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

“Before focus, concentration; before concentration, selection.”This Habits 2 Goals episode is FREE for ALL subscribers. To focus for an extended period of time on anything can be challenging. In today’s world, it’s made far more difficult, particularly for people with ADD/ADHD.This episode promises to have you focusing better nearly instantly.Below are some tips on how to focus better, especially if you suffer from ADD/ADHD.First, a background story.The Habit Factor® (book and app) only exist because of my inability to achieve goals.I wasn’t aware of it at the time, but what I created was a goal achievement system that forced me to address my first fundamental challenge, FOCUS.FOCUS: DefinedThe center of interest or activity. “this generation has made the environment a focus of attention”An act of concentrating interest or activity on something. “our focus on the customer's requirements”By creating THIS tracking sheet (which is free btw ), I was forced to identify which core, related behaviors - habits - I w

“The only discipline that lasts is self-discipline.” ~Bum PhillipsThis Habits 2 Goals episode is FREE for ALL subscribers. It’s baaaaaack… The 36-hour, (once a week), fast ***WARNING** Please do your own research and consult your doctor before altering your diet.***What is it? Why do it? And, the backstory.In 2019, (at 51), I came to the sudden awareness that I’d never gone a day without eating. I wondered if I could fast for an entire day.The only way to find out… challenge myself. My plan was to cease eating around 8 p.m. on Sunday. Then, see if I could make it through Monday without food. If I could then make it to Tuesday at 8 a.m., I’d have gone 36 hours. The first fast was brutal!Afterward, I recall saying, “Maybe I’ll try that again next year.”Then a day went by and I said, “Maybe I’ll do that again next month.”Then another few days went by and I said, “I’m going to do that again next Monday!”The next thing I knew, it was 30 weeks later…30 consecutive weeks of fasting – 36 hours, once per week.I share

“No man is free who cannot command himself.” ~PythagorasThis Habits 2 Goals episode is FREE for ALL subscribers. To act according to your intentions…Arguably, it’s the crux of the entire personal development industry.How often have you said, “I’m going to…” Only to find, a week, month, or year later, “it” never transpired.Why?There are three main reasons.Reason One: PAIN.Chances are that the task at hand involved some pain; emotional, physical, mental, etc.Humans are wired to avoid pain and seek pleasure.PAIN versus PLEASURE: It’s a perpetual war that is being waged internally.Humans will go to great lengths to avoid pain, naturally.The challenge is that growth and personal development, lie on the other side of challenge and pain. Learning is painful, yet we become smarter as a result of the effort. Lifting weights is painful, yet the effort makes us stronger.How do we reconcile this? Well, the answer is fairly simple.In fact, the answer has been known for millennia and apparently, science has affirmed it re

“I cannot wait to see genes that operate in a vacuum.”This Habits 2 Goals episode is FREE for ALL subscribers. The “Nature vs. Nurture” debate can be traced to ancient Greece and perhaps earlier.In the entertainment world, there have been several books, plays, and movies that touch upon the subject matter.The riddle: How much influence does nature (genetics) versus nurture (environment: culture, family, friends, home, city, etc.) have upon one’s life?For example, Mark Twain’s The Prince and the Pauper, published in 1881, is a tale about two boys who were born on the same day, one a prince and the other a pauper; they accidentally switch places.Not coincidentally, Trading Places, the 1983 hit comedy starring Eddie Murphy and Dan Akroyd, pursued the exact same theme.Recently, I tripped upon a few well-done Khan Academy videos covering this debate. [I link to a few of their videos below.]The short story: While these videos are very well produced, and the instructors do a fantastic job, the longer you watch them,

“Take away paradox from the thinker and you have a professor.” ~Søren KierkegaardThis Habits 2 Goals episode is FREE for ALL subscribers. In 2014 I wrote It’s Both! Your (Habitual) Dichotomous Thinking is Killing You.That’s right, “Killing You!”I went a bit deeper on this concept in The Pressure Paradox™ (2015).It’s worth revisiting as the idea is essential to critical thinking and, interestingly enough, peace of mind. A sure sign of a mature mind is one that can hold two opposing ideas together, at the same time (most of the time).The reason we’re revisiting the concept is that I’m noticing it’s percolating elsewhere.Let’s begin with Matthew McConaughey’s latest book (Sept 2023) Just Because. Just Because is an illustrated kid’s book designed to teach children many life lessons.In so doing, it fosters “Both” thinking.” Few lessons may be more important to understand for children.Straight from McConaughey’s book, examples on Amazon.com.“Just because they don’t hear you, doesn’t mean you don’t have a voice.”“

“Yeah, Mr. White! Yeah, science!” ~Jesse PinkmanThis Habits 2 Goals episode is FREE for ALL subscribers!For our 25th anniversary, my wife and I visited Denmark, Sweden and Italy. One night, in Italy, our hotel’s satellite TV was down.Before heading to bed, she dialed up her Netflix account and soon enough, we found ourselves watching Breaking Bad; our third time through the series!Breaking Bad is ridiculously GOOD.What caught my attention in this particular episode (Season 1, Ep 7) is a fairly comical scene where Mr. White – a grossly overqualified high-school chemistry teacher – has to resort to a motivational/personal development cliché, with the hope of inspiring his would-be crystal meth-dealing partner.“JESSE, TODAY IS THE FIRST DAY OF THE REST OF YOUR LIFE!” Walter White begins shaking Jesse by the shoulders.The irony of White’s aspirational statement against their criminal intent is clever.Mr. White challenges his former student, Jesse Pinkmen to “think bigger” and not “live a life of fear,” as he req

“One of the best reasons to start habit tracking is that you will develop an ancillary habit, DISCIPLINE.” This Habits 2 Goals episode is FREE for ALL subscribers. The next 28-DAY BREAKTHROUGH! program begins 10/3/23!Learn more here —» The 28-Day Breakthrough!You’ve never tracked habits before? That’s alright, most people haven’t.After all, life is meant to be lived, not tracked, right?Well, it turns out, you can and should do both; live and track.As an example, Benjamin Franklin tracked his habits (13 virtues) for approximately sixty years. Sixty years!Apparently, habit tracking is what Hindu priests do to in order to refine their character and concentrate better.Habit tracking is an effective method for goal achievement.If your goals are important, you should begin habit tracking.Many people think that discipline is required to track habits.The truth is that discipline is a HABIT. Discipline is strengthened via habit tracking.Nobody is born disciplined.Habit tracking is difficult at first because it require

“The difference between a good life and a bad life is how well you walk through fire.” ~ Carl JungThis Habits 2 Goals episode is FREE for ALL subscribers. The next 28-DAY BREAKTHROUGH! program begins 10/3/23!Learn more here —» The 28-Day Breakthrough!What if a key difference between the successful person and the unsuccessful person was how well they navigate life’s difficulties?The fact is, nobody escapes life’s challenges.Yet, we all know people who seem to complicate matters when things get tough. They react rather than respond.What’s the difference?Animals, babies, and small children REACT.Humans have the capacity to RESPOND.By pausing, an emotionally mature adult can (more often than not), direct their response – tailor it – toward a desirable outcome.Meanwhile, reacting often compounds problems.Think of the people who seem to have drama follow them everywhere; work, home, events, relationships, etc.The collective drama isn’t a random coincidence. Rather, it’s the source of compounding troubles; and const

“Life is a succession of lessons which must be lived to be understood." ~Ralph Waldo EmersonThis Habits 2 Goals episode is FREE for ALL subscribers.After hearing a Gooroo caution his students, “When it comes to relationships, you must be very careful; relationships are dynamic.”I thought to myself. “That is kind of “funny.” Last time I checked, LIFE IS DYNAMIC.Thus, what got us “here” might not necessarily get us “there.”Deepak Chopra put it like this“The world is not a static place. It is constantly changing and evolving. To live a fulfilling life, we must embrace this dynamism and be willing to adapt to change.”Such an observation underscores the importance of setting worthwhile goals and ideals; the type that helps us to transform.We covered this in a prior episode, “Two Types of Goals.”“The best way to predict the future is to create it.” ~Peter DruckerIt’s the dynamism of life that forces us to keep upgrading our skills and habits to evolve —to keep up with the pace of change.Even better, the pursuit of

“The two most powerful warriors are patience and time.” ~Leo Tolstoy.” This Habits 2 Goals episode is FREE for ALL subscribers.What if patience was the key to mastering your universe?If courage is the mother of all virtues (according to Aristotle), arguably the father, along with prudence, could be patience.Let’s run through some of the advantages of developing the virtue of being patient.“Patience is the key to paradise.” ~ Persian Proverb* Patience helps you achieve your goals. * Patience helps you make better decisions. * Patience helps you to build stronger relationships. * Patience helps you manage stress better.* Patience helps you stay calm in difficult situations. * Patience helps you learn from your mistakes. * Patience can help you be more creative. * Patience can help you become more resilient. * Patience can help you be more compassionate. * Patience helps you to cultivate discipline. * Patience will enhance mindfulness.* Patience will help you control your emotions. * Patience will help you to be

“What I didn’t realize is that everyone is a sailor. Everyone is sailing somewhere.” This Habits 2 Goals episode is FREE for ALL subscribers.Right now you are sailing somewhere. The question is, “Do you know where you are headed?”It’s important to recognize that if you’re not pursuing an ideal destination, chances are, you’ll end up somewhere else.Yogi Berra put it this way…“If you don’t know where you are going, you’ll end up someplace else.”Seneca the great Stoic philosopher said, “If one does not know to which port one is sailing, no wind is favorable.”No wind is favorable.No wind can help the sailor who doesn’t know where they are headed.If success is creating your ideal future then, it becomes one’s onus – their responsibility – to know where, ideally, they’d like to go.Do you know where that is?If not, that is priority #1. (See below info about The 28-Day Breakthrough!)Clarity – knowing your ideal destination – is essential for living a content and fulfilling life. Now, to be clear, just knowing your id

“The only way ‘it’ gets better for you is when you get better. Better isn’t something you wish for, it’s something you become.” ~ Jim RohnThis Habits 2 Goals episode is FREE for ALL subscribers.Ironically, change is one of the great constants of life. Since the environment is constantly changing; relationships, careers, technology, etc., the same thought and behavior habits that once served us, may begin to make us feel stuck.Thus, one of the best ways to stay ahead of constant change is to set worthwhile personal goals. Peter Drucker put it this way, “The best way to predict the future is to create it.”Translation: Pursue worthwhile goals and ideals!In this episode, we cover two types of goals. Long-term personal transformation goals – these are the type of goals that force you to develop new habits and skills. The other type of goal is relatively simple, an adventure/travel type of goal; say a trip to Paris. Each are often labeled “goals” and each are very different.For an adventure/travel goal, one only ne

“Critical thinking is the art of analyzing information to separate fact from opinion.” ~ Carl SaganThis Habits 2 Goals episode is FREE for ALL subscribers.It’s no wonder people scoff at personal development.Often “GooRoos” will say ridiculous, silly, and dichotomous things like:“There are no good habits.”“Competition is stupid.”The following is a statement that inspired this episode. It’s kinda hard to read.It came in an email and it stopped me in my tracks."When I think of a truly successful person, I think of someone who can authentically say, ‘I cherished every moment of my existence.’”Once I read that, I knew I had to discuss critical thinking.Can you ‘authentically cherish the moment your child becomes ill or a loved one passes away?” Can you authentically cherish the moment your home burns to the ground?Authentically CHERISH every moment? Come on.Oh, and if you don’t, I guess you’re not a success!?I queried my AI buddy “BARD” Google’s AI “experiment.” I figured I’d ask him/her/it, “Bard, can you see any

“The philosopher’s product is his life.” ~NeitzcheThis Habits 2 Goals episode is FREE for ALL subscribers.This episode is a follow-up to last week’s show MIRACLES!In response to a few comments, I do what I can to set the record straight: I was simply practicing what I was talking about. The understanding that the real miracle is to walk on Earth, not water.Hence, practicality lies in its practice!I was practicing what I was preaching and teaching.The real value of any philosophy lies in its practicality.Is there a way to reaffirm one’s practice?Yes. Track it!How should you track it? Follow the P.A.R.R. methodology.PLAN. ACT. RECORD. & REASSESS.Cue, routine, and reward as a habit development framework was developed based on the study of rodents. You are human.You can, and should, use your innate capacities of choice, intention, and reflection.“But”, you insist, “Tracking is difficult and you’ve tried it before and you end up skipping days and fall off track…” (more excuses)Do you want to practice or give u

“"The secret of change is to focus all of your energy not on fighting the old, but on building the new." ~ SocratesThis Habits 2 Goals episode is FREE for ALL subscribers.In less than a week this Maven cohort kicks off… The 28-Day Breakthrough!There are approximately 6 spots available.Be more productive than ever before in 28 days, or your money back! 110% money-back guarantee! No breakthrough – I pay you!*Visit: https://maven.com/thehabitfactor/the28daybreakthrough to learn more!Enjoy the show!Update:HERE WE GO!!! Whooohooo! Very excited about next week’s small-group coaching cohort (which is practically free!) A few spots are still available! The 28-Day Breakthrough! begins 8/8/23!*Recently Awarded: “Finalist: Self-help, Motivation” International Book Awards: EVERYTHING is a F*cking STORY.Visit https://thehabitfactor.com/templatesTo learn more about P.A.R.R., just Google “P.A.R.R. and The Habit Factor.”Get The Habit Factor® FREE with your audible trial! https://audibletrial.com/habits2goalsIt’s time to mak

“The greatest miracle is the ordinary.” ~Henry David Throreau This Habits 2 Goals episode is FREE for ALL subscribers.Wouldn’t it be great if there were more miracles in your life?Recently, a woman approached me to explain that a miracle was supposed to happen to her in a few days.“Uh… this is it.” I replied, “This (life) is the miracle. It’s all a freakin’ miracle!”Apparently, Rumi proclaimed, “The greatest miracle is that we are awake and alive.”Einstein reportedly said: “Miracles happen every day, change your perception of what a miracle is and you'll see them everywhere.”Now, from the great Persian philosopher and the brilliant physicist to Insane Clown Posse (band). Yes, ICP!

“Sometimes the best way to find inspiration is to ask an important question.” This Habits 2 Goals episode is FREE for ALL subscribers.In this episode, Jen and I discuss the significance of motivation and inspiration and their relationship to goal achievement.Inspiration tends to be intrinsic, while motivation can be both intrinsic and extrinsic.Both inspiration and motivation are powerful assets for goal achievement. Each has its place and neither is “better” than the other.Wayne Dyer used to suggest that inspiration was a calling from the spirit within. He would often say, “If you want to be inspired, be an inspiration.”How can you apply these ideas to your goals?Consider the person who doesn’t feel inspired to get fit yet, they know they must. They could change their environment, hire a fitness coach, and get a gym membership (external motivation).Motivation is both the carrot and the stick. Typically, it’s the desire to avoid pain that provides the greatest motivation.Both motivation and inspiration are t

“The very best heroes and philosophers are dead.” ~Friedrich NietzscheThis Habits 2 Goals episode is FREE for ALL subscribers.The best heroes and philosophers are dead?!What does that mean?I thought I’d ask my AI buddies, ChatGPT and BARD to see if they knew.Unfortunately, their interpretations weren’t convincing; they were too literal. Neither offered the insight I suspected was behind the statement.In short, both AI “experiments” had a similar, weak response:“Nietzsche is suggesting that the greatest heroes and philosophers are those who have already lived and died. He argues that these individuals have already made their mark on the world and that we can learn from their example.”I believed the statement meant something else.Perhaps it was my own philosophical leanings (Exhibit A: Habits 2 Goals), that drove me to keep searching.I slept on this riddle for a while. Finally, the answer occurred to me.Have you ever heard the advice:If you truly admire or love a hero (a movie star, athlete, musician, author,

“Personal development exists on a spectrum. It’s a gift that allows you to become the person you could by using your intelligence, intention and effort.” This Habits 2 Goals episode is FREE for ALL subscribers.“He (or she) is on the spectrum.” A phrase that is probably overused these days.BTW: If it’s a spectrum, then everyone is on it.In this episode, we carry the idea of “The spectrum” and apply it to our personal development and potentiality.If intelligence is goal-directed behavior, then improving one’s wellness (over time) is a terrific use of their intelligence.Is it possible to consider your health on a spectrum from 1 - 10? How would you rate it?What about your finances or your professional career?Is it possible to improve your score in any wellness category over time? Arguably, it’s mandatory.How do you know where to start your personal development journey?The answer is often found by identifying your greatest challenge – the lowest score – in each of the eight, essential categoriesEnjoy the show!Upd

“Life is like a dew drop, on a blade of grass, in the morning sun.” ~Zen ProverbThis Habits 2 Goals episode is FREE for ALL subscribers.Deepak Chopra said it like this, “Life is a lucid dream.”How well can you recall yesterday?How about sharing a story from your childhood?The painting below has hung in my stairway for nearly twenty-five years. It’s a photograph from our wedding in Baja, Mexico. It has a Monet-type filter applied to it.The original image is a beautiful, crisp photo taken by a professional photographer.Yet, for nearly twenty-five years, the image has looked like this, intentionally blurry.Why?Where have the young newlyweds gone? Where did the 25 years go?As we approach our 25th anniversary, the effect is fitting. The wedding seems like it happened both yesterday and a lifetime ago.The effect perfectly captures the ephemerality of life.This moment is already gone.No matter how old you are, your life is nearly over. It’s just a matter of time……and time is illusory.Even if you live to be 200 years