goal theory — The Habit Factor®

7 Habits to Help Cultivate Your Enthusiasm

Character, goal theory, habits, Happiness, Success

MLK--550s_3

Photo: courtesy Wikimedia: O. Fernandez, New York World-Telegram and the Sun staff photographer – Library of Congress Prints and Photographs Division.

By: Martin Grunburg

“Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that.” ~Martin Luther King, Jr

Happy MLK Day!!!

In the last post we covered the virtue and really the necessity of ENTHUSIASM and what an important role it plays in helping us to enjoy a vibrant, powerful, productive and full life.

We even affirmed RWE’s observation that “nothing great was ever achieved without enthusiasm.” Just try to envision MLK’s epic “I have a dream” speech during the March on Washington delivered without any enthusiasm (without En Theos, god within) — fairly difficult and certainly wouldn’t have been half as effective. ; ). After all, it was his enthusiasm that inspired a nation.

However, the natural follow-up question is, what behaviors (habits) in particular can help us develop enthusiasm? Recall (from prior post the story about Uli and Dale) that the key idea is that sustained enthusiasm, like happiness, is a CHOICE first, a decision that is made and then it becomes a habit, second.

Having said that, and after giving this some additional thought, here are seven behaviors (habits) that, when fostered, will help anyone to generate and sustain their own enthusiasm habit.

1) Diet: If everything is energy (and it is), we can only be as good and strong as our diet. Eating your fruits and veggies isn’t just a good idea, it’s a necessity for vitality and enthusiasm. We won’t beat this one into the ground; Hippocrates put it best, “Let food be thy medicine and medicine be thy food.”

2) Exercise: Same idea here…our mind is tied to our body and it’s imperative that our body is healthy and active (as healthy and active as it can be). The amazing thing about exercise is it creates energy and releases so many positive hormones (eight of which are listed in this great article). Any article that references Fletch is going to be a great article! ; )

3) Creativity: Since you my friend are a very special creature, it’s important to know that it’s truly your nature to create — to be creative! Many people feel that they lose that creative touch/inspiration as they grow older. While it’s true your creativity may become weaker (from non-use), it has not vanished entirely! And, it’s worth reiterating that creativity doesn’t have to be in the form of some revolutionary invention; it could be plain old problem solving! I shared this great book/resource (ThinkerToys) if you’re looking to further develop your creativity.

4) Be Curious! Keep learning, exploring and asking questions. As Rumi put it, “Sell your cleverness and purchase bewilderment!” What are you bewildered by? (political commentary aside!) While curiosity might’ve killed the cat, it undoubtedly emboldens one’s enthusiasm! It’s likely that the more questions you can ask about your life and the world around you, the more enthusiasm for life you are likely to cultivate. Recall, The Habit Factor in many ways began with a very bizarre question, “Why do habits exist?” Recall in the prior post we tried to envision a 5-ear-old without enthusiasm. Not too easy…part of the reason why is they are so curious — they ask so many questions.

5) Appreciate! What have you appreciated lately? As the late, great Dr. Wayne Dyer was so fond of saying, “Become an appreciator!” That is, add value to things by taking notice of them, admiring them — appreciating them. And, that leads us straight to…

6) Beauty! Also, a key subject of Dr. Dyer (particularly in his great book, The Power of Intention). Beauty can be found everywhere; it’s nearly impossible to see something of great beauty, like a great sunset (notice the heart in the sky!) or the majesty of a state park (looks like I’m going to Yellowstone in April – for the first time!), or even the beauty or your own family and/or pets (I probably should have started there ; ). (I may be in trouble with my editor!)

7) Kindness and love. It’s hard to imagine how thinking of others first and practicing the Golden Rule wouldn’t increase one’s general enthusiasm for life. It seems to me that those who think about themselves and their own problems too much are often the ones with the lowest levels of enthusiasm (en theos). It’s been said before that the chief aim in life is to find a cause before one finds you!

So, there you go. I can’t help but feel that we’ve come full circle! Obviously, MLK was full of enthusiasm; he exuded kindness and love (peace) and of course put his entire soul and all his energy and resources behind a cause far bigger than himself. So whether it is via The Law of Reciprocity or maybe Newton’s Third Law (for every action there is an equal and opposite reaction), or both, the return on energy MLK received was a powerful force beyond imagination still influencing us today, and you could argue it was all due to his enthusiasm (en theos)!

What you can do now:

Find just ONE of the above behaviors that you would like to develop into a habit and track it for 28 days following the P.A.R.R. habit building methodology. Of course, there is a free habit and goal tracking tool (App: iOS, Android) or, use this free template! And, if you don’t feel greater enthusiasm after just 28 days, I want to hear about it. However, WHEN you do feel greater enthusiasm, I want to hear about that too! Deal?

Until next week,

~mg

How to Get Unstuck & Breakthrough in the New Year!

Character, creative theory, creativity, energy, Focus, goal theory, habits, performance, pressure, Success

By: Martin Grunburg

When it comes to personal development, one of the most common challenges seems to be helping a person get “unstuck,” showing them how they can break free from stagnation and begin to tap into their full potential.

Personally, this was my greatest challenge (some 15 years ago), and incredibly, it may be the reason The Habit Factor (book and app) exists today.

In the Habit Factor book, I recount a story, a goal — a bucket-list experience — that helped me with my own personal breakthrough.

Here’s a quick anecdote to help shed light on why this experience helped me achieve a huge goal — and why this concept is likely to work for you as well.

A Plumbing Story

Just yesterday I had to unclog my daughter’s “stuck” sink. I’m not Joe Handyman, but since we were on a holiday schedule, I figured I’d give it a try .

I started by taking the U joint off the bottom of the sink, and then I used a snake to try to clear the clog. Unfortunately, the snake was too large. I borrowed a neighbor’s smaller snake; after close to a half-hour of utter frustration and futility, I was forced to give up.

Upon returning the snake to my neighbor, Bill, he said, “Hey, I just remembered, I have this Clog-Buster® thing and if you can reach a hose all the way to the pipe it just might work.” At that point, I had already invested a couple of hours, and the U joint was still removed, so I figured I may as well give it one more attempt.

The Clog-Buster® fits on the end of a hose; you then insert the hose into the clogged pipe. As the water builds up in the Clog-Buster® attachment, it creates an enormous amount of pressure; when the device finally releases the water, it sprays out with enormous force, somewhat like a mini-firehose.

To my utter amazement, the product worked brilliantly. Almost immediately the clog was removed, and the sink now drains like new.

So, here’s the million-dollar question: What was it that removed the clog? How did the pipe become “unstuck”?

Correct. PRESSURE!

The “stuck” pipe obviously didn’t work properly; it did not flow and was rendered useless.

In many ways our lives are similar to this sink with the “stuck” pipe. In order for our lives to work properly — to attain and retain optimal performance — they will need occasional pressure to streamline the flow. Think about the words peak performers throw around when recounting a great performance: “zone” or “flow.”

Here’s the key: When we are “stuck,” often the answer is to seek out and create pressure rather than avoid it. It’s a call for us to lean into — and even manufacture — pressure in our lives.

Setting goals for ourselves helps to create pressure!

I was passionate enough about habit and pressure — elemental forces that heavily influence our lives — that I wrote books about the concepts. I’ve experienced firsthand how properly using these universal forces can dramatically improve our state of being.

Think about the areas of your life in which you feel stuck. How are you going to make 2017 the year you get unstuck? By using and applying HABIT and PRESSURE to serve your goal attainment!

That’s it for now, my friends! Here’s to a happy and safe 2017. If you’re interested in either one or both FREE courses based upon The Habit Factor® and The Pressure Paradox™ coming out soon….REGISTER here: (Yes, they will be FREE!)

Happy New Year!

~mg

BTW: With over 230 shares of the last post… I’m testing the Facebook comments plugin ; ) So please be sure to share and leave a comment if you enjoyed this post. THANK YOU!

6 Essential Questions to Ask Yourself at Year’s End

creative theory, creativity, energy, Focus, goal theory, goals, Habit Alignment, habits, Happiness, P.A.R.R. Methodology, Podcast, Success

yay-me-1

By: Martin Grunburg

“Each new day begets a new year, and each new year, a new day.”

Looks like we’ve made it through another year (almost). Yay! or #yayme.

BTW: I thought that license plate was kinda funny. However, when I lined up the shot, I got the unexpected bonus of the palms and a beautiful sunset reflection in the background.

The end of the year is a wonderful time to take inventory – to take stock of not just our good fortune (we can start by recognizing that we’re above ground, see gratitude episode), but also to assess where we are on our journey, and where it is we want to go in both the short- and long-term.

Before we start, though, if you are feeling like you have little or no momentum, lack general excitement or enthusiasm for life, or feel “stuck” (a common feeling this time of year, and one that I can remember very well), then this is the post for you.

A great way to kick start things is to ASK the right questions. After all, a few simple questions changed the course of my life. Questions are extremely powerful and (by nature) they help us to concentrate our energy and focus – to put our attention where it probably ought to be.

Here are six questions to help you assess your 2016 and jump-start the New Year! I’ve also included 3 “bonus” exercises to further your efforts to make 2017 a breakthrough year!

Question 1: Are you happy?

This ought to be a fairly easy question to answer. Are you happy? If there is not an immediate reply of “yes” coming from your gut, or you have to think about this one for a while, you may want to jump straight to questions 4 & 5 (below); you’re also encouraged to answer the following sub-question first:

1A: Who do you think is responsible for your happiness?

Question 2: Are you healthy or as healthy as you can be?

In many ways this is similar to question #1 above; the implications of the question are meant to get you to understand and probe further. What are you doing to maintain your wellness? How healthy is your diet? Have you established an exercise routine?

Remember, a routine is just a series of habits.

Question 3: What new skills or knowledge have you learned or attempted to acquire recently?

Are you reading any books? Have you read an autobiography lately? What about personal development books? Have you enrolled in an online course to learn a new skill or to study for a new degree? Here is a great list of online learning resources. I would add takelessons.com to the list, as well.

Question 4: How are you being of service? How are you giving to those less fortunate?

Changing your perspective can be a wonderful thing. Are you volunteering for any local charity? Are you giving of your time or talents in some way that will help you to forget about yourself and your troubles? (Learn about the Law of Indirect Effort here.)

Here’s another way to phrase this: Are you working for a cause bigger than yourself, such as poverty, homelessness, mentoring or . . . (pick your favorite charity)? I’ve heard it said before, “Be sure to find a cause before one finds you.”

Question 5: How comfortable are you?

Oh no! Here we go again…comfort! There is a great paradox when it comes to comfort. The large majority of us desire security and comfort – and why not! It turns out that security is, for the most part, an illusion, and as Brian Tracy likes to say, “Comfort is the enemy of success.”

The answer becomes oscillation and moderation with a healthy tolerance for pain and pressure. The people we tend to admire are the goal-getters, and they have a propensity to lean into challenge and pain. They are swift to move outside their comfort zone. This sounds pretty cliché, right? But just because something is clichéd doesn’t mean it contains little or no value. Truly, the best way to find your limits is to push them; by doing so you end up challenging and often changing your own logic, limitations and language.

It was Muhammad Ali who said, “The man who views the world at 50 the same as he did at 20 has wasted 30 years of his life.”

In a world of constant change it’s essential to push your comfort zone, experiment and try new things. I can distinctly recall in my mid-twenties saying that I would never run. That “running is the stupidest thing I could imagine.” And, “I don’t mind running for a purpose, like a sport. But it just seems too stupid to run aimlessly for the sake of running.”

Today, I will regularly run a few miles two or three times a week. The habit was developed when I set a goal that was well outside my comfort zone, to complete an Ironman triathlon. (I’ve since completed three and all because I completed an exercise / asked questions – see below – and pushed my comfort zone.)

Question 6: Have you set a goal for yourself for 2017?

Goals thoughtfully prepared (see Why you probably don’t set goals…) will help to ignite your passion and enthusiasm, push you outside your comfort zone and, as Abraham Lincoln said, “put more life in your years.”

So, what’s the point of all this?

Good question! ; )

This is our path: In order to have a breakout and breakthrough year in 2017, we must keep challenging our status quo – to drive change rather than have change drive us. To identify where it is we want to be, what goals we want to achieve, and then work backwards and ask, “Which habits will help me get there?”

The point of all this is that HABIT (the right habits) is what lies between where you are and where you want to go. Habit is the bridge.

There are a few exercises below. One is designed to help point you toward ONE major life category for your goal-setting and at the same time help you understand and assess your overall Life Balance. The other two exercises will help you take a much broader, macro view of your life, allowing you to expand your perspective and construct the behaviors and habits you need now to reach your true “end game.”

Enjoy and happy New Year! I hope you’ve had a safe and fantastic holiday season. To bring this full circle: When it comes to creating your ideal future – your success – it isn’t so much about where you are or where you’ve been, but more importantly, where you’re heading!

#yayme.

Exercise #1: Life Balance Wheel

balancewheelcategories-1

Review the categories below and give each category a score from 1-10: Mind. Body. Social. Spiritual. (Core Four) | (3 subcategories) Professional. Financial. Lifestyle/Adventure

Once you’ve identified the “weakest,” most deficient category, identify one or two habits to TRACK to improve your score. For instance, if Social is at a 2 or 3, create a couple of behaviors/habits that you can track, such as: “Call a family member once a week,” or “Call two friends a week,” or, “Go to two networking events a month.”

Exercise #2:

glider-1

Create your bucket list. Identify and write out 25 things you want to experience and/or achieve before you kick the bucket! Then circle the one that is most important – the one that you would most regret not experiencing if you were to die tomorrow!

Exercise #3:

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Write your own obituary. In fact, write two versions: One as though nothing is going to change, and then one reflecting the life you are trying to achieve. You might call it your ideal obituary. Roz Savage (an amazing woman and true hero who wrote the foreword to The Habit Factor) shares her own account of completing this exercise and how it changed her life.

Thanks again for reading and sharing.

If you’ve found any of these exercises helpful and are interested in a more in-depth/extended tool (with even more great exercises) to help jumpstart your 2017 – FREE – just complete this short contact form and get the personal evaluation toolkit, 40+ pages. Again, totally FREE! Plus, you will be on the short list to receive up to 50% OFF a new, upcoming “28-Day Breakthrough Course,” a powerful program you can use on your own or can walk through in a group setting w/Live Q&A. Just click here!

Creativity & The Christmas Spirit

creative theory, creative vision, creativity, goal theory, goals

By: Martin Grunburg

Ready or not, the holidays are upon us! As I pondered today’s topic, creativity – along with this great book I’m reading (Thinkertoys, more below) – I wanted to share my friend’s uber-creative take on the Christmas Nativity scene, which has been blowing up scores of media outlets throughout the country!

Until now, the Nativity has been a timeless and classic scene. It undoubtedly is etched into the minds of millions of people in a meaningful yet specific way, featuring the manger, crib, Joseph and Mary, the three wise men, shepherds, sheep and perhaps angels.

My friend Casey and his colleagues, however, put an entirely new, creative and comical spin on just what this scene might look like in 2016, featuring millennial hipsters. Please note, as Casey explained, this is not meant to offend anyone’s Christmas sensibilities; it is, however, meant to poke fun at a generation of millennials who can’t seem to put their latte or phone down for a few minutes.

I think what Casey and his team have come up with is absolutely brilliant (and the media coverage and sales certainly back that up). So, I was eager to get the story behind the idea and – perhaps more importantly – learn about the creative process itself.

As mentioned above, I’ve been reading Thinkertoys, so creativity has really been at the forefront of my thoughts lately. So when I heard about this “Hipster Nativity Scene” (via an online share on Facebook), and then I found out Casey was behind it, I thought it was a perfect example of how fun and lucrative creativity can be!

MG: Congratulations! This is such a crafty, entrepreneurial venture (in the best sense possible). What was the inspiration behind your creative process?

CW: It all started about 6 months ago; just some beers with some buddies and my brother [business partner] Corey. We just started playing with this idea about how various religious motifs might look in the modern era. The next day Corey walks in the office and says, you know, we ought to contract an illustrator for this; this is just too good not to investigate a little further.

The illustration bore even more life into the idea. The next thing we knew people were throwing out super-creative ideas, like Mary’s duck face while Snapchatting the birth, and how Joseph would almost certainly have a man-bun, the three wise men would be on Segways, there would be solar panels on the roof of the barn, etc. The entire process took on a life of its own and became more fun and creative the further we took it.

MG: Are you getting any hate mail?

CW: Oh yeah. But you know, I grew up in a Christian family and the intent here is not to denigrate the religion. We just couldn’t help poking fun at our generation — my generation!

MG: There are many people out there who will be inspired by this sort of creativity. What sort of advice do you have on becoming more creative?

CW: Try a lot of things and learn from them. We have so many ideas that don’t work. I think the key is not to obsess over any one great idea; just continue to try to create as many ideas as you can rather than focusing on a single “masterpiece.”

MG: Can you recommend any books or specific tools?

CW: I’m a dedicated reader and life-long learner. While nothing in particular comes to mind, it’s important to just keep learning and testing and trying new ideas.
———————-
So, there you have it, my friends. It’s been said before!

Try and try again – take action!

I’m reminded of the classic Napoleon Hill quote that I cite so often, “Action is the real measure of intelligence.”

A Great Book— A Tool to Help You Be More Creative

If you’re not familiar with Michael Michalko’s book, Thinkertoys, I highly recommend it!

The book catalogues a series of ideas and exercises to help anyone become more creative. Each section begins with a quote by Sun Tzu’s Art of War. And if that wasn’t enough to hook me, Michael continuously underscores the importance of paradox as it relates to creativity. Chances are good, if you’ve read this blog or this book, you know that paradox is a powerful theme I’m constantly drawn to and exploring.

So reading Michael’s book has been as enjoyable as a great surf session. Here’s a wonderful quote regarding paradox from Michael (this is not from Thinkertoys, but rather highlighted off Goodreads.com).

“Creativity is paradoxical. To create, a person must have knowledge but forget the knowledge, must see unexpected connections in things but not have a mental disorder, must work hard but spend time doing nothing as information incubates, must create many ideas yet most of them are useless, must look at the same thing as everyone else, yet see something different, must desire success but embrace failure, must be persistent but not stubborn, and must listen to experts but know how to disregard them.”

“But I’m not creative!” you may be saying.

Then this quote below is for you! Everyone by nature is creative. However, it’s like a muscle that must be used and reinforced to become stronger. Creativity, then, (you guessed it) can be forged into a HABIT!

“The CEO of a major publishing house was concerned about the lack of creativity among his editorial and marketing staffs. He hired a group of high-priced psychologists to find out what differentiated the creative employees from the others. After studying the staff for one year, the psychologists discovered only one difference between the two groups: The creative people believed they were creative and the less creative people believed they were not.” Martin do you want to cite source of this quote?

So when you think about creativity, you’re encouraged to believe you are in fact creative. Then you are encouraged to take action – to try out and test ideas.

After all, “the Christmas spirit” may truly mean much more than just giving. To me it means creating, which is probably the greatest gift of all.

Enjoy! Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays to all!

See you next week,

~mg

Why You Probably Don’t Set Goals — and How To Change That

creative theory, creativity, energy, goal theory, goals

By: Martin Grunburg

In a prior article we reviewed how goal-achievement can be considered simply problem-solving.

It’s a bit of a cliche to share that problems are only opportunities in disguise. We know the legendary stories of great problems that have birthed inventions and humanity-changing discoveries — the polio vaccine, the steam engine, the telegraph — the examples are truly endless.

The flip side, though, is that most of us are wired to avoid problems whenever possible. I cannot count just how many times I’ve actually said, “I’d rather avoid that particular problem right now.”

Typically, if a problem can be avoided, it will be avoided. Problems, then, become the birthplace of procrastination. God knows the best time to clean and organize (pick any room, closet or garage) is when there is a project due.

Yet, in their most basic form, problems are a manifestation of pressure, aren’t they?

And we tend to correlate pressure with resistance or a feeling of pain.

In The Pressure Paradox™ we examine pressure at length (great length) and review that goal achievement is really just an attempt to span the gap between an existing, current state and an ideal end state. It’s that gap that creates tension or, to use its synonym, pressure.

So, if goal-setting is just problem-solving, and problems equate to pressure, it stands to reason that people who have developed a threshold — even a minor tolerance for pain, frustration and setbacks — are most likely to achieve their goals and (here’s a KEY POINT) even set goals in the first place!

If you don’t set goals you are not alone; reportedly upwards of 50% of people do not set goals at all, and 97% of people who do set goals don’t write them down.

Goals = resistance, and resistance is created by pressure.

Having said that, let’s attempt to understand pressure and its intrinsic value.

You could easily contend that pressure is the most creative force in the universe. In fact, the universe itself (if the Big Bang theory is even remotely accurate) owes itself to pressure.

Therefore, on a molecular/atomic level, your very existence can be traced to pressure.

So, when’s the last time you thought about pressure as the creative force in the universe?

Now, would that understanding make this unique force a friend or a foe?

Since goal achievement is simply problem-solving, and problems are pressure in the form of resistance, how we respond to pressure — even how we understand pressure — makes ALL THE DIFFERENCE!

Therefore, it stands to reason that goal-achievement begins with our capacity to lean in to pressure, to accept the challenge…to embrace some pain.

Unfortunately, some people, often labeled as “drifters,” likely drift not by choice but rather by default. It appears they’ve chosen to avoid pressure — the pain of setting and trying to achieve goals.

Sure, temporary drifting can be refreshing and even exciting. However, prolonged, aimless drifting can be dangerous for your soul and can kill self-confidence.

The choices, then, as they relate to pressure, become more evident. We can choose to lean in to pressure — a temporary pain — in the pursuit of our goals and ideals, or we can choose to avoid pain and seek a constant sort of pleasure and comfort that, ultimately, will produce an even more enduring pain.

Jim Rohn summed this up brilliantly when he said, “We must all suffer from one of two pains: the pain of discipline or the pain of regret. The difference is discipline weighs ounces while regret weighs tons.”

<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<Know Thyself>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
Here are a few questions to ask yourself about pressure and your goal-setting habits:

When I think about pressure, I think ___________ and feel ______________

When I think about setting a goal, the first thought that comes to mind is:
______________________________________________________________

My tolerance for pain related to growth experiences, on a scale of 1-10, is:

_________________________

My daily life is extremely comfortable:

True | False

Once a year I achieve a major goal:

True | False

For a more in-depth assessment of your own Pressure tolerance and inclinations, you may want to try this quick Pressure Assessment,

And, if you haven’t already, check our The Pressure Paradox™. You can read a free preview or, “look inside”.

Have a great week and let me know what you think!

~mg

More on Gratitude: 11 Ways Gratitude is a Game-Changer

Character, creativity, energy, goal theory, goals, habits, self esteem, Success

By: Martin Grunburg

Hope your Turkey Day did not suck. Ours was fantastic…always fun to see the cousins playing together.

The last post was designed to remind all of us (myself first and foremost) that the capacity to be grateful — to choose our thoughts and captain our thinking — is itself our greatest gift.

How often are we grateful for the capacity to be grateful?

When it comes to being grateful for things, looking toward the gift of gratitude is a tremendous place to start! Gratitude: Having the capacity to identify something and realize it’s a true blessing.

Having said that, here are 11 more reasons why gratitude is a game-changer. Now, if you don’t believe me, I highly encourage you to download the free tracking template or free app (iOS or Android) and test it for yourself. TRACK the gratitude behavior for 28 days and let me know how it goes.

In the meantime, here are a few more fantastic reasons to be grateful.

1) Gratitude fosters peace of mind.

Focusing on what you perceive as missing in your life only creates disharmony. I love Brian Tracy’s statement that we should make peace of mind our top priority and organize our lives around it. (More here!)

2) Gratitude strengthens our well-being.

There’s plenty of science that indicates you’ll sleep better and live a longer and healthier life when you possess peace of mind. This is a comprehensive assessment of multiple studies; while they suggest some ‘evidence’ is contrary, the simple take away says your health and well-being are better off when you are habitually grateful.

3) You’ll be happier!  

Here’s a Harvard study if you’re interested, and here’s a fun interview I did with Glenn R. Fox Ph.D., who reveals amazing insights about gratitude!

4) Gratitude improves your relationships.

Perhaps a no-brainer: A grateful person is happier and happier people are more social, friendly and enjoyable to be around. And when people feel surrounded by those who appreciate them, the happiness multiplies.

5) Gratitude improves your productivity and career.

As a derivative of being happier, your productivity (TED talk) is likely to increase, along with improved social relationships. Research says the likelihood that you will increase your value in the marketplace heightened significantly!

I should stop there, but the great benefits about gratitude keep growing! ; )

6) How about improved financial status?
This study shows that grateful participants made better financial decisions.

7) With gratitude you’re more likely to achieve your goals!

People who are grateful are known to be more patient and have more energy and enthusiasm. These are essential traits when it comes to goal achievement; you can see more benefits here in a Berkeley study.

8) Gratitude strengthens your spirituality.

The practice of gratitude is an acknowledgment of forces well beyond our capacity of understanding and an appreciation for the many blessings (including life itself) that we cannot explain. See this article from the Chopra Foundation.

9) Improves self-esteem.

Interesting correlation here with a study of athletes, self-esteem and gratitude!

10) Less ME and more WE!

Here, the Law of Indirect Effort applies in spades! YOU are rewarded when you are not thinking about you!

11) Increased Energy + Greater Resilience

The more energy you have, the better you are able to adapt and overcome, to battle through obstacles. Life is simply a series of problems. Even trying to achieve a goal is, in essence, problem-solving! More energy equals greater resilience and GRIT.

Start now!

That’s right: Begin your journey by being grateful for the very ability to feel grateful. Here are some more tools and ideas to create the gratitude habit for life.

Try a gratitude journal!
There are several apps that can help with this; in this podcast interview w/ R. Michael Anderson, he shares his favorite practice and tool.

Read!

Here are THREE GREAT BOOKS that will help tweak your mind in a positive direction.

As a Man Thinketh, By James Allen

 Think and Grow Rich, By Napoleon Hill

 The Power of Positive Thinking, By Norman Vincent Peale

More:

Do this: Write one Thank You card a week!

BTW: Here’s a really cool service that will make your card writing a little easier ; )

Top 5 Ways Setting Goals Will Change Your Life

Character, creative theory, creativity, goal, goal theory, goals, Habit Alignment, habits, HabitStregth™, Happiness, P.A.R.R. Methodology, PARR Methodology

By: Martin Grunburg

Incredibly, even today, many people question the value of goal-setting. For your enjoyment, I’ll share a few articles at the end of this post. I say “enjoyment” because once you read/understand these articles through the prism of habit and with an understanding of The Habit Factor methodology, their concerns about the negative side-effects of goals disappear.

I also say “enjoyment” because these articles either miss the solution entirely (which is HABIT), or pit habit against goals as though it’s an either/or proposition.

So, here are five distinct reasons you MUST set goals — and do it the right way! (PARR Video)

1) You Will Change for the Better

“The real reason for setting a goal is not for the goal itself but for the person you must become in order to achieve the goal.” ~Jim Rohn

Goals, as Jim Rohn points out, help to forge your character and test your will along the way. Think about it: If I set the goal of achieving an Ironman triathlon, I’m going to be a very different person, physically, emotionally and even spiritually once I complete the event.

Here’s the best part: Even if for some reason I don’t complete the goal itself, since I set the goal and developed the supportive habits along the way, I would still become a very different person.

2) You’ll Be Far Happier

Don’t take it from me, though; take it from one of the smartest men of all time. Albert Einstein once said, “If you want to live a happy life, tie it to a goal, not to people or things.”

There is very little we can control. However, we can control our thoughts and behaviors (actions). As AE explains, tying your happiness to another person or a thing can be very fleeting. When you set a goal, you are directing and creating your future in advance (something Tony Robbins likes to say).

3) You Will Boost Self-Esteem & Self-Efficacy

We’ve said it here a half-dozen times at least: Goal setting (especially when following The Habit Factor method) reinforces self-efficacy — which is the ability to create a desired result.

Once you set the goal, identify 2-3 supportive habits, and begin to track the habits using the P.A.R.R. methodology, you immediately have the uplifting sense of self-efficacy.

When I say I will track my reading for 3 days this week (20 minutes each time), and when I perform the action and track it — even if I miss a day — I begin to feel a greater sense of self-esteem.

**BTW: This is one of the reasons a key premise of PARR is to set the bar low initially, to help gain early, positive momentum.

4) You Accept 100% Responsibility for Your Life

When you set a goal, you declare to yourself (and perhaps anyone else who’s observing): “I’m responsible for the results and experiences I produce in my life.” Responsibility is a core foundation for happiness and success.

Consider the opposite: Not taking responsibility. If I set no goals for my life, then I’m drifting, aimless, and it’s very easy to blame “the world” or bad luck for my troubles. Prolonged drifting more often than not leads to dissatisfaction, unhappiness and even poor health.

5) You Set Out on a Path to Discover and Develop Your Unique Talents and Abilities

The simple act of goal-setting helps you to identify your ambitions, desires and talents. Goal-setting 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?”

The ultimate litmus test, if you doubt any of this, is to ask, “Have my heroes (the people I admire and respect) set goals for themselves?” Chances are very good (like 100%) that they did!

When you consider all these benefits and how they fit together to create a great life, it’s hard to imagine not setting goals.

Word of Warning:

If it’s a “someday,” “it’d be nice but,” “wouldn’t it be great,” or “I’d love to,” chances are very good it isn’t a “must” — a commitment. Desire is the one ingredient ONLY YOU can bring to the table. Without the “burning desire,” as Napoleon Hill likes to say, chances are good you’ll quit when the going gets tough. And you can bet it will get tough.

Closing comments:

Oh the irony… the cited Psychology Today article below ends with…

“Finally, I’ve found that addressing the issue of habit formation is a good alternative to goal setting. First, identifying the bad habits that hold you back, and second, developing good habits to replace them.”

How scary is that?

And herein lies another fantastic example of exactly why The Habit Factor is the most effective and efficient goal-setting methodology that exists. It really isn’t about an “alternative” to goal-setting.

Identify the goal and the supportive, core-related habits that will accelerate your goal’s achievement.

Now it’s your turn. Give it a try: “What one achievement/experience would you most regret not having had/experienced?

The answer almost always comes immediately. If not, dwell on it for 24 hours or as long as it takes. Then, SET THAT GOAL!

See you next week!

~mg

Articles about the “downside” of goal-setting. Note: How they all lead you right back to The Habit Factor. ; ) Enjoy!

https://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/wired-success/201409/why-setting-goals-can-do-more-harm-good
habits as alternative to goals?

https://hbr.org/2012/12/consider-not-setting-goals-in.html
(focus on tasks instead of outcomes) (core, recurring behaviors, HABITS!)

http://www.forbes.com/sites/hbsworkingknowledge/2013/01/02/why-setting-goals-can-do-more-harm-than-good/#44ef8431429e

2 Keys to Learning; Plus, a Great Accelerator

creative theory, goal theory, goals, learning, practicing, self esteem

By: Martin Grunburg

Let’s say it’s time to learn something new, such as a language or a musical instrument, or how to plant a garden (pick your topic).

What do you think would be the key factors influencing your ability to succeed in learning that new skill or habit?

Now, please think about that for a moment and write down a few thoughts.

huh-thought-bubble-svg-hi

OK, time is up.

What did you come up with?

This little exercise highlights a key component to learning (it’s actually contained within the question itself): Curiosity.

As you might expect, curiosity influences the level of our desire. So desire and curiosity, when it comes to learning, are essential. Curiosity drives desire, but it’s certainly possible to have sustained desire without curiosity.

If you read those first few paragraphs and didn’t respond or even think about it too much, chances are you didn’t care and therefore the first key was absent.

Having said that, if you’re still reading, chances are good you are curious and you have a desire to know or learn more.

So, the first question when it comes to learning a new skill or trying to develop a new habit is:

Key #1: Is there sufficient desire? Or, are you curious about the subject matter or topic?

What’s interesting is that in Napoleon Hill’s classic bestseller, Think and Grow Rich, he labels this, “a burning desire” and it’s the foremost principle in his success philosophy.

This may seem obvious, but I can assure you the large majority of people who struggle to learn any new skill or develop any new habit struggle NOT because they don’t know how, but because they lack sufficient desire or curiosity. DESPITE that, they will say the contrary!

By the way, here is how Napoleon Hill defined “a burning desire”:

“A burning desire is one you take to bed with you at night… you hand it over to your subconscious, you get up with it first thing in the morning, you eat with it and you sleep with it.”

The second essential key or core principle as it relates to learning and/or habit development is (and you’re going to like this one) frustration and/or pain. ; )

Now, I know this sounds a bit counterintuitive, but let me explain: In psychology they call this principle the “Law of effect.” That is, do your efforts produce the effect you desire? Is there a substantial reward for the effort that will make you want to perform the behavior again?

For an illustration of this, watch the video below. Yes! It’s a cat video… but don’t skip ahead!

Essentially, the “Law of Effect” says, do you feel good or bad about the outcome (effect you’ve produced), and what is the likelihood, based upon that outcome, that you are willing to give it another try?

So what does the “Law of Effect” have to do with pain and frustration?

Actually, it has a great deal to do with it. Think about the pain or frustration you experience when you try to learn a new skill, such as riding a bicycle for the first time. Was the “Law of Effect” in place? You bet. You likely weren’t rewarded with a great outcome immediately, though; rather, you were subjected to a series of painful and frustrating events.

However (this is where the “Law” is slightly off), this “Law” states that you will continue a behavior only if you have a favorable or rewarding outcome; otherwise you aren’t likely to take action again. But for humans, it’s not necessarily about a “true” or “real” immediate reward. The reward could be a future gain, or perhaps an immediate perceived reward! This sort of mindset (a keyword) would help to build our tolerance to one painful or frustrating experience after another. In fact, this is what would help us to become resilient!

Such resilience leads one to possess the “GRIT” characteristic. (click link for more)

As an aside, this “Law of Effect” greatly highlights the importance of having a quality coach or mentor — a person who highlights the “reward” even when it isn’t there. In fact, a great coach continually focuses on the positive and reinforces the “Law of Effect” by manufacturing a rewarding experience even when, by all apparent senses, there is none.

So, great coaches/teachers will often tell their students they are doing great even when they are not. Not because they are lying, but because they see potential lying in wait. And that is the feedback that provides the student with the encouragement to keep trying — to improve. Such “rewards” can’t be seen but, more importantly, they can be felt! (See Operant conditioning).

Key #2: Are you experiencing pain and/or frustration?

If you are frustrated as you try to learn to play the piano or guitar, terrific! You can be sure you are learning.

If you are frustrated learning how to surf, outstanding! You are learning.

The idea of effortless learning is a bit of a myth. It may sell a lot of books and programs, but it isn’t entirely real.

And this leads us to the great accelerator when it comes to learning:

Being totally open and free of judgement!

Being open to failure, pain, frustration, and even embarrassment. Learning accelerates in the absence of judgement.

We tend to notice how much faster a child will learn how to use a computer, for instance, than an adult. Is that child smarter? Not likely. What they do have is an openness to learning without judgement.

Meanwhile, the Ph.D. is likely to judge the material, the message, the instructor, the process and / or the procedure all relative to the lesson at hand.

An adult learning the computer begins to make comparisons and associations relative to prior experiences. Why, for example, is this here or that there? Capabilities and features are immediately questioned. Who put that there? This should not work like that!

My father has an MBA from Harvard, but he’s no computer programmer. However, he loves to question the “idiots” who’ve designed the software a particular way. “Why would anyone with half a brain put that there?” He’ll say.

Meanwhile, my four year old would be off and running! Seemingly effortless learning as she flies through the operating system.

Putting it all together…

If you struggle to develop a new habit, achieve a goal or learn something new, ask yourself the following:

“Do I really, REALLY want this new skill or habit as part of my life?”

“Am I willing to go through consistent pain and frustration? Do I have a tolerance for pain induced by learning?”

Finally, “Am I truly open to the process, can I begin this with a new set of eyes, a fresh perspective be open and without judgement? Can I have a beginner’s mind?

In the beginner’s mind there are many possibilities, but in the expert’s there are few” ~Shunryu Suzuki

The Musicality of Productivity, Part Deux

creative theory, energy, Focus, goal theory, goals, Habit Alignment, habits, learning, P.A.R.R. Methodology, PARR Methodology

By: Martin Grunburg

It’s a myth that habit development depends upon daily repetition. It does not; it depends upon consistency of the behavior, over time. Beating yourself up because you haven’t done a behavior every day in order to develop a habit is a big mistake.

In last week’s article, we covered the important concept that when it comes to developing any habit, you can and should plan to skip days.

By following The Habit Factor’s P.A.R.R. methodology, you actually plan for missed days — you work within the daily and weekly rhythms of your life.

In response to these ideas and last week’s post, I received an email from Frank H.

I really appreciate the new perspective on habit. And the fact that a “daily ritual” is not the same as a habit.

I’m reading a book about sales techniques. And I give myself a target of 20 minutes every other day during the week, and Sunday morning. Unless a circumstance arises, Saturdays are strictly for family and relaxation. I find that I can get through the book as needed with just those 20 minutes. Without nearly the stress I would put on myself if I expected to read it every single day. And failed.

Today’s post is about taking the idea a bit further and incorporating something known as Theme Days. Theme days are a perfect example of applying “musicality” to enhance your productivity.

In The Seven Essential Habits of the Highly Focused Person (previous post), we reviewed that Habit #2 was understanding your energy patterns to enhance your focus.

When you combine these ideas — knowing your energy patterns, using P.A.R.R., AND incorporating theme days — you will realize significant leaps in productivity precisely because you will begin to develop associated habits.

Theme days really work because they address important concepts such as energy, rhythm and pattern.

Many sales professionals and organizations incorporate theme days. But the idea isn’t tied to any particular profession. Examples include blogging every Monday, emailing your subscribers every Tuesday, working on the website every Wednesday, etc.

And, while there are likely to be dozens other “things” that must get done on any of these given days, the focus and energy is primarily focused upon just ONE core behavior that MUST get done on that day.

Here are just a few of the fantastic benefits created by applying theme days:

—The priority for the day is already defined.

— A rhythm is established from one week to the next.

— Momentum is established in just a few weeks.

— Sustained for long enough, the behavior will become a habit.

— That habit (the recurring efforts) will begin to compound.

More: Upping the Tempo!

Within each theme day, the goal should be to block anywhere from 2-4 hours of quality focus.

However, to achieve that type of focus, be sure to break the time intervals into chunks; use a timer and know your minimum success criteria (an example of this is in Frank’s email above, “reading for 20 minutes”) while incorporating planned breaks. Even something like the Pomodoro technique is a perfect example of using rhythm to enhance focus and increase productivity.

Next Steps:

— Take a moment to identify your next 90-day goal/milestone.
— Ask what behaviors/habits would help you get there fastest.
— Prioritize those behaviors/habits by rating them 1-5.
— Identify the best days of the week for each behavior/habit.

Final thoughts…

If it’s truly the “silence between the notes that makes the music” then, similarly, by incorporating THEME days, your work and your productivity will begin to sing! ; )

Keep on trackin’!

See you next Monday!

~mg

The Musicality of Productivity: How To Be More Productive and Achieve Your Goals More Quickly

creative theory, discipline, energy, Focus, goal theory, goals, Habit Alignment, habits, HabitStregth™, P.A.R.R. Methodology, PARR Methodology, practicing

By: Martin Grunburg

Every Monday morning, the garbage is picked up in our neighborhood.

Every Tuesday morning, the lawn is mowed at my favorite park, right next to the bay.

Once a quarter, the gardeners will punch the grass to aerate it.

Just another beautiful October day in San Diego, nearly 80 degrees at the beach and it’s not even 10 am. The air is crisp and a bit drier than usual. It feels like fall.

There will be a low tide today at 11:37 am, and it will be high at 5:19 pm.

The sun rose at 6:49 am and will set at 6:21 p.m.

What does any of this have to do with productivity and goal achievement?

Only everything…

“You will never change your life until you change something you do daily.” ~John C. Maxwell

While I love that quote (as it leads one toward habit) it is not entirely accurate.

A more accurate statement would be, “You will never change your life until you change or develop a new behavior — consistently, over time.

You see, habits are developed over time, via consistency.

The best way to be consistent is to incorporate the natural rhythms and patterns of our world (the calendar, days, weeks, months, etc.). You might even say that our planets orbit in a very predictable, habit-like pattern. So predictable, in fact, that it is why our clock and calendar can exist.

A habit is just a pattern — a rhythm of behavior.

The essence of appreciating these habit patterns and rhythms within nature is that you are encouraged to follow suit, to craft your own behavior patterns (habits) that align and support your most important goals.

When I learned about this many years ago, I established a Monday morning, all-hands meeting at my business to ensure the communication was flowing and everyone was on the same page. Now, 15 years later, this meeting habit has proven essential to our ongoing operations.

It’s a great myth — a fallacy really — to think that habit development requires daily repetition. It does not.

The Habit Factor method introduced these ideas around “habit alignment” (aligning a habit to a goal for faster achievement), and with it came the idea of “Target Days” as part of the P.A.R.R. methodology: Plan, Act Record and Reassess.

So, for example, to complete your goal of writing a book (without the daily practice of writing), just identify the “Target Days” that you can write. It doesn’t have to be — nor should it be — every day.

Here’s an example (via the app) to select “Target Days” (days of the week)

By writing consistently on just Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays, over time you will reinforce and strengthen your writing habit. And, more importantly perhaps, you will be well on your way toward achieving your goal of writing a book.

“The music is not in the notes but in the silence between them.” ~Claude Debussy

Take the above quote and view it through the prism of Habit Alignment: When it comes to creating a new habit, “silence” equates to the days off in between your Target Days.

In one of my workshops a couple years back, a woman said, “Oh! That’s why we say, for instance, our family has the ‘habit’ of going to the mountains every winter.”

BINGO! That sounds like an annual habit to me. And, if you do it for 20 years, you can bet it’s pretty well ingrained within the family.

Next Steps:

Here are a few quick steps that will allow you to incorporate the “silence between the notes” — those “off” days that trip up so many people — and still develop the habit that supports your most important goal!

1) Identify what your BIG goal is

2) Identify the 1, 2 or 3 habits (max) that will help you to achieve the goal

3) Identify the “Target Days” of those behaviors

4) Identify the “Minimum Success Criteria” (demo), or watch this video that explains the P.A.R.R. methodology.

5) ACT! (perform the behavior)

6) TRACK! – Record and reassess.

This method becomes extremely practical because it accommodates for the challenge that most people have in trying to develop a new habit. The Habit Factor method allows you to identify the best “Target Days” based upon your current schedule.

So, when you think about being productive, try not to think in terms of “every day.” Rather, focus on the rhythms/patterns of your consistent “Target Days,” and just be sure to follow the simple method above.

Until next time, enjoy the silence between the notes (and your habits) and thanks for reading! ; )

~mg

GRIT: Six Quotes — and Habits — To Keep You Gritty When the Going Gets Tough

energy, goal theory, goals, Habit Alignment, habits, learning, performance, TED Talk

By: Martin Grunburg

The psychological definition of grit suggests that it is a non-cognitive trait. I’d like to challenge that idea slightly. Like any habit, grit can be at first cognitively fostered and then consciously refortified until it becomes embedded in your subconscious.

That’s an important consideration because it tells us that the essential characteristic for “success,” GRIT, isn’t for just a select, chosen few but for anyone who has the desire to consciously craft those positive habits that foster a gritty character.

Habit #1: Adaptability

“The bend in the road is not the end in the road unless you fail to make the turn.”

Adapt. Adapt. Adapt. The person with the most options in any situation has the best opportunity for success. Recall Darwin’s observation that it is neither the strongest nor the smartest of the species that survives, but the most adaptable to change.

Habit #2: Mental Toughness

“Where there is a will, there is a way!”

Mental toughness is the state of mind that conveys to the world that you have a vision for an outcome, objective and goal, and you are hell-bent on making your vision a reality. Here’s the catch, though: You have to achieve your vision while honoring habit #1 (above).

Steve Jobs was renowned for something the author of his autobiography labeled the “reality distortion field.” While most were quick to concede to “what is,” Jobs would push the boundaries and continue to hold firm to his view of what could be.

When his senior developer told Jobs that it was “impossible” to make the Macintosh boot up faster, Jobs insisted on it. He challenged the engineer by asking, “If you could save someone’s life by shaving 10 seconds off the boot time, could you do it?” The challenge inspired the engineer, who ultimately cut the boot time by 28 seconds.

Jobs imposed this same indomitable will — the reality distortion field — later when it came to designing the iPhone. He insisted that the phone contain only a single button, while engineers said this was impossible. Today that simplified design is the standard for smartphones throughout the world, and Apple just released the iPhone 7 with not a single button!

Habit #3: Retain a Short Memory

“The most important shot in golf is the next one.” ~Ben Hogan

Reflecting too long upon any mistake can be a bad thing. It doesn’t matter if it’s golf, football or your last presentation to the office. The gritty individual keeps her eyes on the prize. She marches forward having learned from her mistake, but knowing that any past event or performance is just a moment in time.

How quickly can you move on after a mistake and refocus your energy and attention to the present?

Habit #4: Positive Thinking

“Positive thinking won’t help you do everything but it will help you do everything better.” ~Zig Ziglar

Since our expectations tend to influence our efforts — and perhaps our opportunities and even outcomes — what’s the benefit of thinking negatively?

Gritty individuals consistently reframe setbacks with a positive mindset to view challenges as opportunities.

People who are gritty appreciate that the highest goal is progress and not perfection, since everything is in a state of constant change.

Habit 5: Embrace the Struggle

“Hard days are the best because that is where champions are made!” ~Gabby Douglas

If everything is in a constant state of change, and the best we can really do is hope to improve a little every day, then it’s useful not to fight the challenges that are beyond our control.

How do you react to hard days? What about tough weeks, months or even years?

The gritty individual finds a way to embrace the pain, pressure and struggle. He recognizes that fighting events (beyond his control) is a waste of valuable energy.

What’s interesting is that the GREATS find a way to view pressure as a positive force that can help them solve their problems and fuel their ambitions, goals and desires. I wrote extensively about that topic here, in The Pressure Paradox.

Habit 6: Courage

“Life shrinks or expands in proportion to one’s courage.” ~Anais Nin

The courage to pursue a goal in the first place — to even have a goal and then act upon it — is the one trait that enables all the others. As Aristotle put it, courage is the “greatest quality of the mind next to honor,” and further commented that courage is the “mother” of all virtues. To put it simply, nobody becomes gritty without first demonstrating even a small act of courage.

And, yes! Courage, like all the aforementioned traits, is a habit that can be cultivated!

Get after it!

~mg

——————————————————————————————————————
A little background on grit.

GRIT is defined in psychological terms as a positive, non-cognitive trait based on an individual’s passion for a particular long-term goal or end state, coupled with a powerful motivation to achieve that objective.

The concept of GRIT was largely popularized by Angela Lee Duckworth and her book, GRIT, which underscores the significance of the concept and its relationship to your success.

Angela also has a terrific TED talk on the subject.

In this prior article, I share the GRIT Pyramid (illustration) and the 10 positive habits that help to constitute GRIT.

Stay gritty my friends! ; )

8 Powerful Paradigms that Successful Entrepreneurs Grasp — and 2 Many Still Don’t

creative theory, creativity, energy, goal theory, goals, Habit Alignment, learning

By: Martin Grunburg

Quick shout out to the real boss in my life, wifey! 18 years today…an amazing editor ; ) and the most unbelievable wife and mother a man could ask for!

Having the benefit of hindsight, and having worked and collaborated with some of the best and brightest entrepreneurs as well as new and struggling startups, I have identified some basic paradigms and principles that help to make business (any business!) a winnable adventure.

In fact, this is the article I wish I’d read 25 years ago. (I also wish I had the maturity to understand the information.)

Quick reference: A paradigm is a model/way of thinking that frames a belief system, along with any related operational instructions. Paradigms frame and direct the logic and perceptions that ultimately drive new assumptions and decisions.

For instance, the belief that the world is round radically changed our understanding of how we could interface with our planet. Consider all the decisions that sprang forth from that simple shift — the idea that we could circumnavigate the globe (thanks Magellan!).

1) Effectiveness First, Efficiency Second:

When you first begin a new business, the tendency is to start optimizing and refining processes right away. To do this better and to do that better, finding more efficient ways to do everything. However, as Brian Tracy puts it, a Bentley on the wrong road will still take you to the wrong destination!

The idea is first to take a BIG step back and ask, “Am I on the right road? Is this where we want to be going?”

Effectiveness is first knowing your end game — the desired end result — and then ensuring you are moving in that direction as efficiently as possible.

2) 80/20, The Pareto Principle:
Successful entrepreneurs consistently perform this exercise by identifying what services, products, and customers are responsible for approximately 80% of their income. When working with any new entrepreneur, one of the first exercises we’ll perform is a basic 80/20 analysis.

Once this is understood, entrepreneurs are able to focus more on what is working. They can then put less energy, time and attention into what is ineffective — perhaps even phasing out those aspects of their business.

3) Q2: Quadrant #2
Before we delve too deeply into this idea, I recommend you read or re-read “The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People.”

Q2, or quadrant #2, comes from Stephen Covey’s classic bestseller, where he urges people to shift away from our “Busy-ness” and focus on aspects that are NOT urgent, but still important, such as planning, strategy, learning, renewal, and reflection. All of these are essential to growth and effectiveness, yet none are ever deemed “urgent” and therefore are rarely addressed. For more on this, check this blog post or listen to this podcast episode, Q2.

4) People Before Process:
The most successful entrepreneurs spend the most time making sure they have the right personnel for their teams. It really is not hyperbole to say that having the right people makes all the difference.

How do you know they are the right people?

You should begin with a values evaluation. We use a checklist of 50 values that we have a potential employee circle and then rank in order. This helps to ensure a cultural fit.

This book is also a great resource for how to get hiring right: “WHO Solve your #1 Problem.”

5) On vs. In the business:
Thanks to a great mentor and thought leader (another MG), Michael E. Gerber, who changed the game many years ago with his bestseller The E-Myth Revisited.

I read his book in 1996. It was a great gift from one of my best friends who knew that I would need all the help I could get as I embarked on my entrepreneurial journey.

Sure, it’s a bit of a catch 22 when you are just starting out: The more you can work ON your business the faster it will grow, but to stay alive you must be working IN it!

It’s a delicate balance, and Gerber’s classic book shows you the way. (BTW, it’s also a Time Magazine Top 25 business book of all time, alongside The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People.)

6) Karma: Otherwise known as, “The law of cause and effect.”

I’m still amazed by the number of people who don’t think karma is real. According to Sir Isaac Newton’s Third Law of Motion, for every action there is an equal and opposite reaction.

Great entrepreneurs understand this law.

Still, I’ve seen this same law destroy more businesses (and people) than perhaps anything else. More times than I can count, I’ve seen a successful entrepreneur push the boundaries — mistreat employees, vendors, and suppliers, or take advantage of clients. Then, at the peak of his or her “success,” the entire operation fails.

The most successful entrepreneurs operate within the “Golden Rule” Paradigm. By treating clients, vendors, suppliers and partners as they wish to be treated, they not only save their reputation, but they help their businesses thrive.

7) Nobody Is As Smart As Everybody:

It’s a fine balance. As a leader, you need to have some ego, and you certainly don’t want to be perceived as dumb. However, the best entrepreneurs frequently check their egos at the door.

The old paradigm might have been: “It’s my company; I’m the smartest person here. It’s my way or the highway!”

Today, the best entrepreneurs never want to be the smartest person in the room and constantly seek to hire intelligent people who share similar values.

If your ego is running the business, you can bet you’ll be out of business soon enough!

8) Cash:
I probably should have started with this one. The most successful business owners know the value of cash. No cash flow, no business. They watch expenses and refine ways to maximize cash flow. Cash is the blood of any business. No blood, no business.

One of the most significant shifts that we made to our service business 20-plus years ago was putting our clients on monthly recurring billing method. This was a game-changer for our business.

Cash Part Deux: Credit lines! In the event times get tough and payments slow — and even as a way to support growth — having established lines of credit will help to ensure your business can buy time during a tough cycle.

2 Paradigms Most Entrepreneurs Still Don’t Get

1) Time = Money. NOT!
Most entrepreneurs still believe that time equals money. Ultimately, though, and hopefully not too late, they will realize that time is far more precious than money. Businesses can lose money and earn it back, but time can never be recouped.

However, regardless of how much time or money you have, the entrepreneur without energy has nothing.

As Mark Twain once said, “What is a man without energy? Nothing, nothing at all.” And it was Emerson who reaffirmed as much, stating, “HEALTH is the first wealth.”

(Side note: Too many entrepreneurs are overweight; they don’t take the time to care for themselves, even though a legendary entrepreneur like Richard Branson will share that his secret to success is working out!)

2) Habit! (Here we go again ; )
Entrepreneurs spend vast amounts of time working from a To-Do list rather than focusing on core, recurring behaviors — HABITS. Further, they will spend hours in strategy sessions, yet never ask this simple question, “What habits should our employees be developing?”

This brings us right back to energy: The entrepreneur who understands that a company’s culture is based upon recurring behavior patterns (habits) and aligns those habits to the company culture will achieve the desired result far more quickly.

Habit equates to character (based on its Latin root). Therefore, a company’s culture (character) has little to do with what the company says and everything to do with what they do, repeatedly.

BONUS: You’re still reading this, but you’re not an entrepreneur?

Here’s a little paradigm shift for you: Change your thinking from that of an employee to an entrepreneur.

OWN your operation; take responsibility for everything as though it’s your business. Care more, do more, work harder and longer — and the beauty is you will make yourself indispensable to your company and develop the positive habits that you’ll need should you decide to bust out on your own someday.

Keep evaluating your paradigms…remember, The Habit Factor (itself) was a shift in how people view and achieve their goals!

Until next time,

~mg

7 Habits to Help Cultivate Your Enthusiasm

How to Get Unstuck & Breakthrough in the New Year!

6 Essential Questions to Ask Yourself at Year’s End

Creativity & The Christmas Spirit

Why You Probably Don’t Set Goals — and How To Change That

More on Gratitude: 11 Ways Gratitude is a Game-Changer

Top 5 Ways Setting Goals Will Change Your Life

2 Keys to Learning; Plus, a Great Accelerator

“A burning desire is one you take to bed with you at night… you hand it over to your subconscious, you get up with it first thing in the morning, you eat with it and you sleep with it.”

The Musicality of Productivity, Part Deux

The Musicality of Productivity: How To Be More Productive and Achieve Your Goals More Quickly

GRIT: Six Quotes — and Habits — To Keep You Gritty When the Going Gets Tough

8 Powerful Paradigms that Successful Entrepreneurs Grasp — and 2 Many Still Don’t

GRIT: Six Quotes -- and Habits -- To Keep You Gritty When the Going Gets Tough

Top 10 Self-Help Quotes (My Hall of Fame)