The Habit Factor®

The Science of Behavior Meets the Art of Achievement

goal theory

What Really Binds Us?

Character, creative theory, discipline, Focus, goal theory, Habit Alignment, habits, HabitStregth™, Habituation, Happiness, Health, learning, P.A.R.R. Methodology

{By: Martin Grunburg]

The other morning, after I barely managed to keep my Burpee streak alive (40 days strong, podcast episode: Anyone Can Do It!), I took our dog Roxy to the park.

Screen Shot 2019-02-19 at 10.32.17 AM

Sent via The Habit Factor® app (iOS & Android)

The local park is about a block away. We do this pretty much every morning, Roxy and I. But these days she’s not playing as much Frisbee as she used to. (Podcast Episode: The End)

Actually, these days, we’ll just walk down toward the sailboats near the bay and take in the sun for 10 or 15 minutes.

Roxy-Bay-1

As I sat down near the water fountain and sailboats, a light breeze blowing over the bay, I noticed a clamp on the sand, like a hiker’s shackle.

The many parks around Mission Bay and San Diego, in general, tend to become a hub for transients — the homeless — many of whom have substance abuse problems, unfortunately. As I looked at this shackle, I thought how it was almost certainly the type of tool one of the transients might accidentally have left behind.

shackle-hand

I didn’t give the shackle much further thought, other than saying to myself something I’ve often said — that if I were in their shoes I’d live here too.

As I sat there, I began to ponder our upcoming Habits 2 Goals podcast episode, an “FAF” (Frequently asked Friday). The question du jour was scheduled to be, “What Binds Us?” Or, “What Binds You?”

Ponder That For A Moment

When you think of what it is that really holds you back, what is your first thought? What answer or excuse do you naturally come up with?

Money? Influential contacts? No lucky breaks? Not disciplined enough?

What keeps YOU from (to sound totally clichéd) getting to that next level?

For instance, if you aspire to be at “Y” in terms of profession or income and you are at “X,” how will you elevate your game? How will you change your results?

In fact, how can ANYONE break free? What is holding any of US back?

The more I pondered that question, sitting there overlooking the sailboats on the bay, I ran through all the same, typical excuses.

In fact, I ran though the common, broader comment I will often hear. “It’s me. I am holding myself back.”

While that is the beginning of a really good answer, we can make a far more powerful and subtle distinction.

The more I pondered the idea of “I,” as in, “I am holding myself back,” the answer became inescapable. The awareness was as glaring as the morning sun: There is no “I.”

“We” don’t hold ourselves back. “We” are just a compilation of our recurring thoughts and behaviors. Correct: OUR HABITS.

All “we” really are is our character, and our character is the sum total of all our thought and behavior HABITS to this moment.

To put it most simply: WE ARE OUR HABITS.

Therefore, if we’re trying to get to “Y” and we’re at “X,” there is a very good chance that those same thought habits and behavior habits that got us HERE won’t get us “THERE”

Who you and I are — WHO we have become right at this moment — is the result of ALL our thought and behavior habits to this moment. In fact, the Latin etymology of habit is HABIT•US, meaning “condition and/or character.”

We are the sum total of all our thought habits and our behavior habits.

Thus, the simple math looks something like this:

What truly binds us are our habits.

That binding sensation that we feel from one day to the next, that frustration as we aspire to new goals and ideals, is NOT “ourselves.” It IS the force of habit. And the beauty is this, my friend: That same force that binds you MUST be, and can be, the same force that sets YOU free.

And, that freedom comes only when we conscientiously and intentionally craft new habits that are aligned with our goals.  #habitalignment

Yes. There’s an app for that.

Thus, one of my all-time favorite habit quotes by Ambrose Bierce: “Habit, n.: A shackle for the free.”
(see image above ; )

~mg

12 Common Goal-Setting Mistakes — The Dirty Dozen That Kill Your Goals!

Character, goal theory, goals, Habit Alignment

[By: Martin Grunburg]

Goal achievement is difficult. The “funny” thing is that we often make it far more difficult than it needs to be.

Goal achievement exists upon a spectrum of probability. There are NO guarantees.

Thus, your main objective – the main objective – is to increase the probability as much as possible.

Having said that, after 25-plus years of personal experience, here are “The Dirty Dozen” — the 12 most common goal-setting mistakes.

Enjoy!

1) Too Big/Too Many

Much like the Three Little Bears, there is the “right-size” goal as well as the “right-size” bed or right-temperature porridge. Not too hot or cold, big or small, etc. You get the picture!

The natural question is, how do know the “right” size goal? Well, the rule of thumb (at least for initial goals and newbies) just might be this: Set the goal just outside your reach — just outside the comfort zone.

That may sound cliché, but here’s an example: If you’ve never run a marathon, then a half-marathon is a better intermediary goal. If you’ve never reached $1,000,000 in sales, then aiming for $250,000 versus a target of $1,000,000 is much wiser.

2) You’re Focusing on a To-Do List instead of Core, Recurring Behaviors (Habits)

One of the reasons why The Habit Factor® exists and has its methodology copied worldwide is that rather than following SMART goals, which leaves one ®with a To-Do List — a list of next action “steps” — The Habit Factor® proposes you focus on the core, recurring behaviors — habits — that must be created.

For instance, if the goal is running a half-marathon, focusing more on developing the running habit (following the PARR Method) vs. a one-off to-do/task list is far more efficient and effective.

Which will get you closer to your goal? Focusing on developing the running habit or, buying a new pair of running shorts, a To-Do task item?

3) You’re Not Writing Down Your Goals!

There is tremendous power in the act of crystallizing — giving life to your ideas and goals by making them visible. Moving them from the invisible realm to the visible world.

4) You Don’t Revisit Your Goals Often Enough — Ideally, Daily!

Once they are written down, it’s important to keep your goals top of mind. To revisit them at least a couple of times a day. Tracking the core-related habits helps to ensure this happens!  Revisiting your goal rekindles your vision, refuels your desire and collects your focus and concentration on the task at hand.

5) No Due Date? You Haven’t Set an End Date.

What’s your target end date for the goal’s accomplishment? Due dates create pressure and, contrary to popular opinion, pressure can be a very positive force.

6) The Due Date Is NOT Realistic!

There are two important considerations when it comes to the due date. The first is to take your due dates very seriously. The second is to not take them too seriously.

You want to be hell-bent on making it happen, short of hurting yourself or anyone else.

Yet you want to be flexible enough (much like NASA) to reset the due date/launch date if things don’t fall into place.

Most people beat themselves up. They think that a missed deadline is the end of the world and further, it’s proof that goal-setting doesn’t work.

The truth is, in even the best case people tend to reach their goals by the original deadline date approximately 50% of the time.

(And yes, that’s just an approximation)

The point is, that a missed deadline isn’t a reason to quit. It’s a reason to strengthen your resolve and reset, re-calibrate and reload!

7) More Focused on the Result Than the Process

Too many times to mention, we notice people who give up on their goal as though it is out there, somewhere.

It helps to think of the goal as hiding inside of you. Your job is to develop it and yourself until it is mature enough to reveal itself.

Similar to watching grass grow. From one day to the next, there is zero-perceptible growth to the eye. However, after 6 months or even a year, the growth is unmistakable!

Trust the process. That process is PARR and Habit Alignment.

8) Related to #7: The Daily Grind Overwhelms You!

We all get sidetracked, often.

A child gets ill. There’s a car accident. The dog is sick. Your spouse loses a job… LIFE Happens.

People then start to think, “No way is my goal gonna happen.”

Nobody escapes life’s setbacks. Having said that, these are often labeled “tests from the universe” to see how much the goal is desired.

With that in mind, life’s setbacks can be viewed as an opportunity to strengthen your resolve. To get back on track! >> Tracking sheet or app and TRACK!

Reset, reload and recalibrate! Just like #6!

9) You Don’t Anticipate Setbacks

By managing the easy, you anticipate the difficult. I believe that was Lao Tzu.

Nothing is “easier” to manage than tracking core, recurring behaviors — the important habits that will carry you toward your goal.

Having said that, you should know that setbacks will intensify the closer you get toward the goal’s attainment!

Here’s a quick, personal example. After arriving for the VineMan Ironman distance triathlon in Napa Valley, I realized that my bike’s back rim and pedal had been destroyed on the flight. Yay!

The local repair shop was adamant they could not fix it. They didn’t have the right parts and they could not offer me a loaner bike.

After six-plus months of training — with the race the next day — I was being forced to give up.

I refused to give up.

We (my wife and I) remained hopeful and resourceful. Although it did seem all hope was lost, we managed to find a workaround. NOT A FIX.

A workaround that made my bike barely manageable to ride. And, to my surprise, it worked well enough to get me through all 112 miles!

The truth was that since it was my third full Ironman distance race, I was mentally prepared for the setback. I asked often, “Alright, what’s the next setback going to be and when is it coming?”

10) You Talk Too Much (SHUT your pie-hole, pls)

Do NOT talk about your goals.

That’s right, read an in-depth article about the reasons why  (recent post) you should shut your trap. Even “science” backs the idea that keeping your pie-hole shut is beneficial to your most important goals.

11) You’re Impatient

We want our goals! And, we want them now! Impatience “is the height of ignorance” according to Robert Greene, author of Mastery.

Goal achievement takes time and GRIT!  BTW: If GRIT is the key to success, what is the key to GRIT!?  What habits do you think constitute the development of GRIT?

12) You’re Not Committed

This c ould be #1! It is not enough to be interested in your goal; you must fully commit.

For a great story about the difference between commitment and being interested, check out my interview with John Assaraf!

Well, there you have it! The Dirty Dozen common goal-achievement mistakes. Which ones might you be guilty of?

~mg

Intelligence (Part Deux)

creativity, goal theory, goals, habits

[By: Martin Grunburg]

We left the last post with the understanding that “real” intelligence is goal-directed behavior. We arrived at that conclusion simply by analyzing the definition of artificial intelligence, which happens to be . . . “goal-directed behavior”!

Thus, as we like to say here at The Habit Factor®, “In life, goals are not optional.”

Sure, you might go a month or perhaps even a few months — maybe even a few years — without real, substantial goals/aims or ideals for your life, but ultimately, if nothing else, your quality of life would suffer.

Or, we might view the pursuit, or absence thereof, of goals in life as Tony Robbins positions it. He likes to say, “Everyone has goals. Unfortunately, most of them are impotent goals.”

In other words, he suggests that if your goal is to “get through the day,” “get through the month,” “make it home by Monday Night Football,” “sneak out of work early,” etc., make no mistake, these are goals — and it could be argued, then, a sign of intelligence — but certainly not the type of goal-directed behavior that would inspire one to get out of bed in the morning!

Further, having inspiring, well-intentioned goals and ideals provides you with another magnificent consequence: HAPPINESS!

That’s right. Don’t take it from me, though; let’s hear what one of the most intelligent (interesting, isn’t it?) people ever to have lived has to say about the subject.

“If you want to live a happy life, tie it to a goal not a person or a thing.” – Albert Einstein

Let’s Button This All Up

If goal-directed behavior is intelligence at work . . .

AND

“Action is the real measure of intelligence,” as Napoleon Hill was fond of saying . . .

AND, “If you want to live a happy life, tie it to a goal not a person or a thing,”

Then we can bring this full circle once more: “In life, goals are NOT optional.”

Yes, my friends, goals matter! (A lot!)

~mg

BTW: The next logical question is, “How can I go about setting goals the right way?” To that end, check out The Habit Factor® book (Kindle, reduced price). Another great starting point is the FREE Habit Building template. Or, for those of you who’d prefer to listen to the book, check out the Audible version. Go here for a FREE TRIAL and The Habit Factor® can be your first free book! Enjoy!

 

How Intelligent Are You? The One-Question IQ Test That Will Truly Prove Your Intelligence

Character, goal theory, goals, Habit Alignment, habits, learning, Success

[By: Martin Grunburg]

Intelligence.

What a concept!

Perhaps strange subject matter for a blog about HABITS and GOALS, right?

But maybe not.

In my interview that went live just last week with Alex Bates, pay particular attention to minute 15-16, where we have a discussion relative to defining artificial INTELLIGENCE.

——————–

Me: Is it [artificial intelligence] not the ability for the computer to learn and/or teach itself?

Alex: Learning is a key part of it, but even broader than that, potentially, you can have intelligent behavior that was pre-programmed. So, I think learning is fundamental but artificial intelligence is a system that — a lot of times they will include the term, “goal-directed behavior,” meaning it can accomplish goals, and sometimes there are challenges thrown its way, and sometimes it uses learning to accomplish those goals, and sometimes it doesn’t.

——————–

Brilliant.

Artificial intelligence is (equals) goal-directed behavior.

That’s worth repeating to yourself.

And, if that is true, my friend, what is intelligence?

Repeat: If artificial intelligence is goal-directed behavior, what is intelligence?

Correct: Intelligence must be goal-directed behavior. (Underscore and repeat to yourself.)

Don’t be Dumb!

I’m 50 years old and that was the first time I understood intelligence as “goal-directed behavior.”

A couple years ago, I tweeted to a fairly popular blogger (a self-described “neurotic Jew” — think Woody Allen-esque).

I enjoyed his writing and he was a pretty funny guy. But either for click-bait purposes or to stir some controversy, he tweeted something like, “self-help doesn’t work,” or “self-help is bogus.” Strange, because all he writes about is how personal development has helped him.

The tweet got to me (though I shouldn’t have taken the bait). My reply was swift: “Don’t be dumb!” Then I felt bad. I wanted to make sure I hadn’t offended him, so I followed up with, “I’m not saying you are dumb, I’m saying you should not be dumb.”

Don’t be dumb.

Not sure he grasped the distinction and pretty sure he then blocked me! ; )

So the reason I share that story is, I’m saying the same thing to you right now: “Don’t BE dumb.” I’m not saying you are dumb, I’m saying, please, “Just don’t be dumb!”

How Not To Be Dumb

Set goals. Have a positive, worthwhile goal/ideal that you are pursuing!

That’s it!

You either have goals identified and are working toward them (goal-directed behavior), or you don’t. One is dumb; the other is intelligence at work.

And, by the way, THAT (the work part) is very important!

Intelligence, according to the dictionary definition (below) is: “The ability to acquire and apply knowledge and skills.”

intelligence definition

I have underlined AND italicized for effect.

I’m sure we ALL know many “intelligent” people who are great at acquiring knowledge. Yet, according to this definition, they are not intelligent if they are not applying it.

Apparently Confucius use to say, “To know and not to do is not to know.”

So, truly, there is just one simple question — a ONE-QUESTION IQ test — to use on yourself, your loved ones and friends:

Are you pursing a worthwhile goal/ideal?

Great. Get after it!

~mg

(part II next week) as always, THANK YOU for reading, sharing and worth noting, pushing the Habits 2 Goals podcast into another record month (that’s two months back to back!)

 

Personal Development Hurdle Number One: Shut Your Pie-Hole!

discipline, energy, Focus, goal theory, goals, Habit Alignment, responsibility

[By: Martin Grunburg]

Disclaimer: Adult language ( I think this is my first post with “adult” language, and frankly, the subject matter mandates it. ; )

Here we go: Please, please, for YOUR sake, and the sake of your goals, just SHUT YOUR PIE-HOLE!

That’s right…find a way to keep your trap shut! Shut your mouth. Zip it!

I speak from great experience on this one, so just trust me (more on that later).

I know, I know, being silent is so difficult these days in our social media-intoxicated world.

Ten minutes on Facebook and I’ve already read seven different people’s goals — and two more about intentions for the month. Yep, there’s another three telling me their goal for the day!

So, when I reflect upon this one — really think it over — it just may be one of the best lessons I’ve ever learned when it comes to goal achievement: JUST SHUT UP!

And this comes from a guy who, growing up, was tagged with the moniker “Motor Mouth Martin”!

Now, making this advice even more confusing (beyond the social media frenzy) is the fact that there may be no less than 1,000 blog posts (and a dozen-plus apps) encouraging you to share your New Year’s resolutions with the “world” to hold you accountable.

Some simple math for you:

cP + bA = rcƒP

Confused People (searching for answers) + Bad Advice = Really Confused AND Frustrated people.

I was one of them, and that was well before the social media proliferation.

Let me help clarify this for you (again, from personal experience and helping others). Sharing your goals with everyone and the “world” is less than useless; it can actually be harmful to your success. (More on that later with some links to the “science.”)

Given the NEW YEAR and so many people’s noble attempts to set and achieve their goals, the time is right to reiterate this lesson.

So, IF YOU continue to struggle with goal achievement, consider this — better yet, PLEASE TEST IT for yourself:

SHUT YOUR TRAP!

To help you understand why flapping your gums is so damaging, I’m going to provide you with seven reasons why talking about your goal (to anyone other than one or two, or maybe three, very close people, such as a spouse) is a solid waste of time and energy — and actually proves detrimental.

#1) It dissipates energy:

You’ve heard me say this a thousand times: If everything is energy, and it is, what do you think happens when you flap your gums?

#2) Focus is lost:

With a reduction in energy comes a reduction in our capacity to concentrate, and thus focus is diminished. (See last week’s blog.) As stated above, focus and consistent energy are required to develop habits and achieve goals.

#3) Provides a false sense of completion of goals:

Surprisingly, it turns out, talking about your goal (according to several psychology experiments) provides us with a sense of completion and self-satisfaction —without actually doing anything! By talking about your goal, you being to feel closer to achieving it, as if you had taken some action. This then supplants any real action, and thus, incredibly, you end up demonstrating less effort.

#4) This one might hurt. Pardon my French, but very few people give a Sh*t about your goals!

In the world of real accountability, “everyone” truly equates to no one.

If the point of sharing your goals with the world is so that “they” can hold you accountable, chances are good you’re on crack. You’re just not thinking too clearly. Do you really think Jim on Facebook is going to circle back four months later to ask you how your book is going? Or Sarah is going to ask how your weight-loss goal is going? Look (if it makes you feel any better), it’s not that they don’t like you, it’s just that they don’t care! And (worth noting) they’re just too busy trying to get their own sh*t together and achieve their own goals!

#5) The people you think WILL help you, tend to “protect” you:

Goal achievement is about going out on a limb — taking a huge risk, getting uncomfortable with a fairly good chance of failure. Your loved ones KNOW this. So, there’s a good chance that when you tell them you are going to paddle from Catalina Island to Manhattan Beach (32 miles), and you’ve never paddled in any event before (not 1 mile, not 10 miles), and you don’t even own a paddleboard, AND the event is in just 6 months, how do you think they are going to respond? What do you think they are going to say to you? That’s nice, Martin, I’m sure you could do it too — but you don’t have anything to prove.

By “protecting” you from massive failure, they just talked you out of an exciting, terrifying goal. And, strangely enough, you feel better because they just told you they believe in you.

That’s right: You didn’t do anything, just voiced a goal, and you feel better about yourself — but you never actually did anything and everything stays the same.

#6) Talking degrades your ownership/responsibility:

Goal achievement is not only scary and difficult, it requires 110% (to be clichéd) ownership!

The crazy thing is, by pronouncing your goal there is a sort of unexpected backwash of accountability. That’s right, by flapping your gums you’re silently assigning ownership to dozens or hundreds of invisible people who will NOT hold you accountable. PLUS, now when you fail there is an unconscious sharing of the failure; you don’t feel as bad because, well, WE failed.

#7) You lose momentum:

Goal achievement is very difficult and inevitably involves a series of UPS and DOWNS. There is a special dichotomy to goal achievement that simultaneously encourages and discourages you. YOU get stronger, HabitStrength kicks in, your discipline grows, and yet, at the same time, the closer you get to your goal’s achievement the more unexpected hurdles are thrown your way.

Now as those challenges arise, AND because you flapped your gums, what do you do? Are you going to stop and tweet about that new hurdle? Are you going to update “the world” the next time you hit a major setback?

By intentionally keeping your trap shut from the onset, you are able to concentrate on overcoming each challenge as it arises and not be distracted by the optics.  Uh no…major setback on the book deal, I better update “everyone.”

So, if the answer is to keep your yapper clammed up, you may be asking, what should I do instead?

Do this instead:

1) Get clear: Write down your goal and keep it QUIET!
2) Share only if you must: Share with only those few people who are in your life daily and will actually notice anyway and/or (of course) if you’re in a mastermind.
3) Channel your concentration and energy every day toward the development and alignment of core habits that will move you closer to your goal’s achievement.
4) TRACK using the free tracking sheet. If you’re not tracking, you’re not serious. Period. The way to achieve your goal is to align your habits and track them! (See this post on PARR.)
5) Reassess: An important part of PARR is reassessment. Adjust your habits, set new minimum success criteria, and get after it!
6) BEcome GRITTY: You will need the GRIT Habit (see this post).

There is true power in the celebration of goal achievement!

The idea is to bask in the excitement of sharing your achievement AFTER it has taken place! Don’t be tempted or fooled into the excitement of talking and bragging about it before you’ve done little if anything.

Again, all this stems directly from personal experience, and I only realized significant goal breakthroughs when I learned to shut my trap! (If you’re curious what those are, you can go here or here.)

Finally, here’s an example: A good friend actually became a bit upset with me upon the release of The Pressure Paradox,™ saying, “Why didn’t you tell me about this? I had no idea you were writing another book!” All I could do was assure him that I didn’t really tell anyone other than my wife and about two other people, and I certainly didn’t single him out and go through the challenge of writing the book just to keep him in the dark.

Silence, when it comes to goal achievement, truly is golden.

But don’t just take my word for it; apparently there is some “science” that backs this all up!

Have at it, and while you’re at it, ZIP IT!

~mg

Resources

Watch this TED Talk: Derek Sivers, Keep Your Goals to Yourself

Read this: “If You Want To Succeed, Don’t Tell Anyone.” (Psychology Today)

The Laws of Happiness (Part II), or The Erroneous Pursuit of Happiness

Character, goal theory, goals, Habituation, Happiness, Health, practicing, Success

[By: Martin Grunburg]

Now that we have a better sense of the rules or “laws” that help to cultivate our happiness levels, you might begin to think that happiness IS — or should be — our ultimate goal!

Upon further review, however, we find something far more powerful and deep, much more satisfying and valuable than mere happiness.

Any idea what it is?

The word DEEP is your first clue.

Take a look at the image below.

Angry Lake

The photo is titled “ANGRY LAKE.”

Seems like the question worth pondering is, “Why is it so angry?” What’s going on in this photo?

Well, you might say, the surface is agitated — rough and perhaps even dangerous. The winds are blowing fiercely!

Here’s another question: Where are you looking when you make that assessment?

Now, take a look at this picture:

Screen Shot 2018-12-18 at 10.27.54 AM

This photo literally is called “Tranquility Lake.”

In contrast to the first picture, you see beautiful skies, almost no wind, perfect reflection. All seems wonderful, safe and peaceful.

So wouldn’t it be wonderful if Tranquility Lake NEVER looked like Angry Lake?

Do you think Angry Lake could ever look like Tranquility Lake?

Are We Looking in the Wrong Place?

What do both lakes have in common?

If, at the surface, one lake is “Angry” and the other is “Tranquil,” what’s going on?

In actuality, the answer reveals something far deeper than happiness.

Seems like we get caught up (literally) looking at the facade: We’re fixated upon the surface, which might shift as quickly as the weather might change.

However, what is happening in the deepest parts of both lakes?

Do you think the daily “winds of change” have much, if any, influence upon the deepest parts?

Toward the bottom of the lake — the core — the lake is mostly unfettered, unperturbed. You might even call it content.

The daily winds of change have little influence upon the core, base entity deep near a lake’s bottom.

The depths have little regard for the daily drama — the ups and downs, the mood swings inherent with the events that arise from one day to the next.

Our real target? CONTENTMENT!

When we are content we are much like the core of a lake — calm, stable, peaceful — unaffected by the winds of change.

Gaining Contentment Over Happiness

Before we go any further, it’s important to understand the word “contentment” and what it means:

Screen Shot 2018-12-18 at 11.26.35 AM

Many people confuse contentment with comfort and complacency. Contentment is neither. You might consider contentment as the  up-leveling, or perhaps (in the lake analogy) the down-leveling of happiness. (Read the definition above: “A state of happiness and satisfaction.”)

The natural question, then, is what creates or constitutes contentment? And, how can we BEcome more content?

Recall, to BEcome anything involves the development of our CHARACTER. And, as we know, character is simply a long-standing habit. (That’s Plato, not me; )

Therefore, you’d be correct to presume that the habituation of the 6 Laws of happiness would greatly help to ingrain contentment into one’s character.

Hence, the development of contentment is a result— the biproduct of one’s ability to develop the 6 “Laws” of Happiness into habits.

Thus, these habits ARE MUSTS:

Cultivating strong relationships is a must.
Taking responsibility for one’s life is a must.
Choosing happiness often is a must.
Setting goals and developing oneself (personal development) is a must.
Being of service and purpose is a must.
Acceptance and understanding is a must.
Integrity and being aligned with one’s values is a must.

Developing the habits that constitute happiness leads you to the path of true contentment.

Looking for More?

Finally, I received an email from an old friend who’s going through a lot of CHANGE (recall the winds of change). I was pleased and surprised she’d watched the FREE Happiness Webinar.

LS-ScreenShot-HappinessWebinar

Change is ironically one of life’s great constants. As we face the inevitable winds of change, we can rest assured knowing that our habits of happiness, those that have cultivated a deep-seeded contentment are able to weather any storm that might come our way.

Until next time,

~mg

The Secret to Putting the “Self” into Self-Discipline

Diet, energy, goal theory, goals, habits, HabitStregth™, Health, responsibility

Self-discipline is strength.
Right thought is mastery.
Calmness is power.
~James Allen (As a Man Thinketh)

[By: Martin Grunburg]

Today we’re going to focus on the first sentence (above) from Allen’s magnificent work, As a Man Thinketh: “Self-discipline is strength.”

It may go without saying, but it’s worth reiterating: Self-discipline begins with SELF.

So, my question to you is, how do you regulate and modify your personal self-discipline? Or, better yet, do you?

When was the last time you tried to institute a new behavior/develop a new discipline, or add control and constraints to an existing behavior?

Were you successful?

What Got You Here Won’t Get You There

A bit of background:

For the first 45-ish years of my life, it seemed I could eat whatever I wanted, as much as I wanted, whenever I wanted.

I realized, though, about 18 months ago, this is no longer the case.

The new “reality” was very different.

I was at least 15 pounds heavier than I wanted to be. I wasn’t sleeping too well and felt fatigued and lethargic almost daily right around 2 or 3pm.

It’s Your DIET, Stupid!

The strange part to me was I had remained as active as ever, running, surfing and hitting the gym (nearly daily workouts). But it was fairly clear that I was only gaining weight and body fat.

I circled back to my local underwater dunk-tank body-fat tester and checked in at a fairly surprising 16.3% body fat!

Upwards of 16%. For some people that may seem low, and for others that may seem high. For me it was the highest I’d ever recorded. (I began recording out of curiosity right around the time of my second Ironman in 2006.)

I needed to reverse the current fat-gaining trend!

To Carb or Not to Carb, That Is the Question

Let me first say that changing my eating habits was far more difficult than I’d imagined.

The good news is I had at least a few tricks up my sleeve, and furthermore, I knew a thing or two about behavior/habit design. ; )

Hence, if the question was to “carb or not to carb,” the answer was/is a resounding “NO!”

Above all, limiting the carbs (and sugars) was my first order of business, since I knew I was still as active as ever.

Yet, as  a lover of ALL things carb-related (chips, pasta, bread, etc.), constraining my carb consumption was not going to be easy.

ENTER: The Substitution Solution!

Habit is driven out by habit as a nail is driven out by a nail.

–>> Bagels in the morning? Nope…just boiled egg.

–>> Chips in the afternoon? Nope…just almonds or peanuts.

–>> Soda, Snapple, ANY beverage? Nope…water or soda water.

–>> Fish tacos or sandwiches at lunch? Nope… salads or a bread-modified sandwich.

–>> Alcohol? Enter constraints!!

Beer? No more than 2 (lite) beers at any day/time.

Bourbon/Whiskey? Just 2 or 3 times per week.

Diet vs. Lifestyle

Here’s the thing…

At the proverbial end of the day, the gold lies not in the changes themselves, but the ability to craft new behaviors and new habits at will. It’s not necessarily easy, but the good news is it gets easier, over time, because of the magical force of habit.

Hence, substituting those habits/behaviors you already have with new, favorable, predetermined choices — incredibly — becomes its own habit! And, that is what is powerful. That is what compounds.

As a result, today, some 18 months later, I habitually drink water with every meal and I habitually snack on nuts instead of chips. I habitually eat salads and make better lunch and dinner choices.

Keep this in mind: As great as diet plans like Medifast or Jenny Craig and many others are, realize that a major piece of their solution is simply to provide you a SUBSTITUTE  — a replacement alternative for your eating HABITS.

Results

First of all, it’s important to point out (again) that this was not an overnight fix (“the man who moves mountains begins by carrying small stones” ~ Confucius), although you will notice when you look at the chart below, once I became aware and had a baseline, that is when the diet/habit experiments began.

Today’s Weight: 178.8 Down from 194.6 lbs = 16.1 lbs Lost

Today’s Body Fat: Approx 12.8%  (Total guess ; ) See chart below! Was 13% back in May of 2018.

mg-bodyfat-test2018

That’s right — with some basic awareness and simple dietary substitutions I was able to “turn-back” the clock an incredible 12 years! According to this chart, I’m basically the same weight in 2018 as 2006, but I have increased my lean muscle mass and decreased my body fat by nearly 2lbs.

12 years.

I keep coming back to Emerson’s great quote: “All life is an experiment and the more experiments you make the better.”

On a semi-related note: Either a gentle reminder or swift kick in the *ss? (you decide)…
We already have over 50 participants enrolled in the Get Unstuck Course — and it’s ONLY Free only until 11/16/18.

Until next week my friends…

~mg

Stuck in a Goal Achievement Rut? These 8 Questions Will Get You Moving Again

goal, goal theory, habits, learning, PARR Methodology

“Imagine Your Life Is Perfect In Every Respect; What Would It Look Like?” Brian Tracy

By Martin Grunburg

I’m a huge fan of self-development great Brian Tracy’s 12-step method for goal achievement, derived from his classic audio program (Nightingale Conant) The Psychology of Achievement.

If you’ve never read or heard this gem, it’s worth exploring — if only to understand how it is that The Habit Factor® integrates so perfectly within and around BT’s 12 steps — and, in so doing, reduces them to just 8!

Because who doesn’t want a shorter process, especially if you find your goal-achievement process to be stalling a bit?

So if you need a kick-start or a new push toward your process of goal achievement, here are eight essential, must-ask questions to get you fired up and heading in the right direction.

  1. Where Is Your Goals List?

    If you don’t have a written-out list of your goals, you are NOT really serious about your intentions, are you? Writing down your top goals and reviewing this list daily is the first step!

  2. Do You Have a Goal in Each of These 4 Categories of Wellness: Mind, Body, Spiritual, Social?

    You get bonus points if you add the following three ONLY after you’ve addressed EACH of the prior four: Professional, Financial, Lifestyle/Adventure. Doing this helps to reinforce precisely what Brian Tracy states above. You should imagine your life as perfect in every respect and then ask, “What does that look like?”

  3. Do You Know Which SINGULAR GOAL Is Your #1 Priority ?

    The simple act of goal-setting helps you to identify your ambitions, desires and talents. Most of all, singling out the top goal — your biggest priority — helps to expose the real you to yourself.

    Challenge yourself by asking tough questions such as, “If I were to die tomorrow, what experience or achievement would I most regret not having?”

  4. WHY Is Your Top Goal Your Top Goal?

    Identify and write down a list of 50 good reasons WHY the goal is your TOP priority and so important. (As many reasons as you can, no need to stop at 50!)

  5. What Positive Habits/Skills Will You Intentionally Develop that Directly Support Your Goals?

    (This may be my favorite.) Identify just 3-5 habits. Then specify their frequencies per week and their minimum success criteria. (If you don’t know what that means, watch this!)

  6. How Are You Tracking These New Behaviors/Habits?

    In order to develop these habits we’re going to follow the P.A.R.R. methodology: Plan, Act, Record and Reassess. We are going to be like BEN or a Hindu priest!  We (YOU) are going to TRACK

  7. Is Your Goal a S T R E T C H  GOAL?

    If your goal is too easy, it’s not likely to inspire you. But if it’s too difficult — seemingly impossible — it’ll be hard for your conscious mind to “buy-in.” The idea of approximately 50% growth increments is a good rule of thumb. So if you’ve never done a marathon, perhaps start with a half marathon. Or, rather than shooting for $1 million in income , shoot for $75K or maybe $100K .Get some progress, momentum and belief.

  8. How Committed Are You?

    Lincoln may have said it best: “Always bear in mind that your own resolution to succeed is more important than any other one thing.”

So there you have it! Eight essential questions you should address in order to accelerate or jump-start your goal’s attainment! Remember Thoreau’s fantastic insight: “If one advances confidently in the direction of his dreams and endeavors to lead the life he imagines he will meet with a success unexpected in common hours.”

(A version of this post first appeared in June of 2017.)

Habit-Tracking 101: How To Build Positive Habits the Fun, Easy and Right Way

goal theory, goals, Habit Alignment, HabitStregth™, P.A.R.R. Methodology, PARR Methodology

Habit Tracking--Fun-101
Habit Tracking 101: Build Positive, Fun Habits

“Efficiency is doing things right; effectiveness is doing the right things.” ~Peter Drucker

By: Martin Grunburg

While almost everyone understands the benefits of habit tracking, most people aren’t really sure HOW to properly track their habits — and, better yet, which habits they ought to track. The feedback I often hear from people about habit tracking is something like this: “I know I should, but, it’s kind of a pain,” and then there is some mumbling “there’s so many things I need to be doing, blah . . . mumble . . . blah.”

The end result? No tracking, but, “Hey, it sounds like good idea!”

If this sounds like you, I say we start with a little attitude adjustment!

Let’s begin with Jim Rohn’s brilliant observation, “There are two great pains, the pain of discipline and the pain of regret!”

Which do you think will be more painful and hurt longer? Tracking your habits or NOT achieving your goals?

So, now that we’re on the same page, it’s worth reiterating that habit tracking can and should be SUPER FUN when done properly. In fact, the reason there are probably almost 100 different habit-tracking apps today is that there is a great amount of self-efficacy within the process, and believe it or not, that makes it fun!

It’s even MORE fun when you have a PLAN, know what you are doing and follow a proven method. Having said that, this is the post I probably should have written back in June of 2009 when The Habit Factor® was first introduced as the original habits and goals tracker. Even today, it’s the only one that features Habit Alignment Technology™ allowing you to align your habits to your goals. Yay!

Knowing that you will feel great following this process is just another reason to begin. You do want to feel great, right?

Perfect! Then let’s get started!

“The secret to getting ahead is getting started.” ~Mark Twain

Here are the 10 super-simple keys to making Habit Tracking uber-fun, easy and ridiculously effective!

  1. Identify the Habit you want to create. Then write out at least 10 reasons (WHYs) you want to develop this habit. If the habit were “jogging,” you might write: live longer, live better, be healthier and more vibrant, look better, etc. The reasons simply help to fortify your commitment!
  2. Do not confuse the “Goal” with the related “Habit.” For instance, while the “goal” might be to “write a book,” one of the supportive HABITS would be to “write.” If the goal were to “lose weight,” the supportive habit might be “jogging” or “drinking water.” Only The Habit Factor® (app) allows you to create an over-arching goal and then align the supportive habits. You can certainly just track a habit without an over-arching goal, but often people recognize the reason they want to develop the habit is for the attainment of an important goal!
  3. Identify the behavior’s relative “HabitStrength.” Think of the habit you want to create and ask yourself how strong is the habit TODAY. Use a scale of 1 – 8; an “8” would mean the habit is fully automatic and requires little to no conscious thought. Chances are the behavior/habit you’ll be tracking and want to create is likely to begin with a HabitStrength of just 1 or a 2 or maybe a 3.
  4. Set the bar low! Habit development can take months, but when you follow this fun process it doesn’t matter how long it takes — you’re going to be around anyway, right? So the real key to success in habit development is setting the bar very low to gain early momentum. So, if the habit you want to develop is “reading,” and you don’t read much or at all, set the bar LOW with the target of “reading for 15 minutes” and maybe just TWO days a week. This is called the Minimum Success Criteria (MSC), and it’s designed specifically for tracking. By doing this your tracking becomes . . .
  5. Binary: You either did it — met the minimum success criteria (MSC) — or you didn’t. The simplicity of binary can’t be overstated. For instance, if you didn’t “read for 15 minutes,” but rather just 10 minutes, then your score is a “0” instead of a “1.” If you read for “25 minutes,” then it’s a “1.” The key is to use either a “1” or a “0.” You don’t get half points or more than 1 point on any given day. Just hit your MSC!
  6. Do not confuse the “Goal” with a “Target.”  Your TARGET is to “read for 15 minutes 3 times a week.” That is not your goal. Your goal is to “write a book.” Using the terminology properly will help you with the process and your goal!
  7. Schedule fewer target days at first. Don’t panic if you miss one. Also, don’t panic if you’re NOT sure about your best target days at first. This is a common concern: “I’m not sure what days I can do this!” The point of the target day is to identify your weekly rhythm or pattern — the frequency per week. So, going back to the “Reading” habit example, you simply identify your best guess; target days within the week knowing what your current schedule looks like. You might recognize that Mondays and Saturdays (because of current obligations) won’t be good target days, so you select Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday. Just three days a week to “Read for 15 minutes.” The beauty here is that if you miss Wednesday, you could use Thursday or Saturday as a make-up day and still hit your Target of 3x for the week!
  8. ACT! Perform the behavior as intended! Now that all your PLANNING is done, it’s time to ACT! BTW: Watch this video: Follow the P.A.R.R Methodology if you want to see the above in action.
  9. Record: This means Tracking + Notes. Be sure to take notes each day you track; this helps to reaffirm your intentions!
  10. Reassess: After you have tracked for a period of 4 weeks, it’s time to raise the bar. Perhaps you up the frequency to 4x per week and read for 25 minutes instead of just 15. This is how you increase the HabitStrength over time.

Here’s an example/sample worksheet you can download. This is the easiest way to develop and increase your HabitStrength for any particular habit over time!

Click Here to Access the FREE PDF: Habit Tracking 101: Simple, Easy and Fun Habit Tracking

Habit tracking worksheet screen shot
Habit-tracking worksheet

If you liked the sound of this and want a real-life course with about a ton of other modules and benefits, just fill out this SURVEY!

As I mentioned to our email insiders, I’m checking out on the weekly blog until the end of August. There is plenty here to revisit if you’re new, and don’t forget the podcast. If you want to get on the insider’s list, just TEXT “4Goals” to 33444.

Talk soon-ish!

~mg

(This post has been updated 5.15/2018)

Five Bulletproof Reasons The Habit Factor® Is the Key to Achieving Your Goals More Quickly

Character, energy, Focus, goal, goal theory, goals, Habit Alignment, habits, HabitStregth™, P.A.R.R. Methodology, PARR Methodology, Success

5 bullet-proof reasons habit is the key to goal achievement

By: Martin Grunburg

Nobody achieves their goals without first channeling the force of habit. Period.

Some people — MOST PEOPLE — still aren’t fully aware of these two precepts when it comes to goal achievement:

1) Everything is energy: You are energy and it will take energy to attain your goal. By applying and channeling the force of habit (the most efficient form of behavior energy), you attain your goals more quickly and easily.

2) The best way to develop a habit is following the P.A.R.R. methodology, Plan, Act, Record and Reassess. This is superior to Cue, Routine, Reward (which doesn’t include tracking, reassessment or habitstrength). P.A.R.R. requires behavior tracking. Tracking core, related behaviors (habits) that are aligned with your goals will help you to achieve your goals more quickly and easily.

So for “fun,” I’ve listed five bulletproof reasons following The Habit Factor® method for goal-achievement is the most efficient and effective process to help you achieve your goals!

#1) Energy

Energy loves (and has a predisposition toward) pattern and rhythm. Have you noticed that you brush your teeth the same way every day? You towel off the same way each day. You drive home via the same route, put your keys in the same place, etc. The examples are endless. Everything in nature is based upon ENERGY. It’s worth restating: Since you are energy and your goal is going to require energy, the most efficient way to achieve your goals is for you to align your daily behavior energies (habits) to be supportive of your goals.

It’s really that simple.

Doing this creates remarkable coherence (congruity and consistency) as well as effectiveness (doing the right things) and efficiency (doing the right things right). You are getting the same and/or better results with less energy output!

Action: Identify your single-most important goal. List 50 reasons it’s a MUST goal (versus a “should” or “someday” goal), and then identify the 3-5 habits you are COMMITTED to developing (tracking) for the next year or more. However long it takes, right?

#2) The Subconscious

“Experts” in goal-achievement theory, as well as top coaches in various disciplines, will tell you that your subconscious is anywhere from 10 to 100x more powerful/influential than your conscious mind when it comes to achieving your goals.

So, my friend, I ask you, “Where do your habits reside?”

Correct! In your subconscious! In fact, that is just one of the definitions of habit — an unconscious  or mostly unconscious (w/ little awareness) behavior or thought. For this reason alone it makes sense to focus your energies on HABIT development.

Action: Identify one thought affirmation (related to your goal) that you are willing to repeat; reaffirm a minimum of five times daily and TRACK!

#3) CHARACTER

BE. DO. HAVE: The late, great Zig Ziglar used to shout from the stage, “You must BE before you can DO and DO before you can HAVE.”

When it comes to BEing, NOTHING is more important than HABIT. Why? Well, a core definition of HABIT — in fact, its Latin root — is “Condition” and/or “Character.”

This would suggest that your present condition and character (at this very moment) is the sum total of all your thoughts and all your behavior HABITS throughout your life. Is your character not the sum total of your thought and behavior habits?

You may have heard another great Zig Ziglar quote. “What you get from achieving your goals is not as important as what you BEcome by achieving your goals.” And, the only way you can BEcome anything is via habit.

Action: List three traits of your three most successful friends. Ask if there are any commonalities. Select one of these traits/habits to track for the next four weeks!

#4) FOCUS!

Focusing on habits instead of a one-off, to-do list creates powerful focus and consistency. So, BURN YOUR TO-DO LIST!

“Burning your To-Do List” is just a fun little idiom. I want to underscore the significance of putting attention and focus on the daily tracking of core, related behaviors (HABITS) that will drive your goal’s achievement, before you begin to think about your daily to-do list.

The typical person follows a typical process and is left with a to-do list. That is, they write a list of to-do items for the day. However, scattered thoughts and actions will likely produce scattered results.

For instance, a typical to-do list might look like this: buy milk, feed fish, call Grandma, pick up the dry cleaning, etc. What do any of these have to do with your most important long-term goal?

By narrowing your focus to just the core, related behaviors (habits that are aligned with your goal), making them a priority and putting them TOP OF MIND each morning — and then TRACKING THEM — you are far more EFFECTIVE AND EFFICIENT. (Apologies for the caps!; )

So, sure, keep your to-do list, but realize it is secondary to the list of habits you are tracking. By separating the two and focusing first on habits, you know for sure what is a must-do to support your long-term goals!

Action: Before you work from a To-Do list, ensure you are first working from and tracking a short list of habits. Yes, there is a free app for that ; )

#5) HABIT IS PRINCIPLE BASED

Habit is principle based, meaning it is a force of nature (it is timeless). Habit has been a factor in human character and achievement since the dawn of time, and always will be. Darwin once said, “It is notorious how powerful is the force of habit.” Confucius said, “All men’s natures are alike — it’s their habits that carry them far apart.” Benjamin Franklin (a famous and prolific habit tracker): “Your net worth to the world is what remains after you subtract your bad habits from your good ones.”

By focusing on HABIT vs. tactics and/or strategies, YOUR energies are channeled via the timeless force of HABIT! Actions produce results and, of course, consistent actions (habits) produce consistently powerful results.

Action: Look into the future and ask what ideally traits (character) and goals would you like to achieve. Then, identify 3-5 habits that will help get you there and begin tracking them right away following the P.A.R.R. methodology (video).

Final Thoughts

I was asked the other day if I’ve ever been contacted (via email or otherwise) by someone who’s followed P.A.R.R. and/or The Habit Factor® Method and has not achieved their goal or been impressed with their results. “I have not,” I confessed. The reason, I presume, is because P.A.R.R. and The Habit Factor® Method always work when you do. It may not work on your timeline, but often that is related to other forces, PRESSURE being one of them. ; )

Until next week,

~mg

(This post has been updated 5/18/2018)

8 Must-Ask Questions To Accelerate Your Goal’s Achievement!

creative vision, creativity, energy, goal theory, goals

goals-faster-2

“Imagine Your Life Is Perfect In Every Respect; What Would It Look Like?”- Brian Tracy

By: Martin Grunburg

Last week we reviewed BT’s world-famous 12 Step process for goal attainment, derived from his classic audio program (Nightingale Conant) The Psychology of Achievement.

If you missed that, it’s worth revisiting if only to understand how it is that The Habit Factor® integrates so perfectly within and around his 12 steps — and, in so doing, reduces them to just 8!

Who doesn’t want a shorter process? ; )

Today our quest is to review the eight essential, MUST ASK, questions to help you accelerate your goal’s achievement!

  1. Where is your Goals List?
    If you don’t have a list, you are NOT really serious about your intentions, are you? Writing your top goals and reviewing this list is the first step!
  2. Do you have a goal in each of these 4 categories of wellness: Mind, Body, Spiritual, Social?
    You get bonus points if you add the following three ONLY after you’ve addressed EACH of the prior four: Professional, Financial, Lifestyle/Adventure.
    Doing this helps to reinforce precisely what BT states above: You should imagine your life as perfect in every respect and then ask, “What does that look like?”
  3. Do you know which SINGULAR GOAL is the #1 priority and why?
  4. Speaking of “WHY,” identify and write down a list of 50 good reasons WHY the goal is your TOP priority and so important. (As many reasons as you can, no need to stop at 50!)
  5. What positive habits/skills will you intentionally develop that directly support your goals? (This may be my favorite.)
    Identify JUST 3-5 habits. Then specify their frequencies per week and their minimum success criteria. (If you don’t know what that means, watch this!)
  6. How are you tracking these new behaviors/habits?
    In order to develop these habits we’re going to follow the P.A.R.R. methodology: Plan, Act, Record and Reassess. We are going to be like BEN or a Hindu priest ; ). We (YOU) are going to TRACK!
  7. Is your goal a S T R E T C H  GOAL? 
    If your goal is too easy, it’s not likely to inspire you. But if it’s too difficult — seemingly impossible — it’ll be hard for your conscious mind to “buy-in.” As we reviewed in the last post, the idea of approximately 50% growth increments is a good rule of thumb. If you’ve never done a marathon, perhaps start with a half marathon. Or, rather than shooting for $1 million in income per year if you are currently making $50K, shoot for $75K or maybe $100K — but not $1M out of the gate. Get some progress, momentum and belief.
  8. How committed are you?
    Lincoln may have said it best: “Always bear in mind that your own resolution to succeed is more important than any other one thing.”

So there you have it! Eight essential questions you should ask/address in order to accelerate your goal’s attainment! Revisit Brian Tracy’s quote above, which is how we started this post. This quote, to me, captures the essence of Thoreau’s fantastic insight; it’s worth YOU memorizing and reciting: “If one advances confidently in the direction of his dreams and endeavors to lead the life he imagines he will meet with a success unexpected in common hours.”

Thank you!

Until next week,

~mg

BTW: If you’re struggling with your goals or you just want a little kick in the butt, some accountability and a proven, sure-fire process, jump on our 28 Day Breakthrough (Early Bird List!). It’s growing and I’m making special coupons, so it’s FREE! (limited time! ; )

Brian Tracy’s 12 Steps to Goal Achievement Meets The Habit Factor®

belief, creativity, goal theory, goals, Habit Alignment, habits, P.A.R.R. Methodology, PARR Methodology, self esteem, SMART Goals, Success

GOAL-ACHIEVEMENT-101(4)

“Success equals goals; all else is commentary.” ~Brian Tracy

By: Martin Grunburg

First, let me say that BT is a living legend, a friend, and perhaps the greatest authority in the personal development space (not to mention a hero of mine). The amount of time he has dedicated to his knowledge and wisdom related to productivity, personal development and the psychology of achievement is truly encyclopedic, and he’s authored some 57+ books! (Check out some of his YouTube videos!)

I recently revisited BT’s fantastic 12-step formula for goal attainment (see mastery and the art of learning about why I keep listening to the same lessons over and over). This great lesson on goal attainment is contained within The Psychology of Achievement which is one of the greatest personal development programs I’ve come across, and what I love most is how easily The Habit Factor integrates, intersects and envelops this program, specifically the 12-step formula for goal attainment.

While the program was released in the ’80s (Nightingale-Conant), for the most part it really doesn’t age because the topic is rooted upon so many timeless principles. Having said that, there is just one part on goal achievement where appending/updating just might make a little sense — particularly with The Habit Factor® in mind. ; )

For fun, I’ve essentially transcribed how BT sets up this powerful lesson. When you listen to the program firsthand, you will be amazed by his conviction, authority and enthusiasm!

Here is the open (verbatim):

“We have examined hundreds of studies on goal-setting and we have taken the very best steps and the very best concepts that have ever been developed in the history of goal-setting by anyone, and we’ve combined them into the method that follows. This method is so powerful as a method for programming the subconscious at a deep level with your goal that if you will run your goal through this process, taking every single step in order, you will find that the speed at which you accomplish the goal will absolutely amaze you, and that you can accomplish more using this methodology in one year than you could in four or five years trying any other way.”

How’s that for authoritative? He says (and I don’t doubt him), “In the history of goal-setting.”

Can you guess what was NOT included in the 12-step process or even in the history of goal-setting?

Here’s an indirect clue: Notice how Brian says, “This method is so powerful as a method for programming your subconscious at a deep level.”

Well, I ask you, “Where do you think your habits reside?”

Granted, this program was produced in the ’80s, so I’ll cut to the chase. Just like S.M.A.R.T. goals (video), this 12-step process completely omits HABIT as a key, elemental force for goal achievement! Incredible, I know… ; )

I would suggest, though, through no faults of BT’s, he was just referencing studies and all the various research that all preceded The Habit Factor®.

Here is a brief synopsis of BT’s 12 steps to goal attainment, along with a bit of commentary from me as it relates to The Habit Factor® and where/how THF method deviates somewhat.

Step #1, Desire:

According to Brian Tracy, this is the very first step in all achievement: possessing a sincere and intense desire or need. Desire is what motivates and propels us toward our goals! Importantly, Brian points out that desire is very personal; others cannot desire goals for us, and we cannot impose our desires upon others. Your goals must be desired independently of others and have a truly personal meaning!

Step #2, Belief:

Belief is one of the most important elements, since you must absolutely believe the goal is attainable and real. The achievement, Brian advises, should be at least 50% achievable. This way, Brain explains, your conscious mind will accept it and be able to successfully relay it to your subconscious. The key to believability is setting “next level” goals by climbing in approximately 50% increments. He advises against leaps that are so great you immediately can’t buy-in or believe them, like a jump in income from $50K a year to $1 million a year.

Step #3, Write it down:
Brian commands, “Writing it down may be the single-most important thing to help program your subconscious mind.” He advises that you should write down your goal in precise detail as to exactly the way you wish to realize it. Brian insists that writing down your goals transforms them from “wishes” to authentic goals.

MG: From my experience, what is most successful when it comes to “programming” your subconscious is developing HABITS, since habits reside within your subconscious. In my view, the great value of writing down your goals is that it takes the goal from the invisible, intangible world and makes it visible (if not fully tangible); that is, the goal itself is not in the physical plane yet, but it can be seen in written form. You might call this the “middle realm” of goal attainment. First it’s invisible, then visible but not tangible, and then finally, fully materialized, tangible/experienced!

Step #4, List all the benefits:
Taking the time to identify all the benefits — all the reasons WHY this goal is significant and has substantial meaning — will help to provide the necessary dedication and commitment when (not if) the going gets tough! Most people don’t hit their goals because they simply quit too soon. Having a long list of 50-100 benefits and reasons about WHY the goal is important helps to ensure you stay the course — that you are, in fact, unstoppable!

Step #5, Take stock of your current position:
Since you know where it is you want to go (your ideal destination, goal), it’s essential you stop and assess where you are, measuring your current status against the ideal to appreciate what it’s going to take to get to your goal. If you don’t know where you are, it’s hard to get anywhere! It’s almost like you’re at the amusement park or the mall and you’re staring at the sign that says “YOU ARE HERE!” Make sure you truly know where you are relative to your goal!

Step #6, Establish a deadline:
Brian recommends you identify the latest possible date as a deadline for your goal, and he reiterates that the idea of success and happiness is often realized when you feel as though you are progressing toward a worthy goal or ideal. This is the key distinction of a “winner” and a person with a high, healthy and positive self-concept, he assures us, ” . . . as they progress toward their ideal self. The only way to feel like a winner is when we are moving toward the accomplishment of a meaningful goal.”

Step #7, Identify the obstacles you will have to overcome:
Brian says, “If there are no obstacles it isn’t a goal at all; it’s simply an activity.” He then assures us this is a worthy undertaking because when the obstacles are written down they tend to become “smaller” and easier to address.

Step #8, What knowledge will be required?
BT says that any goal of any significance will require that you gain additional knowledge for its attainment.  Any worthwhile goal is certain to require that you learn something new, perform additional research, and/or talk and interview people to learn more and bridge the gap.

MG: Here I would add skills and, of course, HABITS! So, “Step #8” would probably be best re-titled, “Identify the knowledge, skills and habits required to achieve your goal.” Not too long ago I wrote about how similar skills and habits really are. I would stress that habit, more than any other element, will determine your ability to achieve your goal, since habits are behaviors that are performed consistently. When done consistently, these behaviors will take on a quality of automaticity; they will soon be stored in the subconscious, thereby aligning your very personality and character with the goal that is to be accomplished.

Step #9, Identify the people, groups and organizations with whom you’ll have to work and collaborate:
Brian says that the initiation of this step tends to invokes three additional and important “laws” that are essential to understand when it comes to goal achievement. The first law is the “Law of return.” This is simply the law of sowing and reaping. The key idea here is that what you reap today is a product of what you have sown in the past.

The second law is “The Law of Compensation.” This law says that for every action there is an equal and opposite reaction. The wise person will simply ask the question, “How can I serve the other so that they may want to collaborate and return the favor?”

The third law Brian references is the “Law of Service.” This is essentially the law of over-compensation. It’s the law of going the extra mile. Concentrating on what you can give and how you can serve without any intention or concern about getting anything in return is a key trait of high-achieving men and women. Unfortunately, Brian says, so many people will get this process backwards and start by assessing what they can get from a situation without first giving. He says that it is inevitable that those who do more than they are paid to do — and do it willingly and gladly — are certain to be repaid by the law of over-compensation.

Step #10,  Make a PLAN!! “Make it complete in every detail!”
“All plans are simply activities which are laid out in terms of time and priority,” Brian assures us. However, he also says that “no plan is ever perfect the first time and that all plans must be made and remade because they will be flawed due to the great number of mistakes and new information that will be presented over time.”

“All great achievers,” Brian says, “think on paper!”

MG: Here is where I would personally struggle with such a process and begin to check out mentally. “How in the world can I possibly know all the steps and create a plan for a goal I’ve never attained?” This is precisely the challenge I had/have with the SMART goals system, as well. Once you go through the SMART criteria, you are left with a to-do list — a bunch of steps you are supposed to envision to help you achieve your goal, yet you may not know all the steps.

Not that I don’t like to plan or think I can’t plan, but writing out all the things I must do, the steps and even the obstacles (see Step #7), quickly becomes overwhelming, daunting and, frankly, very discouraging. And, most importantly perhaps, this where I would lose any excitement and momentum— essentially killing the goal before it gets launched!

<<If this sounds like you, keep reading!>>

This is precisely just ONE of the KEY benefits of following The Habit Factor® method for goal achievement. NO PLANNING/NO STEPS! It’s a greatly simplified/streamlined process for goal-achievement, and this is why it has taken off and been copied and duplicated so often! So many people find it easier to follow and how quickly they gain momentum, rather than losing it! There is no requirement to “plan” other than identifying and aligning the core related behaviors (habits) that will be necessary to achieve your goals and following the P.A.R.R. method for habit development. This may even help explain why The Habit Factor® is so popular in the ADD/ADHD arena.

Step #11, Visualize:
Get a clear mental picture of your goal as though it were already in existence. Brian advises, “See it on the screen of your mind and play it over and over and over again! We will achieve our goal to the degree we are capable of seeing it within our minds, and the more we think about it the more clear the image becomes.”

MG: Brian suggests that all the prior 10 steps precede this one because they help with vision and clarity. My thought is that this should be at the front — perhaps even preceding desire — as the vision will beget the desire, and as Stephen Covey used to say, “Begin with the end in mind.”

Step #12, Back your plan with relentless determination, persistence and resolve to never give up!

You may think this goes without saying, but I think it’s worth repeating by sharing Calvin Coolidge’s great quote:

Nothing in the world can take the place of Persistence. Talent will not; nothing is more common than unsuccessful men with talent. Genius will not; unrewarded genius is almost a proverb. Education will not; the world is full of educated derelicts. Persistence and Determination alone are omnipotent. The slogan “Press On” has solved and will always solve the problems of the human race. ~Calvin Coolidge

MG: Bottom Line:

As much as I am a fan of Mr. Brian Tracy, (and, that can’t be overstated!) I am also an advocate for simplicity: Less is more, particularly when it comes to following processes and procedures. I’m sure that even physics (or a physicist) would bear this out: The fewer number of “steps,” the greater likelihood for success.

So, in the interest of simplicity, I would propose that a few of these 12 steps be removed and the order adjusted slightly — every plan is always changing (evolving ; ) — even plans about plans and strategies and processes!

So here is a revised offering:

#1) Vision, #2) Belief, #3) Reasons (Why), #4) Write it DOWN!, #5) Identify the Skills and Habits necessary, #6) Identify the People, Groups, Orgs and Models you can follow, #7) Follow the P.A.R.R. Method for Habit Development (TRACK!), #8) Be Relentless and resolve to never give up!

There you go! EIGHT steps vs twelve and we’ve added habit development and tracking (following the PARR method).

Finally, if this intrigues, excites or just piques your curiosity, I invite you to fill out this survey and your name will be added to a special list who will gain early-bird access to a FREE course called, “The 28-Day Breakthrough!”

So, be sure to sign up, and I’ll see you on the inside soon-ish!

Until next week!

~mg

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