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

Today's FAF (Frequently Asked Friday) is a back-to-basics concern: "Why do habits exist?" At first blush, this may seem like a nonsensical question, but the question and its answer became life-altering for MG! As The Habit Factor book and app was being created, MG Googled the burning question, "Why do habits exist?" He got a big fat nothing! Not only were there no answers, but the question hadn't even been asked yet. Today you get a very different result, with some differing reasons and motivations— nonetheless, the answer isn't easy to come by. (MG wrote more about this in this blog post.) Listen in to learn what is at the very root of The Habit Factor, and the ideas behind Habit Alignment technology being the key to goal achievement Enjoy the episode! ***** Subscribe iTune here! Subscribe: Android | RSS ***** ~~NEW~~ The New HabitXP Planner! Grab your FREE copy of As a Man Thinketh (PDF) right here: As a Man Thinketh The Magic of Thinking BIG! (David Schwartz) The Success Principles (Jack Canfield) Getting

“The essence of goal achievement: You are energy, and your goal is going to require energy...Habit alignment, therefore, is the most efficient way to achieve your goal.” In a special, non-interview Wednesday "Mind Bullet," MG shares how anyone can "bridge the gap" -- that is, go from point "A" (where they are now), to point "B" (their goal)! Bridging the gap is essentially what everyone wants to do. Yet few of us understand how to go about goal achievement in the most efficient and effective way possible: habit alignment. MG leads the listener through a simple exercise and explains a radical realization -- one he wishes he was taught 30-plus years ago: HABIT (and "habit alignment") is the key to goal achievement. And the best way to develop supportive habits is to follow P.A.R.R.: Plan, Act, Record and Reassess. 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: thehabitfac

“If anything is a miracle, then everything is."  Today's Mind-Bullet Monday explores the idea that if anything at all can be called a miracle, then everything must be a miracle. Why does the heart begin to beat? Why do we yawn? How is it that our planet rotates on an axis at 1000 miles an hour and rotates around the sun at almost 70,000 miles per hour and you are sitting there reading this? How does this one planet have all the ingredients for life? Miracles. MG explores the idea that everything around us is a miracle -- but like habit -- we are so surrounded by it that we cease to recognize it. We're swimming in miracle after miracle but we are so desensitized that we don't revel in the magic and beauty of it all. So how does this affect you? YOU are part of everything. And if everything is a miracle so are YOU! You have the ability to create — to co-create your own ideal future. Don't fall into the illusion that miracles are few and far between. YOU are part of the miraculous everything! Without illusion t

"Prayer is you speaking to God. Meditation is allowing the spirit to speak to you." ~Deepak Chopra Mantras? Levitation? In Today's FAF (Frequently Asked Friday) MG addresses the misunderstandings surrounding meditation and reveals how his practice has influenced so many areas of his life including the creation of The Habit Factor. After recently stumbling upon the book The Lazy Way To Success, MG came to realize the error in his "efficient" meditation ways — namely that meditation should not be rushed. (Listen in to MG's interview with Lazy Way author Fred Gratzon here.) So, what's the difference between meditation and prayer? While both are spiritual and valuable, meditation is about becoming still, quiet and LISTENING to your spirit and intuition. Prayer, on the other hand, is you speaking and communication in an outward bound fashion.  MG shares his experience with both and how each has helped to inspired and influence so many aspects of his life. Enjoy the episode! ***** Subscribe iTune here! Subscribe:

“All life is an experiment. The more experiments you make, the better.” ~ Ralph Waldo Emerson In a special, non-interview Wednesday "Mind Bullet", MG shares his experience with a combination of health, diet, and workout experiments on his way to his own wellness goals. Leading with Emerson's philosophy, that "All life is an experiment". MG adds personal emphasis and then announces the release of a new, one-of-a-kind personal development tool: The HabitXP Journal / Personal Planner! The Habit XP Journal is totally unique— created from scratch and has powerful sections for writing down and revisiting your VISION, MISSION and VALUES -- as well as experiments and exercises to help you discover and document those habits to help you craft your ideal life! The HabitXP Journal walks you through your own "life experiments" as if you were a scientist, gathering data, documenting results and propelling you toward your goals. The Habit XP Journal is an excellent tool for you and your habit-minded friends and family on th

“If you argue for your limitations, you get to keep them.” ~ Jim Kwik "I'm not a good  _______________ " (fill in the blank) "I'm the type of person who can ________________ " (fill in the blank) Today's Mind-Bullet Monday examines the complex construct of our self concept: Did you know that consciously (mostly unconsciously) we allow the beliefs we've constructed about ourselves to define (and limit) ourselves? We've all constructed a narrative about who we are as people. This set of beliefs -- structure -- becomes an intrinsic part of our identity. The MOST IMPORTANT idea though is; because we've created our self-concept it is malleable, not fixed. Therefore, you have the power at anytime to redefine your limiting self concepts! Think about it this way, who constructed the idea that you're, say, not a good reader? After all, reading is a skill that you can get better over time! The key idea is this, figure out where you've constructed barriers within your self concept -- and begin to tear them down, turning

"It takes as much energy to hope as it does to plan." ~Eleanor Roosevelt Today's FAF (Frequently Asked Friday): "Are You Still Hoping?" Are you hoping you'll get a better job? Make more money? Meet that special person. Are you waiting for someone to call you out of the blue to offer you that big break? We HOPE that you're NOT hoping! The great Eleanor Roosevelt once said, "It takes as much energy to wish as to plan." Not to mention the energy that worrying sucks up! So what's your plan? We all need hopes and dreams -- but there's nothing preventing you from crafting a good plan -- a strategy. And what's the best place to start planning? Identifying the behaviors that align with your goals. Enjoy the episode!  *** Feel free to share the episode and leave a review on iTunes!  ***** Subscribe iTune here! Subscribe: Android | RSS ***** ~~NEW~~ The New HabitXP Planner! Grab your FREE copy of As a Man Thinketh (PDF) right here: As a Man Thinketh The Magic of Thinking BIG! (David Schwartz) The Success Principles (J

"What is the difference that makes THE difference between the people who stand out -- the outliers -- and everyone else?" ~Scott Duffy Scott Duffy is a TV/online personality, best-selling author, brand ambassador and business growth expert. As a teenage entrepreneur/ business owner with a house painting franchise , Scott came to learn and understand the power of the business model — the importance of finding a blueprint for success. Scott discusses the challenges related to his entrepreneur's innovation mindset within a franchise model and some other great lessons learned, like: What is the purpose of being in business, today?  A devastating car crash as a college student became a metaphor for how to overcome business challenges for Scott — sometimes you can be cruising along, during the best of times and something comes out of nowhere to knock you off course and force you start over. Listen in to learn how Scott's struggle to recover from a traumatic brain injury led to his wealth of motivational knowledge,

“The inward man is renewed day by day." Today's Mind-Bullet Monday is near and dear to MG's heart: "The inward [person] is renewed day by day." The concept of renewal is seen time and time again in Habits 2 Goals because it speaks to the incredible importance of silence --stillness, meditation -- to our health and wellness. Finding time daily for quiet is a great start, but MG's new philosophy when it comes to stillness is: The more the better. Meditation is transformative to the health of our thoughts and body and MG has learned there are no shortcuts. Who's got time for any of this? As Brian Tracy says, "There's never enough time to do everything, but there's always enough time to do the most important things." Listen in to hear how and why meditation should be a non-negotiable part of your day. Enjoy! Feel free to share the episode and leave a review on iTunes!  ***** Subscribe iTune here! Subscribe: Android | RSS ***** ~~NEW~~ The New HabitXP Planner! Grab your FREE copy of As a Man Thinketh (PDF) right

Today's FAF (Frequently Asked Friday): "Who's the DJ in your life?" When you're at a good party with great music, can you feel the energy? The good vibes uplift your mood and send you on a positive upswing! With our habits of thought, we are essentially playing our own inner soundtrack on a daily basis -- these thoughts grow stronger the more they are played (repeated), just like any habit! And what you don't "play" /repeat gets weaker. Take control of what your inner DJ is playing. Ensure your thought habits are aligned with our goals, taking you where we want to go. If your inner DJ is playing songs of self-doubt -- over and over -- how can you tweak the soundtrack to select tracks that are supportive of your goals? MG shares ways to train your inner DJ -- control your habits of thought -- to drive out the negativity and replace it with good "tracks" that can be put on replay! Enjoy the episode! Feel free to share and leave a review on iTunes and be sure to subscribe! *** BOOKS/Resources: Enjoy and share! T

"I really want people to stop complaining about life being hard and start choosing to be better." ~Cameron Herold Author, speaker, visionary, lifelong entrepreneur and "CEO Whisperer" Cameron Herold is the mastermind behind the exponential growth of multiple companies. Groomed to be an entrepreneur from childhood, Cameron always learned best by jumping in and running businesses -- in fact, he had run eight businesses by the age of 20 and coached 120 CEOs by the age of 28 -- achieving his "World MBA." Cameron's true education was experience, living by the motto "Conceive, Believe, Achieve." Tune in to hear how Cameron uses the habit of gratefulness to stay positive and on track, and how voracious, goal-directed reading keeps him achieving more every year. In typical "Habits 2 Goals" style, the interview covers everything from dealing with difficult days to defining success. We explore what habits are essential to the guest's success, advice the guest would give his/her 20-something self, favorite books, quotes

“We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, then, is not a single act, but a habit.” ~ Aristotle "Ill habits gather by unseen degrees. As brooks make rivers, rivers run to seas." ~ Ovid Today's Mind-Bullet Monday has us pondering the idea: We pay rent not once a month, but in actuality every day. We like to think we pay our rent or mortgage once a month but the truth is we pay it every single day, simply divided by the days in a month. In the same way, excellence doesn't come to us all at once. The price of excellence is paid every day, and the currency is habit. Somewhere along the line we started looking for shortcuts. Going to the gym only when we feel like it. Waking up when we feel like it. Putting in the work sometimes. But ultimately these shortcuts backfire. Build the discipline -- build the habit. This is where excellence lies: Excellence lies in paying the rent every day. How can we shift our mindset to be willing to pay our rent every day? MG reminds us of a little something he likes to call P.A.R.R

Today's FAF (Frequently Asked Friday): "How can I be happy in a world gone crazy?" Pollution, war, moral bankruptcy, atrocities that go beyond our comprehension -- we're living in a world full of challenges, and it's easy to become overwhelmed and depressed. But we have lives to lead and children to raise, so how can we find a semblance of peace and happiness amid all the chaos? MG addresses this question by reaffirming Buddha's observation... that bringing light to any darkness is the answer. Being sad, down, and empathetic are normal reactions to the problems in the world -- but these emotions aren't helpful to the problem or, perhaps more importantly, yourself. A quote often attributed to Buddha says: "Thousands of candles can be lit from a single candle, and the life of that candle cannot be shortened." How can you make the decision -- the choice -- to be happy? How can you choose to be the light in spite of the darkness? Enjoy the episode! Feel free to share and leave a review on iTunes and be sure to su

"My most important habit is looking at my own behavior — I've developed the habit of observing my own habits." ~Tim Ortiz Entertainment industry entrepreneur Tim Ortiz is in the business of making dreams come true and memories that last a lifetime. As the founder/owner of Event Vibe -- which handles bookings, ticketing, promotion and all aspects of nightlife events -- Tim knows that even in a glamorous industry, hard work and the daily grind pay off. But Tim also knows that balance in life for entrepreneurs -- whose work is all-consuming -- is key to true success. At around minute 38 in this episode, MG and Tim get into a deep and fascinating discussion about HABIT as it relates to success. An early enthusiast of The Habit Factor, Tim details how the Habit Factor methodology altered his perspective and how he began to view his world and his habits altogether differently. Tune in to hear how Tim uses habit to achieve balance in life — and how he lifts himself up when the daily grind gets him down. In typical "

“No man is free who cannot command himself.” ~ Epictetus “Through discipline comes freedom.” ~ Aristotle Today's Mind-Bullet Monday is a little risqué -- and risky: You may know someone who is a comfort w***e... perhaps, intimately! (Google at your own risk!) Building on previous episodes that center around the concepts of controls and constraints, MG revisits the idea that we are selling out our long-term goals for instant gratification. There's nothing wrong with comfort; we all seek it, crave it and deserve it. But we need to do the hard stuff too. How can you tell if you've become one yourself? MG suggests your results will speak for themselves. Is your health where you'd like it? How about your weight? Your work success? Are your goals being met? Oscillation is key -- adding controls and constraints to our lives, mixed in with the comfort we seek, creates a healthy balance. Remember, Habit works both ways: The stronger the comfort habit becomes, the more you threaten your true goals. Nip it in the bud! A

Today's FAF (Frequently Asked Friday): "What's the best way to schedule your calendar?" While this is a very personal process, MG shares a few tips and philosophies, which, of course, incorporate the magic of habit to boost efficiency. Many businesses and entrepreneurs use the concept of Theme Days (e.g. marketing on Wednesdays) or creating "chunks" of time to dedicate towards a project. However you dedicate your time, the key ideas are RHYTHM and PATTERN -- the overlay of rhythm and pattern work to reinforce habit. The more rhythm and pattern in your calendar, the more efficient and effective you will be. Hmmm, sounds like Habit Alignment!  How do YOU prioritize your schedule toward building a recurring behavior mechanism that sets you up for success? Tune in to the episode and start learning how to create rhythm and pattern in your calendar! Enjoy the episode! Feel free to share and leave a review on iTunes! BOOKS/Resources: The Habit Factor (Audible!) The Habit Factor® Book (Amazon Kindle) The Success Prin

"How you start your day is arguably the single-most important determining factor in how you live your day... and how you live your day is how you live your life!" ~Hal Elrod Hal Elrod is on a mission to elevate the consciousness of humanity, one morning at a time. Hal is the author of The Miracle Morning -- which has been translated into 27 languages, has over 2,000 five-star Amazon reviews and is practiced daily by over 500,000 people in 70+ countries. In simplest terms, the Miracle Morning is a transformative 6-step morning routine based on the best habits Hal could find in books, in others and himself. But Hal’s story is not a simple and straightforward success tale. Hal grew up in a small mountain town near Yosemite, where he got his first taste of entrepreneurialism as a 15-year-old mobile DJ. He discovered his sales and people skills at 19 working for Cutco Cutlery. But a promising career – and his life – nearly ended forever after 20-year-old Hal was hit head-on by a drunk driver at 70 miles per hour.

“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 Today's Mind-Bullet Monday centers around the concept of — when faced with a heated, fearful or difficult situation — the human "fight or flight" response is triggered. But MG suggests we take a harder look at the "OR" in "fight or flight." Is it really a case of either/or? MG recounts some recent experiences: 1. Two grown adults in a disagreement. One points a finger at the other, who says, "Don't you point at me!" Then the pointee later does some finger pointing of his own. Fight? 2. A golf course misunderstanding leads to heated exchange of words, the destruction of an innocent ball wash -- and the dramatic marching exit of the offended party. Flight? Fight or Flight? How about a third option? How about instead of fighting or fleeing we pull our "stuff" together and move on? Look, we all lose our cool from time to time. But MG proposes we ge

Today's FAF (Frequently Asked Friday): "How can I feel less overwhelmed?" In this crazy world of stimulus, demand, distraction and stress, too many of us are living a diminished quality of life by simple being overwhelmed. MG addresses this question from a few different angles, but the main bullet point is this: If at any point we feel overwhelmed, it simply means we don't know what our Number One Priority is. Think of a Days of Our Lives-style timer with sands flowing through an hourglass: No matter how much sand there is, only one grain can flow through at a time. So how can you learn to diminish your overwhelm and free your mind along with your time? 1. Prioritize: Your first step is to make a list and identify your top priority -- multitasking only leads to more overwhelm. 2. Lose Your Habit Shackles: Next, understand that HABIT is at play. If you are feeling overwhelmed, know that you are bound by your habits. Your habits should be serving you! Here's a great quote (look for it as a future Mind Bullet Mo

"Who can't become more than they are today?" ~David Katz David Katz grew up on a small island off Vancouver, British Columbia, where he became acutely aware of just what was washing up on the beach. A lifelong entrepreneur – beginning as a 12-year-old landscaper for hire – Katz always saw opportunities where others saw problems. He joined his entrepreneurial and spiritual callings to create The Plastic Bank, whose ambitious goal is to make plastic waste a currency that transcends poverty while stopping the flow of plastic into our oceans. How did such a paradigm-shifting idea take hold? As Katz put it, "We were living in the future of a possibility that didn’t exist – we had to invite people into that possibility." In true entrepreneurial fashion, Katz encountered one obstacle after another. So just what made him think he could tackle a challenge as big as saving the planet? Katz believes we are all a culmination of all the decisions we’ve ever made and experiences we’ve ever had. How his successes and failur