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

"When it comes to personal development, 'Why?' is both the question and the answer." WHY challenge yourself? Why get involved in personal development? Why read 'self-help' books? Why try to improve? Why run a marathon or try to write a book? Only you can know your personal motive. Understanding what drives your behavior helps you produce personal power— self-efficacy— the ability to create a desired result. Knowing your motives is a prerequisite to prove to yourself that you can control and improve yourself! Your motive, your why, reinforces self-efficacy which builds momentum. Your WHY gives you courage and confidence to push yourself further and go after bigger challenges. Your why makes you bigger than your problems. This is WHY. Enjoy the episode! *** New listeners: By texting the word "HABITS" to the mobile phone number "33444" you will instantly receive your "hack"/habit tracker/habit development template, or you can download it here: thehabitfactor.com/templates. Feel free to share the episode and leav

"With just one short life to live a powerful question smacks us right between the eyes: What obligations come with it?" This week's theme layers nicely on top of last week's MBM, The Bucket List. Obligation: An act of being morally or legally bound; a duty or commitment. A debt of gratitude. While philosophers through the ages have struggled with this question, MG asks the listeners to consider the same theme. "Do you think you have any obligations with the life you've been gifted?" MG runs through a list of considerations: Do you have the obligation to care for yourself and others? Do you have the obligation to have the best health possible? Do you have the obligation to be kind — to treat others as you wish to be treated? (The Golden Rule). Do you have the obligation to find a purpose in life? Do you have an obligation to love? Do you have the obligation to be of service? Do you have the obligation to be happy? Do you have the obligation to challenge yourself? Do you have the obligation to learn, grow and s

"If beginning with the end in mind is important, and it is, than the bucket list exercise takes you to the ultimate end!" This week's theme layers nicely on top of last week's MBM, Motive. If knowing our motives helps to spark the action that drives the formation of our habits and goals, than knowing what is most important in our life, before we die, is the ultimate motivator to get moving! Too many people are simply going through the motions in life and unmotivated. The bucket list exercise reminds us that our time is precious and forces us to identify very quickly those 'things' that are most meaningful. MG quickly recounts how it was the bucket list exercise that is responsible for creating The Habit Factor (app and book). And, without forcing himself to consider his own untimely demise, very deeply, none of so many of his most meaningful achievements would have ever materialized. Enjoy the episode! *** New listeners: By texting the word "HABITS" to the mobile phone number "33444" you will instantly receiv

"Find the motive that drives the action you desire" Building off last week's Mind Bullet, "Feelings & Focus", MG tackles the significance that your motive plays when it comes to goal achievement and/or habit development. Simply put; motive drives action! The large majority of people remain frozen— stuck by inaction— waiting for ideal circumstances or, too afraid to make mistakes and fail. The path to progress and ultimate success requires action and knowing your motive is what will ignite your emotions and drive sustained action. Enjoy the episode! *** New listeners: By texting the word "HABITS" to the mobile phone number "33444" you will instantly receive your "hack"/habit tracker/habit development template, or you can download it here: thehabitfactor.com/templates. Feel free to share the episode and leave a review on iTunes!  ***** Subscribe iTunes here! Subscribe: Android | RSS ***** TOOLS/BOOKS WE RECOMMEND: Grab your FREE copy of As a Man Thinketh (PDF) right here: As a Man Thinketh The 3 C's of Su

"Your emotions guide your focus." A powerful element to goal achievement and habit building is taking control of your emotions and channeling them positively. The emotions you feel at any given moment can either help or hurt your ability to focus. One of the reasons this is important to understand is because so many people set goals that are uninspiring! As adults, we get to identify which emotions are serving us and even how we are going to respond. Enjoy the show! *** New listeners: By texting the word "HABITS" to the mobile phone number "33444" you will instantly receive your "hack"/habit tracker/habit development template, or you can download it here: thehabitfactor.com/templates. Feel free to share the episode and leave a review on iTunes!  ***** Subscribe iTunes here! Subscribe: Android | RSS ***** TOOLS/BOOKS WE RECOMMEND: Grab your FREE copy of As a Man Thinketh (PDF) right here: As a Man Thinketh The 3 C's of SucCcess (Mitch W. Steel) The Psychology of Achievement (Brian Tracy) The Power of Positi

"Begin something today you'll be pleased you started three or five years from now." When the environment around us shifts so dramatically that it dictates what we can and cannot do, concepts like non-resistance teach us to use constraints positively. No matter the pressure we're feeling, we have the opportunity to refract it towards optimism, hope and faith. (See The Pressure Paradox). Thus, we know it's a time to sow rather than reap — to to plant seeds. This may mean life-long creative projects or just getting on top of chores around the house. Martin shares an email from a friend who echoes these sentiments, his mission: to come out the other side of the pandemic; if not wealthier, stronger, physically, mentally, and emotionally. Enjoy the show! *** New listeners: By texting the word "HABITS" to the mobile phone number "33444" you will instantly receive your "hack"/habit tracker/habit development template, or you can download it here: thehabitfactor.com/templates. Feel free to share the episode and leave a

"We know from a lot of research that when things get tough, the general rule is people actually tend to help people out...” ~Glenn R. Fox Today's interview brings the return of Season 2, episode #12 guest Glenn R. Fox, head of Design, Strategy, and Outreach at USC Performance Science Institute. For more background on  Glenn, be sure to check out our prior interview. The topic de jour is Covid-19 and the current pandemic, which sets the backdrop for a discussion about concepts such as optimism, gratitude, and purpose. Glenn shares various insights based upon his and others' studies and research that suggests, for instance, the general trend in crises is for people to be kind and compassionate, and that optimistic people tend to be more realistic and cautionary. Glenn leaves us with three real-life exercises we can practice in order to develop the skills that foster the powerful traits of purpose, optimism, and gratitude. Enjoy the episode! For more on this subject, check out Season 6, Episode 40: Attitude, a

"Everything can be taken from a man but one thing: the last of the human freedoms—to choose one's attitude in any given set of circumstances, to choose one's own way.” ~Viktor Frankl This "tweener" Mind Bullet episode centers around how we respond to situations beyond our control—a fitting topic that comes during a time of great uncertainty throughout the world. Last week we addressed the Covid-19 virus and the idea of timing, including how important it is to pause and reflect on how the environment can dictate our behavior.  This week we expand on that idea, discussing the importance of our response to what's happening around us. Viktor Frankl's book, Man's Search for Meaning, shares many lessons to aid and guide our response to situations beyond our control.  "Those who have a 'why' to live, can bear with almost any 'how'.” In trying times, sometimes the one thing we can control is our response to what's happening. What attitude are you choosing? How are you going to respond?  Listen in for more on challe

"A rising tide lifts all boats." This "tweener" Mind Bullet episode was going to be about accountability, coming on the heels of our recent episodes on self-mastery and justification. But as the world shifts its priorities in light of the COVID-19 pandemic, Habits 2 Goals pivots its subject matter to the idea of TIMING. In a time of understandable stress and panic, what we can do is be patient and focus on what we can control.  Environmental factors can and will throw us off course as we pursue our goals, and that's OK. It's not always as overwhelming as a pandemic, but there are times that call for patience, as we wait for the environment to be supportive of what we're setting out to achieve. As we respect and understand timing, we realize there are bigger, fundamental forces at play. Listen in for more on how timing affects our lives and goal achievement, why we need to focus on what we can control, and how no storm lasts forever. Enjoy the episode! *** New listeners: By texting the word "HABITS" to the mob

"Becoming aware of how you justify your actions will help you produce the results you want.” This in-between-seasons ("tweener") Mind Bullet episode was inspired by last week's episode on Self-Mastery as we dive into the idea of justifying our behavior. We learned last week that "Habit is the most imperious of all masters," meaning it will dominate our lives, with or without our permission. The beauty is, we have the option of directing and guiding those habits, and this self-mastery is a lifelong process.  This leads right into today's topic, which we first touched on in Season Two's episode, "Humans Are Justifying Creatures." As justifying creatures, when we veer off course with our choices or behavior, we find a way to justify it. Breaking a diet? Well, it was a friend's birthday party, what could I do? Not exercising as you planned? It's raining out!  No one wants to feel bad about themselves, so when we hit a challenge, give in to temptation, or make a mistake, it's easy to assign blame and make excuses.

"Habit is the most imperious of all masters.” ~Johann Wolfgang von Goethe On this in-between-seasons ("tweener") Mind Bullet episode we examine a subject we've touched on but never fully explored: self-mastery. Self-mastery is simply the ability to take control of your life without being blown off course. Your body is the servant and not your master.  Self-mastery ties into the idea of challenge and change, a subject we've explored in depth. It's time to check the self-mastery meter and see how you're doing. MG discusses how a short fast tested and challenged his personal self-mastery, leading to insights about just how in control we are over our impulses. Self-mastery doesn't have to be about fasting or even food. Analyze your spectrum of behaviors, for example, spending vs. saving money, time spent on social media, playing online games etc. The key idea is to find ways in which you can test your own self-mastery and thereby develop self-discipline. Listen in for more on self-mastery, how it ties into the in

"No one told you when to run, you've missed the starting gun.” ~Pink Floyd On this in-between-seasons ("tweener") Mind Bullet episode we tackle a subject first brought up in the season 6 episode The Future: the moment is now. How many times have you heard a comment like, "Now is the defining moment of our time," in terms of an election or another big current event? But there's more to it: Now is (or can be), a defining moment in your life. Now! In our season 6 episode The Future, we realized that we're not just creating the future now, the future IS now. NOW IS THE FUTURE. How are you applying the moment? If you had a checklist for the moment, are you frittering it away, or are you using it to create clarity, take responsibility, take action, build better relationships, improve your wellness, etc.?  (Listen to the Brian Smith interview (UGG Australia founder) more about transformational awareness.) Now is the future. Use the moment to align your behaviors with your goals and ideals. Enjoy the episode! *** New

"Desire is the most important element of habit and skill development, not streaks.” On this in-between-seasons ("tweener") Wednesday Mind Bullet episode we discuss the subject of streaks.  Many people confuse and misinterpret the connection between streaks and habits. Streaks are something you do every day, and we often think we have to do something every day—have a streak—to develop a habit. Habit and skill development are more dependent upon consistency over time, not doing something every day. When we follow the PARR methodology, we incrementally develop new habits over time.  Streaks are a great tool (MG's burpee streak) for fitness and productivity and can be powerful mental and physical challenges. But streaks are not required for habit development. Listen in for more on the difference between streaks and habits; the physical and emotional downsides of streaks; and how desire, knowledge, and capacity to perform the behavior —not streaks—are the most important tools when acquiring habits and skills. Enjo

"If people knew how hard I worked to gain my mastery, it wouldn't seem so wonderful after all.”  ~Michelangelo This Frequently Asked Friday ponders a common theme: Should I work hard, or should I work smart? Common wisdom implores us to work smart, not hard. But like so much of the thinking we encounter here at Habits2Goals, this is another example of dichotomous thinking.  Working smart first ensures that we're asking the right questions and setting ourselves up for success. What's working? What's not working? Where do I want to go? But there's no getting around working hard, despite what you may hear. No one's going to do your push-ups for you, for example. Hard work makes you stronger physically, mentally and emotionally.   Listen in for more on starting smart and gaining clarity, working hard toward your goals, and applying the skillset of hard work toward habit and skill development. Enjoy the episode! *** New listeners: By texting the word "HABITS" to the mobile phone number "33444" you will instantly r

"You have two lives, and the second one begins when you realize you only have one.” ~Confucious This special Mind Bullet Wednesday is inspired by the above quote about coming to the awareness of life as a precious and fleeting gift. This kind of awakening usually happens after a few decades of living. We leave behind our autopilot, mindless existence and move to the clarity and understanding that there's no second time around. For MG, this awakening was spurred by the exercises we talked about in Episode 1 of our Vision & Wellness series, such as the rocking chair, obituary, and bucket list exercises, prompting him to seek new challenges and change. Do you have this awareness? Are you intentional about what you're trying to create in this life? Listen in for more on when your second life begins, finding what will prompt your awakening, and fulfilling the promise of your life's goals. Enjoy the episode! *** New listeners: By texting the word "HABITS" to the mobile phone number "33444" you will instantly re

"The man who views the world at 50 the same as he did at 20 has wasted 30 years of his life." ~Muhammad Ali  Today's Mind Bullet Monday tackles a concept that spans the human journey of growth and change: evolve. What sparked this episode was remembering Kobe Bryant. When he started in the NBA he was young and brash, but he evolved. He entered the league as a talented athlete and exited as an example of work ethic, maturity, generosity, and grace. Surviving and evolving means adapting to change. Think about Madonna or other great artists with staying power. They're still relevant over time because they continue to evolve.  So what's the connection between habit and evolution? Habit means character (its Latin root is habitus). What is nobler than evolving your character—to take your habits and intentionally direct them toward your goal?! Ask yourself, how am I intentionally evolving over the next 5-10 years? Listen in for more on habit as intentional evolution; adapting to survive, thrive and grow; and how to

"Conscious breathing is my anchor.”  ~Thich Nhat Hahn Today's Frequently Asked Friday (FAF) picks up where last Friday's Mindfulness vs. Habit episode left off, exploring the significant role habit plays in mindfulness. To recap, an acquaintance "thought leader" asserted that he didn't believe in habit; he believed only in mindfulness. In the episode, we described at length how this is dichotomous thinking, and habit and mindfulness coexist brilliantly together.  In fact, we use our conscientious mind to intentionally craft habits to serve us in a subconscious fashion.  But there's more to the story when you think about the idea that MINDFULNESS is all-important. Think about breathing. Is every breath you take all day long a mindful one? In fact, the autonomic nervous system regulates breathing, body temperature, metabolism, and more. These are habitual patterns of behavior governed biologically. The idea here is that one is not more important than the other. There is a beautiful, delicate balance between hab

"You're only going to know how mentally tough you are, and what your limits are, by testing yourself.” This bonus sixth episode continues where episode 5, Mindset, left off, answering the critical question: How do I develop the GRIT mindset that will lead to success?  The first step toward creating a success mindset is to take control—grab the wheel of your mind. One way to do this is to practice affirmations or mantras, such as Brian Tracy's "I like myself." Since you can hold only one thought in your mind at a time, articulating a positive idea such as "I like myself" blocks negative, petty thoughts, and tunes your mind toward something positive. Another idea is to challenge yourself physically. By giving yourself physical tests, you exercise grit, resilience, adaptability, and so much more. (This is reminiscent of our Obsessed episode, which explored how wanting something so badly is a great ally when it comes to goal achievement.) Listen in for more on setting goals, taking control of your mind using affi

“You are the programmer... you are responsible. Write the program.” ~Stephen R. Covey Today's Mind Bullet Monday explores the idea of being programmed, a topic inspired by the Gay Hendricks book, The Big Leap. In the book, Hendricks discusses a coaching client who had a difficult time making changes because she had been "programmed" for many years to do things a certain way. This applies to all of us. What we do habitually continues to be reinforced, for better or worse, taking us toward our goals or sending us farther away. This brings up the critical concept of awareness. How aware are we of the things we're programmed to do? And where does this programming come from? In our episode on being hypnotized, we asked the question: If you were hypnotized, how would you know? This applies to our programming, as well. When we've been programmed to do things that hurt our goals and desires, how can we become aware of this—and how can we change it? Listen in for more about becoming aware of harmful programming, findi

"Use mindful, intentional, thought to forge the habits that will then serve you subconsciously.”   Today's Frequently Asked Friday (FAF) addresses a common question and a confusing concept: What role does habit play in mindfulness? This question sprang from an offhand comment by a "thought leader": "I don't believe in habit, I believe in mindfulness." First of all, this falls into the trap of dichotomous thinking. Of course, it doesn't have to be mindfulness OR habit. It's both. So if the goal is to be always mindful, where does habit come into play? Habit is an incredible tool to help us accomplish more because it lets us expend less energy. We use mindful, intentional, thinking to forge habits that will then serve us in a subconsious, autopilot process.  Listen in for more on the mindfulness-habit connection, why it doesn't have to be one or the other, and how to develop skills and habits that serve you mindfully. Enjoy the episode! *** New listeners: By texting the word "HABITS" to the mobile phone number