end-zone looks like?

Let me know how you keep your head in the game?

Enjoy. Subscribe. Share. Thanks.

It's common to hear conflicting messages from personal achievement experts or “gurus”? (5:15).

One authority will insist that you don't have to work hard, you just have to work smart. Another insists that balance is bogus or, you just have to follow your bliss. Yet, another claims life is a marathon not a sprint... and on it goes.

“Take away paradox from the thinker and you have a professor.” ~Kierkegaard  

Unfortunately, achieving your goals isn't so black and white. Often, the "real" answer is a mixture of conflicting advice. In a world of a thousand shades of grey, confusion and then paralysis can set in if we remain fixed.

In this episode, Nick and I review an essential "key" when it comes to navigating all of this conflicting information. (14:35).

"Never does nature say one thing and wisdom another." ~Juvenal

It turns out in your pursuit of personal growth and your goals its best to mirror the many visible traits in the natural world (dynamic, flexible, adaptive) for starters.

That mindset, combined with awareness, assures an effective and efficient path to personal growth and goal achievement.

“Good judgement comes from experience and experience comes from bad judgement.” Tweet This

Enjoy!

“What is man without energy? Nothing. Nothing at all.” 

With all of the gimmicks and advertisements for ways to increase your energy, we are made to forget that both we and our goals are energy. Energy, as defined by the Latin root ergo, is the capacity for doing work. To make the most of your energy and to increase your capacity for doing work, Martin fuses  Newton’s Laws of Physics with his strategies for increasing your productivity  (5:45):

1. An object in motion tends to stay in motion 


2. Force = Mass x Acceleration


3. For every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction. 

In the words of a Navy SEAL, “Slow is smooth and smooth is fast.” Friction causes tension, so challenge yourself to be more mindful of your responses to negativity and use your energy in a more productive manner. Martin reminds us that we have a limited amount of energy each day and that drama should be avoided at all times, if necessary. 

“Always take hold of things by the smooth handle.”

A quick thank you! Our Habits 2 Goals podcast was featured once again by iTunes and has been in the top 10 (Self-Help category) for several weeks... a terrific start for this new show!

Now, on to the business at hand. It seems that everyone I know is "busy, busy, busy". In this show Martin and I cover some of the things you can do to make the most of your time and ensure that your results are meaningful too! No point climbing up the wrong ladder, right?

In this episode we walk through some key tips to help anyone be more productive:

1. Effectiveness -what is it really? (4:38)


2. Concentration and Focus (6:03)


3. Leverage (10:30)


4. Delegation (13:02)


5. Creating Milestones (15:07)


6. Finding Models and Asking Questions  (18:55)


7. Deadlines and Launching (21:50)


8. Constantly Learning (23:55)


9. Importance of tracking (24:15)


10. Reassessment, adapting and adjusting as you move forward (26:05)

While these ideas will greatly enhance your productivity, it's essential to know mental toughness and persistence remain paramount (see GRIT post). Remember too, these tips will only work when you’re kind, patient, and accepting of yourself!

If you have any questions about this week’s episode, or any prior shows, email them to  Martin at mg (  AT )  thehabitfactor.com.

“Questions direct our energy, attention and focus.” 

As children we constantly asked questions which led us to learn about our world and ourselves. Over time, many adults fall out of the habit and stop asking questions.

Why is the sky blue? Why is the grass green? Why do giraffes have such long necks? Our questions are only limited by our imagination.

Fortunately, that habit of asking questions can be strengthened. The more often you ask questions, the stronger the habit becomes. By challenging yourself to look at a problem from multiple dimensions,  questions provide an excellent why to focus and reconnect your attention to any problem.

Questions have been the cornerstone of education, science and invention since the beginning of time. The greatest inventors and scientists, like Edison and Einstein where famous for the questions they would pose. And, of course, questions have tremendous value to everyday life. In this episode, Martin provides a few examples of how asking the right questions might just help you achieve your most important goals, more quickly (7:24).

A few quick tips on questions on how to improve your question-asking skills from this episode include:

• Ask many questions as early as possible in the problem solving process


• Be as specific as possible and tailor your questions toward the ideal outcome


• Finding and using tools like search engines and Quora to help reshape and refine your skills


• Daily tracking of your question-asking habit

By using questions to re-focus toward your meaninful goals, you will attain the concentration needed to add value in your life. Shaping questions around your specific goal will help you consciously rededicate yourself to your goals.

“A question well asked is half solved.” 

“Nobody is born with grit and no one is born with discipline.” Tweet This

Grit is one of the greatest predictors of success and one of the defining virtues of successful people… yet, what is grit exactly and how can you develop it?

According to Angela Lee Duckworth’s TED talk, grit is a combination of persistence and a willingness to change and adapt to improve. It is actively choosing to pursue a goal, refusing to quit and being willing to accept failures— understanding that "success" is a processs.

“People with a grit mindset are committed to outcomes and are willing to disregard facts if and when necessary.” Tweet This

By persisting and keeping your eye on the prize, you can develop habits to guide you in achieving your goals. This week, Martin offers a few thought and behavior habits to transform your mindset and get help you get “gritty” (13:10):

• Start with a vision
• Believe it's possible
• Be patient
• Work hard and have courage
• Reframe your mistakes into learning experiences
• Craft creative alternatives
• Persist
• Mental toughness
• Reflect and Repeat

The most important ingredient of this plan may be to continually repeat the process. Grit, in essence is the resolve to go through the process as many times as it takes to achieve your dreams.

In order to implement this strategy into your life, use this template, a worksheet, or the Habit Factor app and develop the determination required to accomplish your goals.

“It's important to regard failure as an event and not a person.” Tweet This

On your unique journey to a more balanced and successful life, failure is inevitable. One of the biggest obstacles to achieving your goals is separating your sense of self from any particular instance of failure (2:44). Rather than labeling yourself as a failure after a tough setback or challenge, shift your perspective and simply view the failure for what it was: an event.

“Failure is not the opposite of success; it's a prerequisite.” Tweet This

Research (or quickly Google ; ) the autobiography of any one of your favorite heroes and you will notice that each and every one has essentially failed their way toward success (5:02). Here are a few ways setbacks can be overcome more easily... (9:48):

1. Continuing to move forward assertively


2. Frequently attempting new and challenging things


3. Identify a "winning" model


4. Reverse engineering the desired outcome

While almost everyone tends to overestimate what they can accomplish in the short term, they grossly underestimate what they can achieve in the long-term. Of course "success" is the ultimate end-goal where patience becomes a critical ingredient and it's only via the power of habit that one can develop those essential mindsets required in order to spin failure to win!

“Genius is eternal patience” –Michelangelo Tweet This

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