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

"When we are no longer able to change our situation we are challenged to change ourselves" ~Viktor Frankl Positive change most often starts when we take responsibility for our situation. Responsibility may be one of the most foremost virtues. While Aristotle proposed that courage was the mother of all virtues where would any great person be without responsibility? In fact, could greatness be possi...

"What's your best habit?" Kicking off this inaugural Frequently Asked Friday, a new feature for season 2, Martin addresses one of the more common questions he receives after giving a presentation, "So what is your best habit?" In this short episode (about 5 minutes) Martin reviews what the habit is and WHY it is probably the most significant. He then talks about how it aligns with his values and e...

“I joke often that I know a lot about happiness because I've experienced a lot of unhappiness first."  ~R. Michael Anderson Bestselling Author. Speaker. Founder of Executive Joy. • We teach competitive driven people how to lead happier lives • "Things" looked great from the outside: Partying at the Playboy mansion, etc., but missing meaning and fulfillment • Michael opens up about his personal jou...

"The first step takes the most courage."  While not easy, taking the first step is powerful and a requirement for anyone to get anywhere. Most people will think and think and think some more about an idea, a plan, but fail to take action. Tony Robbins once said the real measure of a decision is when it's backed by action. And, Napoleon Hill has said that, "Action is the real measure of intelligenc...

“Persistence and determination alone are omnipotent.”  ~Calvin Coolidge In your personal and professional life, almost nothing in the world will take the place of persistence. Persistence is more valuable than planning, IQ, knowledge, genius, and talent.  Have you ever noticed that some "not-so-smart" people appear to be more successful than some really smart people? It can be frustrating if you'r...

"If you want to go quickly, go alone. If you want to go far, go together."  ~African Proverb There are very few things in the world more powerful than that of a strong TEAM— a group of individuals committed  to a clear, common goal. TOGETHER. EVERYONE. ACHIEVES. MORE.  ~John Maxwell While it's tempting to be a "one-man band" or an "efficeincy machine" ultimately, one person can never keep up with...

“All of men’s miseries derive from not being able to sit in a quiet room alone.”   ~Pascal In this A.D.D., loud and crazy world it's often tough just to hear yourself think! The understanding and intentional application of SILENCE may be the most understated principle when it comes to wellness and creativity.  Join Martin and I as we review some of the key ideas about how to  use  silence as a pat...

“Never does nature say one thing and wisdom another.” CLICK TO TWEET   Sometimes the best inspiration for unlocking the secrets to a more productive and fulfilling life can be found in nature. Join Martin and I as we share a new perspective on habit development and how to reverse engineer your goals. Brian Tracy likes to use the metaphor of a “Time Factory” and remind us that no matter how poorly...

Sometimes it seems as though simply having a goal in mind can help you to get to where you want to be. Believe it or not, everyone has the ability to program themselves and create their own instinct-like behaviors. Join Martin and I as we explore the Automatic Success Mechanism (or ASM) and share how you can access it and reap its hidden benefits. Derived from Dr. Maxwell Maltz’  Psycho-cybernetic...

Many of the greatest thinkers and philosophers throughout history believed that ideas are "alive" and readily available in some sort of universal space which is often referred to as "infinite intelligence" or the Super-Conscious. Whatever you want to call it, chances are it exists! Emerson once noted, "There is a power above and behind us and we are the channel of its communication."  There is a p...

The art of tracking one's behaviors (habits) dates back hundreds of years ago and wasn't necessarily born with the iPhone or even The Habit Factor. In fact, one of the world's greatest minds, Benjamin Franklin famously wrote about the art of tracking his "virtues" in his own autobiography to refine his character. In this episode, Martin and I review the roots and similarities of tracking behaviors...

Trying to create new, effective habits is often associated with first trying to kill-off any existing bad habits that are holding us back. In this quick, high-value episode, Martin and I identify the three most important  “ MENTS ” when it comes to busting those bad habits! “Birds of a feather flock together." EnvironMENT Why would our environment influence our habits? Well, as our energy wanes th...

While many do not consider the importance of habit development when it comes to goal achievement, those that do unfortunately are subject to the many great myths which surround the topic. In this episode, Martin and I review and dispel four monster myths about positive habit formation. 1. It takes 21 days to develop a habit. This originated decades ago with,  Psycho Cybernetics  a terrific book by...

This episode has us turning the tables... in the coming weeks we'll begin to weave-in interviews of domain industry experts so we figured we might as well start with Nick Palkowski, podcast guru, expert in online marketing strategy and all-around-great guy! Things weren't always sunshine and rainbows for Nick. The first business he started in college, while a great learning experience, ultimately...

Are you pushing yourself hard enough? Most people would respond with a resounding yes. While the idea of a second wind is fairly common, Martin and I explore the possibilities of having a third, fourth, fifth (even an eighth!) wind in this episode of The Habit Factor.  “If you're going to doubt something, doubt your own limits.” Ever notice during exercise that even when you're tired, you can alwa...

No matter how close you live to big, green spaces, many of your struggles can be traced to how aligned you are with nature. Sparked by a conversation with his teenage daughter Martin and I delve review some clues that can very well make our life easier. “Every action has an equal and opposite reaction.” Anytime there is frustration and friction in your life it's important to check and compare how...

The word “philosophy” comes from Ancient Greek and means “love of wisdom”. Unfortunately, the modern translation appears to have become slightly twisted to the point where the word might only connote some impractical college major. Yet, philosophy ought to be embraced by all who seek to live in a more "favorable" world for it is our own mental constructs (our own philosophy) that dictates how we t...

“Give me a long enough lever and a place to stand and I can move the world.” In the battle to get ahead, often the first step is finding a better way to leverage the only limiting resource everyone shares,  TIME . Understanding how to properly leverage your time and ideas is a game changer and it's sure to boost your productivity. In this episode, Martin and I review some strategies to optimize yo...

“Good things happen when planned, bad things happen on their own.” ~Quality is Free  Tweet This The path to leading a more efficient life is simply to harness the power of positive habits and rituals. Chances are very good you already have a set number of habits and rituals (particularly in the morning or evening).  The question is, have they developed by choice or by chance? Are they by design or...

“Goals are just dreams with deadlines.” A man named C. Northcote Parkinson once claimed that work expands to fill the time for its completion. While its human nature to procrastinate, there aren't enough people using deadlines to their advantage. Join author Martin Grunburg on this episode of Habits to Goals as he shares his strategies for accelerating productivity with deadlines. When you don't u...

One of the great inspirations for Grunburg’s  The   Habit Factor  is Dr. Stephen Covey’s classic, bestselling book,  The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People.  In this episode, Martin reviews some of the similarities and differences between the two works. (10:20). If, by chance you haven't read Covey's masterpiece (do so!) and, in the meantime, here is a quick synopsis (12:45): Be Proactive Beg...

“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 basketba...

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 e...

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 respo...

“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...