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

"Awareness is like the sun. When it shines on things, they are transformed.” ~Thich Nhat Hanh [NOTE: This is our NEW YEAR BREAKTHROUGH Series (at least 8 new episodes, taking you step-by-step, "How to Make 2018 Your Biggest Breakthrough New Year!"] If Step # was about DECIDING (and it was), this week is all about awareness and assessment. STEP #2: Assess. This episode we're reminded that all information is good information if we're honest and courageous enough to shine the light on ourselves. To that end, Martin shares another Jim Rohn classic quote, "Learn to work harder on yourself than you do on your job. If you work hard on your job you can make a living, but if you work hard on yourself you'll make a fortune." Turns out, we ALL tend to go bust our butt at our jobs working 40+ hours every week but how much time are we spending on our own personal development and improvement? The point is, now that we've DECIDED we are going to change, it's time for US to get to work on ourselves and become the change we s

"You cannot change your destiny over night but you can change your direction.” ~Jim Rohn [NOTE: This is the first in our, NEW YEAR Series (at least 8 NEW episodes, taking you step-by-step, "How to Make 2018 a Breakthrough Year!"] Most people "want" some change and / or improvement in their life. But "wanting" is not the same is making a clean and clear delineation. DECIDING what specifically will change for the better is entirely different than wanting or hoping. STEP #1: DECIDE. Martin shares a Tony Robbins' great quote, "A real decision is backed by action." This helps to take us out of the realm of "wishing" or "wanting" and moves us toward a definitive DECISION and gaining some real momentum. Turns out, the Latin root and meaning of decide is to "cut-away". "To me that means we are intent on cutting-away from our old habits and eager to setup/begin new behaviors/habits that we can align to our new goal!" Deciding is the beginning of transformation! Deciding is that fundamental first step and a real decisi

"The freedom of tomorrow lies in the discipline of today." The "BIG" idea for this mind-bullet Monday revolves around the importance of implementing controls and constraints into our lives. "Controls and constraints!?" You may be saying, "That sounds horrible, uncomfortable and pretty lame!" Well, it turns out that controls and constraints tend to be precisely the types of parameters that can help you forge new behaviors (habits) to assist you in achieving your goals more quickly. Even The Habit Factor's P.A.R.R. methodology demonstrates this with its frequency per week, minimum success criteria, and tracking period (4 weeks). Perhaps more importantly (and paradoxically): It turns out that freedom is born from controls and constraints. Consider the person who never develops and institutes any controls and constraints in their life (diet, exercise and or/finances, etc.). This is a person who will likely struggle for a long time. Conversely, the person who institutes controls and constraints (disciplines) relat

"I love deadlines. I like the whooshing sound they make as they fly by.” ~Douglas Adams By: Martin Grunburg It's great to be back in the saddle and while this is NOT the official kick-off of Season 4 (Habits 2 Goals Podcast), it is my effort to get you caught up and share at least one of the great lessons I recently experienced. Admittedly, you're gonna have to be a little patient (it takes a while to set the table here) but coincidentally patience is a component part of this lessons anyway! ; ) Today, I share a bit about my long-standing partnership (23+ yrs) and it's official separation... all good, mostly. The fact is we'd been partners (3 of us) longer than most marriages exist and with our company's recent win of a prime contract award (defense) AND, given that they are in the neighborhood of 70 years old an exist strategy presented itself. How and why this may relate to you. Entrepreneurs (people in general) love to cling to motto's, slogans, trite and not so trite sayings, that guide and drive them and

"God changes caterpillars into butterflies, sand into pearls and coal into diamonds using TIME & PRESSURE. He's working on you too” ~Rick Warren [NOTE: Henry and I set out to complete 35 episodes for Season III and this is episode #41. If you've enjoyed the season as much as we did putting it together, PLEASE leave a review on iTunes ; ). Also, there are more shows coming! Be sure you are subscribed! Great news is on the way! Thank you!] **Technical audio note: Apologies, we had tech issues again on Henry's end and he was forced to use a different device. At times, connection picks up various background noises. Apologies and appreciate your understanding! ; )** Coming off the heels of the recent metamorphosis episode, MG shares what he considered might be his #1 tip/piece of advice as he responds to an email. The emailer is excited about The Habit Factor and asks MG, "Do you have any advice?" At first Martin isn't too happy about the question, given the amount of "tips" and information already published.

"Corey and I have two qualities that I think unite us. One, we are eternal optimists; we always believe our best day is coming. The other thing is that we have a high risk tolerance. We’ll keep rolling the dice. We like the idea of saying, ‘We’re going to bet on ourselves a little longer.'" ~Casey Wright Few entrepreneurs seize an opportunity as quickly and as creatively as Casey Wright. He and his brother Corey, guided by their parents, were encouraged to explore this "internet thing" in the early 2000s, and in particular, how email marketing might help their real estate firm. Their parents came to them and said they wanted to stop spending $100K on print marketing per year; the brothers thought email marketing might be the answer. To everyone's surprise, the strategy worked and Casey and his brother were off and running...sort of. "The first year was exciting, and then you have six years of things not going the way you wanted them to; I'm seeing my friends working half as hard and making twice as much money

"There is nothing in a catapiller that tells you it's going to be a butterfly." ~Buckminster Fuller [Note: *Apologies* The sound quality at times is compromised in this episode. Henry had to use his cell phone and there a a few moments (briefly) where  background noise interferes. Thanks for your patience and understanding.*] "Habit is a cobweb at first and a cable at last." ~Spanish Proverb Martin and Henry get after this one on the heels of a keynote presentation Martin recently did for IREM (institute for real estate management). He talks to Henry about how he inserted these same "two themes" at the front of the presentation because they applied so well to the REstart graduates who were being honored at the luncheon. MG then discusses this powerful idea of transformation (preferring the term, "Metamorphosis") and our individual capacity to turn virtually any weakness into a strength using the force of habit. Today it's popular in the personal development world to "ignore your weakness and just focus on you

"If you are patient in one moment of anger, you will escape one hundred days of sorrow.” ~Chinese Proverb Not to long ago we had an entire episode about enhancing mindfulness. Today's topic is very related and it has to do with some ideas, tips and best practices, even mindsets around how to best control one's temper. MG and Henry trade some tips and share some stories... Henry talks about his experience recently where he was so upset he had to go hit a punching bag (NOT people) for an extended period of time. "Try that for just one minute and you'll be winded and you'll also be addressing your 'fight or flight' natural response to anger and stress. It's a great way to address the pent up energy." Martin then reflects on the very powerful and insightful statement: "Between stimulus and response there is a space. In that space is our power to choose our response. In our response lies our growth and our freedom." Viktor E. Frankl  Then, MG shares this gem from Thomas Jefferson, "When you are angry count to ten,

"If you're listening to this...I want you to try this for twenty-four hours. Think about every situation, and say to yourself, 'I am responsible.' If you don't do that you'll stagnate and never get ahead." ~Eric Berman A varied and enviable background, EB has been a bachelor on the hit reality show Millionaire Matchmaker. He's stood in the winner's circle multiple times at Del Mar as part of the winning horse's ownership group. He's part owner in multiple popular restaurants throughout San Diego, and perhaps best of all (at least according to MG), he is long-term business partners with the personal development legend Brian Tracy. EB begins the show sharing how some early career success with a Facebook-like company (collegeclub.com) in the '90s goes terribly sideways as it collides head first into the exploding dot-com disaster of the late '90s. As "guy #3" in the fast-growing company, he was close to all the action when his company failed to qualify for a bridge loan amid the market collapse; before long they

"True nobility isn’t about being better than someone else, it’s about being better than you used to be." Dr. Wayne Dyer Martin tackles this Mind Bullet Monday solo and labels it a bit of a hybrid episode since he bridges concepts and ideas from a couple prior episodes. This episode is on the heels of the synchronicity/serendipity episode where Martin and Henry compare theories on ways to create an increased frequency of such events in our lives.

 Martin then adds some of the late, great Dr. Wayne Dyer's thoughts via his bestseller, The Power of Intention. Specifically where Dyer reviews the importance of aligning with the "FACE" of the "Creative" source. In his book, Dr. Dyer spells out the "Seven Faces of Intention" Creativity, Kindness, Love, Beauty, Expansiveness, Abundance and Receptivity and how Dr. Dyer believed deeply that creating alignment / "matching up" with sources "Faces" of energy was essential. Martin then takes the entire process a step further, and perhaps makes it sound/concrete by recommen

"Walk as if you are kissing the Earth with your feet.” ~Thich Nhat Hanh Mindfulness matters. This is the age of distractions! "Smart" phones, social media, texting, etc., our attention span continue to shrink and yet the demand for our focus and attention (in order to achieve our goals and be more productive) has never been greater! In this fun episode Henry and MG discuss some of their favorite tips to become more present and mindful. MG starts though with the important idea that BOTH habit and mindfulness (by design) are intended to work together. The way to cultivate any mindless or subconscious behavior (habit) is often via repetition and practice so it becomes "automatic!" Think, "wax on" "wax off". They exchange thoughts on various breathing exercises and MG tells Henry his favorite tip might just be to "tune in" to his senses; smell, touch, sight, sound, etc. Henry mentions a neat visual, breathing exercise and his intention to be very present and aware with encounters with others. MG and Henry both di

It was really out of frustration... I needed some tools and I made it my mission to become the world's first values-based marketing agency!" ~Sarah Hardwick Sarah Hardwick understands the ups and downs of entrepreneurship and what it means to persevere, be resilient and succeed! A gifted and talented student from Durango High in Colorado (her father was a forest ranger in the area for 30 years!). Sarah attended University of Denver (scholarship) and decides on a marketing and business major instead of theater... "the more practical decision." Her senior year in college she visits sunny San Diego (Mission Beach) for spring break and is instantly intent on relocating as soon as she graduates. In this episode, Sarah provides keen insight into the incredible power of values and why they are so important, beyond just marketing! "When you start to act in ways that are not in alignment with your values, than it is really hard to be happy!" Sarah also touches on some incredibly difficult moments and what she consider

"Silence is the source of great strength." Talk, Talk, Talk. Speaking for the most part is easy. Particularly about things we are GOING to do. However, doing them and the work they entail is hard. Which do you choose? While today’s topic has been touched upon… from various angles in prior seasons: In Season I it was SILENCE and CONCENTRATION and how silence is the source of GREAT strength and wisdom! Then, in season II’s FAF, MG addresses the question, “Should we announce our goals?” Today’s episode though is really inspired by Ryan Holiday’s latest book, “Ego is the Enemy”. A fantastic book where he’s devotes an entire chapter entitled, Talk, Talk, Talk to this idea that so many of us succubm to the easy— the idle, valueless, chatter. How easy is it to post on twitter, “I’ve just signed up for my first marathon!” Versus, the challenge to actually sign-up and NOT post anything. Instead, to get busy training and save the big announcement for when the work is done and the goal is accomplished. There is power

"The universe conspires to help the peaceful soul." Synchronicity and serendipity are seemingly magical events that appear at the most opportune time to aid a person. In fact, the definition of serendipity is:  a "fortunate happenstance" or "pleasant surprise". Synchronicity is a concept, first explained by analytical psychologist Carl Jung, which holds that certain events are "meaningful coincidences" if they occur with no causal relationship yet seem to be meaningfully related. MG and Henry tackle this super-fun topic and discuss what they believe may be the key elements that help to contribute to such fortunate happenstances in one’s life. Henry begins with the cornerstone, essential trait that enables these pleasant, magical surprises, optimism! Martin echoes Henry’s comments and suggest that the spark in many ways is knowing exactly what your intention is; that is what you want, what your target/goal is and where you want to go! The universe it seems can only offer up these “pleasant surprises” when you

“I think I can somehow pay for us to live in Greece for a year... that was kinda how it all started.” ~Adam Dailey Adam Dailey knows a thing or two about moving FAST. As a five-time All-American sprinter, Dailey ran for the University of Arkansas whose track teams racked up 9 NCAA titles while he was there A bit later in life, Adam and his wife (also a former track star) did what seemed incomprehensible, if not impossible, traveling around the world on a twelve month sabbatical, with their (at the time) four children! That journey is at the heart of this episode and interview and it's what inspired Adam to write his #1 Amazon bestseller, "How to Run Away From Home: And Take Your Family With You. Adam recounts much of his early struggles in an entrepreneurial venture that stemmed largely from some overly-aggressive growth goals and shares how he was able to overcome what amounted to, at one point, losing about a million dollars in just one month! Adam shares his best tips and insights about travel and warns th

"Remembering that I’ll be dead soon is the most important tool I’ve ever encountered to help me make the big choices in life." ~Steve Jobs Martin and Henry attempt to tackle this MASSIVE MBM, "Mind Bullet Monday" topic— the unlikely value that is inherent in death.  While death is a tragic— the IDEA of death especially to the living ; ) provides immense value when it is used as a tool to inspire immediacy and action and add more life to the present! Martin says, "I had no idea we were going to go here but, Steve Jobs commencement speech at Stanford immediately comes to mind." "Consider" he says, how Jobs' acute awareness to his limited amount of time might've factored as a catalyst to Apple's growth in his final years." Martin even reads a few sentences from Jobs' Stanford 2005 commencement speech: "... It is Life’s change agent. It clears out the old to make way for the new. Right now the new is you, but someday not too long from now, you will gradually become the old and be cleared away. Sorry to be so dram

SUCCESS! Seems everyone wants it and today's question is (if there is one) what is the #1 trait that determines one's success. Both MG and Henry recognize this could easily result in multiple-days worth of discussions and certainly there are hundreds if not thousands of books written on the matter. Having said that, they both manage to narrow their answer down to a few, very select traits. The best part (as you know) is any of these traits is create-able via the magical force of HABIT! Tune in and then let MG and Henry know what YOU think the #1 trait is! Enjoy! Be sure to subscribe! Thank YOU for checking out this episode and we're always grateful when you SHARE our stuff w/ your friends and help us by writing a review ; ) Mentioned in this episode: GRIT! 7 Habits of Highly Effective People  ----------- More Resources (FREE! The Habit Factor's Tracking Template) The Habit Factor® (website: BLOG, tips, tools and other resources) The Habit Factor® Book (Amazon Kindle) The Pressure Paradox® Book (Amazon Kindle)

“I presented this idea to the executives at Capitol Records and they kinda just laughed me out of the building...” ~Evan Saxon After a funny and bizarre episode open... where Martin says, “I’m not even going to edit that!” the two settle in and get to the business at hand. Evan shares his bumpy early academic career bouncing between junior colleges and SDSU / Northridge Universities. Ultimately, Evan drops out, as he puts it, "the pursuit of a career got in the way of my pursuit of a degree."
 Consumed by his passion for music and the music industry, Evan got his lucky break starting out as an intern at IRS Records. Then he moved into the marketing division of Capitol Records where he was offered a paid position. "I loved it! I didn't care what time I had to get up or how late I had to work. I was having a great time!"

 Years later, a bit disillusioned by what he saw in multiple executive meetings — fighting the status quo “losing control vs. taking control” as Evan puts it, he realized it was time to move

"Anything other than a win/win is, ultimately, a lose/lose." ~Dr. Stephen Covey Quick question: Are you really a "big-pie" person or are you concerned that if someone takes a piece of the pie there won't be anything left for you? Which are you? BIG PIE or SMALL PIE? MG and HE get right to business and discuss this massive mental shift. Martin confesses that growing up with a very competitive mindset his early entrepreneurial struggles were exacerbated by thinking to win someone else had to lose. "One of the key lessons for me", Martin shares, "Is this idea of big pie vs small pie mentality and how there could, and should be multiple winners." The idea Covey shared changed how I negotiated and treated everyone; employees, vendors and customers etc. Henry comments that in the movie "Wall Street" Gecko's claim that "It's a zero-sum game: somebody wins, somebody loses." is just plan wrong! They talk about all the examples of businesses and owners who've given away ownership and stock within their companies to f

Rapport! The value of rapport is truly incalculable. Relationships (excuse the cliche) are everything! And, some people seem to have much more success establishing it than others.  Martin shares a story as he witnessed his mentor and business partner establish instant rapport with a new client prospect and then MG challenges Henry to offer up the goods because, like his partner, Henry is a master of this. Henry shares his best tips including the essence of rapport in many ways is to be MORE INTERESTED in others and put less effort and focus in yourself, trying to be interesting. Check it out and learn some other great tips on building rapport! Be sure to subscribe! Thank YOU for checking out this episode and we're always grateful when you SHARE our stuff w/ your friends and help us by writing a review ; ) Mentioned in this episode: 7 Habits of Highly Effective People  ----------- More Resources (FREE! The Habit Factor's Tracking Template) The Habit Factor® (website: BLOG, tips, tools and other resources) The