👋 Hey, Martin Grunburg (mg) here, author of the Habit Factor® trilogy, creator of the Unified Behavior Model™ (UBM), and host of the Habits 2 Goals podcast — possibly the longest-running habits, goals, and performance podcast. For 20+ years, I’ve researched, trained, and coached with a SINGLE objective: to make behavior change, habit development, and achieving goals EASIER to understand, implement, and teach. That twenty-year concentrated effort yielded the world’s first elemental, unified, goal-directed behavioral model. Important: Quality scientific theories are subject to disproof because they are testable. Unfortunately, behavioral science, since its inception, has failed to produce a single elemental and unified model of behavior. Thus, the Unified Behavior Model™ (UBM) is presented as falsifiable, which means it is testable.

The best part— the ONLY reason YOU ought to care… is that UBM provides the highest-goal probabilistic outcome of ANY goal framework, ever. Of course, that statement is independently verifiable, so please DO NOT take my word for it, visit unifiedbehaviormodel.com and download the white paper and LLM Primer 5.1— keep reading, listening, and please, always test and experiment for yourself.

🎓 Next cohort: Behavior Architecture on Maven → | 6/18/26 - 6/25/26🎙️ Habits 2 Goals Podcast 📄 Free habit tracking template

Read time: 4 minutes

Why Does Science Exist?

Let’s begin with why science does NOT exist. Science doesn’t exist to win awards or fill thick textbooks with complicated diagrams and formulas.

Science does not exist to gatekeep, lecture from ivory towers, or foster incestuous citation cartels,

Science does not exist to make other scientists feel good.

Science exists for one reason:

To understand phenomena.

Life, experience, and human behavior are mysterious “phenomena.”

Science, then, is (ideally) the simple tool used to pull back the curtain to understand and learn about such phenomena.

Yet, there’s a massive problem, particularly in BEHAVIORAL SCIENCE…

Without a shared paradigm or ontology, behavioral scientists have no basis upon which to fundamentally present theories.

The “Napkin” Test

Einstein famously said that if you can’t explain a theory to a child, it’s probably useless.

Double click to interact with video

Great science must have a simple pictorial representation.

The “Behavior Echo-System” 2021 - Presented on a Napkin just before the release of EVERYTHING is a Freakin’ STORY.

According to the best scientists, including Einstein, worth consideration…

If you can’t draw it on a napkin, it may not be ready.

If it requires a PhD to decode, it probably lacks elementality.

Good science brings with it accessibility.

Good science is easy to learn, teach, and—most importantly—USE.

The Myth of Complexity

We’ve been taught to respect complicated things.

We think “complex” equals “intelligent.”

It’s almost always the opposite.

“Simplicity is the ultimate sophistication.” ~Leonardo da Vinci

“Truth is ever to be found in simplicity, and not the multiplicity and confusion of things.” ~ Sir Isaac Newton

Complication is almost always a mask for confusion.

If a behavioral scientist is showing you 14 stages of behavior change or 17 personality types, if there are complex matrix flow diagrams and variations, they’re almost certainly worthless.

That’s what Michio Kaku and Einstein say, anyway.

They’d also tell you that if a scientist can’t boil a system down to its first principles, they haven’t finished their work.

The Unified Behavior Model delivers on its promise of elemental sufficiency.

No researcher on this planet will ever be able to model human behavior with fewer ELEMENTS— not because the claim is bold, but because the logic is airtight.

More than four elements create redundancy…

Attempt to reduce them to just three, and the system breaks.

With four and ONLY FOUR, you have Elemental Sufficiency.

A MODEL OF HUMAN BEHAVIOR MUST HAVE THE FOLLOWING:

Remove Environment — no context, no stimuli, no embodied biology. The model collapses.

Remove Behavior — nothing is ever acted upon. Not a behavioral model.

Remove Stories/Cognition — no meaning, no belief, no intention. A reflex machine, not a human.

Remove Emotions — no motivational direction, no valence, no felt experience driving action. Gone.

Thus, there is just one and only one correct, ELEMENTAL solution that models HUMAN BEHAVIOR.

The Unified Behavior Model is it.

Your Takeaway

To be very clear: this is NOT (really) about the model, it’s about what ANYONE can do with it.

The only reason to present any model is to teach from it and apply it as a tool. This is why UBM is presented…

Few people care about models or even behavioral science. Yet, intelligent people care about their goals.

You don’t need more “inspiration,” or “willpower,” or “motivation,” or even more “discipline.”

Once you possess elemental understanding, those elusive properties make sense. You possess UNDERSTANDING.

FOUR ELEMENTS and ONLY FOUR ELEMENTS.

Understand them, and you’ll understand your behavior like never before.

Matthew B— Regional Sales Manager and recent graduate of Behavior Architecture on Maven.com

Welcome to Your “Command Center”

UBM provides the “command center” for your behavior.

Once you stop guessing—stop chasing mirages and understand for certain which ELEMENTS to address, you can architect change and your goals.

This is how you start applying the physics of behavior as “hard” testable science.

Go Deeper…

The most direct path to understanding YOUR own behaviors is Behavior Architecture on Maven. Nearly every student goes into the program skeptical— ALL exit, just eight days later, as raving fans. Test for yourself. It’s 110% Risk-Free and Guaranteed.

🌐 UnifiedBehaviorModel.com — free white paper 📚 The trilogy: The Habit Factor® · The Pressure Paradox™ · EVERYTHING 🎙️ Habits 2 Goals Podcast 📄 Free habit tracking template

The surprising truth is that happiness and every other emotion are not mysteries. This framework proves it.

Start here

Happiness might be the most talked-about behavioral concept of all time. Thousands of books. Tens of thousands of blogs and podcast episodes. And yet — for most people — it remains a mystery.

The first key: happiness is not simply a feeling that happens to you.

Happiness is both a primary, elemental emotion/feeling — raw, immediate, requiring no explanation — AND an emergent compound: a resultant cocktail produced by one, several, or all of the elements within your “Behavior Echo-System” (see image below) working in concert.

That’s what this episode is about. And once you see it this way, you can never unsee it.

Why elemental thinking matters (and why “simple” is powerful)

Before we get to happiness, here’s the setup that makes everything else click.

The reason UBM — the Unified Behavior Model™ — works is precisely because it’s elemental. Some people push back on that word. “Elemental sounds reductive,” they say.

The surprising thing is that the opposite is true. Elemental means learnable. Elemental means teachable. Elemental means powerful.

Consider: every podcast, every video, every download, all of artificial intelligence — runs on just two digits. A one and a zero. That’s the binary system. Remove the zero? Goodbye, information age.

But wait, isn’t elemental too simple to be userful? Apparently not.

The key phrase here is elemental sufficiency — what is truly necessary, and when combined, does it produce sufficiency? A “2” might seem necessary. It isn’t. It emerges from the “1.” UBM applies this same principle to behavior.

This is why, 10 months since publication (pre-print), no behavioral scientist has been able to disprove it — including every major LLM. Several top theorists have given it a serious look. A few shots hit the rim— a few airballs. Nobody has formally entered, because UBM’s logic and scientific rigor are airtight.

What’s worth noting is this is what experts call “hard,” testable science — something the behavioral sciences, particularly around a unified model, have never had.

The bottom line: a truly elemental, unified model has been sought since the founding of behavioral science. William James himself called for a “closed causal system.” UBM is it.

The four — and only four — primary elements that categorize and describe ALL behavior

The surprising truth is that happiness and every other emotion are not mysteries. This framework proves it.

Start here

Happiness might be the most talked-about behavioral concept of all time. Thousands of books. Tens of thousands of blogs and podcast episodes. And yet — for most people — it remains a mystery.

The first key: happiness is not simply a feeling that happens to you.

Happiness is both a primary, elemental emotion/feeling — raw, immediate, requiring no explanation — AND an emergent compound: a resultant cocktail produced by one, several, or all of the elements within your “Behavior Echo-System” (see image below) working in concert.

That’s what this episode is about. And once you see it this way, you can never unsee it.

Why elemental thinking matters (and why “simple” is powerful)

Before we get to happiness, here’s the setup that makes everything else click.

The reason UBM — the Unified Behavior Model™ — works is precisely because it’s elemental. Some people push back on that word. “Elemental sounds reductive,” they say.

The surprising thing is that the opposite is true. Elemental means learnable. Elemental means teachable. Elemental means powerful.

Consider: every podcast, every video, every download, all of artificial intelligence — runs on just two digits. A one and a zero. That’s the binary system. Remove the zero? Goodbye, information age.

But wait, isn’t elemental too simple to be userful? Apparently not.

The key phrase here is elemental sufficiency — what is truly necessary, and when combined, does it produce sufficiency? A “2” might seem necessary. It isn’t. It emerges from the “1.” UBM applies this same principle to behavior.

This is why, 10 months since publication (pre-print), no behavioral scientist has been able to disprove it — including every major LLM. Several top theorists have given it a serious look. A few shots hit the rim— a few airballs. Nobody has formally entered, because UBM’s logic and scientific rigor are airtight.

What’s worth noting is this is what experts call “hard,” testable science — something the behavioral sciences, particularly around a unified model, have never had.

The bottom line: a truly elemental, unified model has been sought since the founding of behavioral science. William James himself called for a “closed causal system.” UBM is it.

The four — and only four — primary elements that categorize and describe ALL behavior

The surprising truth is that happiness and every other emotion are not mysteries. This framework proves it.

Start here

Happiness might be the most talked-about behavioral concept of all time. Thousands of books. Tens of thousands of blogs and podcast episodes. And yet — for most people — it remains a mystery.

The first key: happiness is not simply a feeling that happens to you.

Happiness is both a primary, elemental emotion/feeling — raw, immediate, requiring no explanation — AND an emergent compound: a resultant cocktail produced by one, several, or all of the elements within your “Behavior Echo-System” (see image below) working in concert.

That’s what this episode is about. And once you see it this way, you can never unsee it.

Why elemental thinking matters (and why “simple” is powerful)

Before we get to happiness, here’s the setup that makes everything else click.

The reason UBM — the Unified Behavior Model™ — works is precisely because it’s elemental. Some people push back on that word. “Elemental sounds reductive,” they say.

The surprising thing is that the opposite is true. Elemental means learnable. Elemental means teachable. Elemental means powerful.

Consider: every podcast, every video, every download, all of artificial intelligence — runs on just two digits. A one and a zero. That’s the binary system. Remove the zero? Goodbye, information age.

But wait, isn’t elemental too simple to be userful? Apparently not.

The key phrase here is elemental sufficiency — what is truly necessary, and when combined, does it produce sufficiency? A “2” might seem necessary. It isn’t. It emerges from the “1.” UBM applies this same principle to behavior.

This is why, 10 months since publication (pre-print), no behavioral scientist has been able to disprove it — including every major LLM. Several top theorists have given it a serious look. A few shots hit the rim— a few airballs. Nobody has formally entered, because UBM’s logic and scientific rigor are airtight.

What’s worth noting is this is what experts call “hard,” testable science — something the behavioral sciences, particularly around a unified model, have never had.

The bottom line: a truly elemental, unified model has been sought since the founding of behavioral science. William James himself called for a “closed causal system.” UBM is it.

The four — and only four — primary elements that categorize and describe ALL behavior

There’s a different sort of “stuck” that doesn’t seem too disarming from the outside.

Life appears to “work.”

Stuff gets done. The bills get paid. The calendar is full. You’re busy.

Busy. Busy. Busy.

And yet…

You wake up one day, despite all the busyness, you wonder what you’ve accomplished.

This is tenant mode.

I lived in it for far too long…

Something deep down always felt like ‘something’ was missing.

It’s easy to ignore: stay busy, check off the next box, doom scroll.

Check. Check. Check.

In the silence, you wonder, “Am I leaving something on the table?”

Maybe (like me) you even hear the late Dr. Wayne Dyer’s voice:

“Don’t die with your music still in you.”

Share

Enter: Your Behavior Echo-System (BES):

This is your behavioral “home.”

You’re in it right now.

You’ll be in it tomorrow and (wait for it…) forever.

You don’t just live in “the world.”

You live in your personal Behavior Echo-System.

Your Behavior Echo-System shapes and influences your behaviors in the moment and over time.

Right now, you’re reading this (environment). That may make you think, “This is dumb,” or “This is helpful,” or… ???

Then you may feel something or do something…

Sidenote: UBM scientifically presents the long-sought “causal” behavioral structure (architecture) that William James argued behavioral science must identify back in 1892: “This is no science. It is only the hope of a science.”

Let me be clear: UBM wasn’t assembled—or rather, “unearthed”—without the century-long discoveries, academic research, struggles, and insights behavioral science has produced since those statements.

Having said that, this is precisely what the Behavior Echo-System and UBM scientifically demonstrate: the causal structure. And UBM goes further by demonstrating elemental sufficiency through its “No Fifth Element” Challenge, now almost eight months strong.

Here’s to a safe, prosperous, and phenomenally clear 2026…a year full of growth, action, and gratitude.

I’m deeply grateful for your readership, participation, and contributions.

May the FORCE of UBM be with you! 🎉🍾🥂🎆Tony Robbins shares a story that he’s probably told a few thousand times.

It’s his origin story.

Same story. Over and over.

You don’t get to write the bestseller and disappear.

I used to think that was the case.

Nope.

You show up. Day after day. Again and again.

And, you keep telling your story.

Nobody records a podcast episode and vanishes.

If your work really helps people, you keep showing up and producing.

Over and over…

500+ episodes later... here we are…

So, yes, it used to kill me to tell my Catalina Classic (32-mile, open-ocean paddle) story over and over.

Now I get it.

It’s just part of the territory.

I love Tony’s origin story… and it goes something like this…

He’s seventeen-ish… late 70’s

A friend of his father’s invites him to earn some extra money moving furniture over the weekend.

Tony’s hustle— energy—stood out. So the guy invites him to lunch; mid-sandwich, Tony asks: “How did you become successful?”

The guy pauses, smiles, and says, “Honestly? I went to a seminar.”

Tony blinks. “What’s a seminar?”

The man explains:

A seminar is where someone who’s accomplished something—figured out a few things—gets on a stage and shares the very best lessons… He teaches things that will literally shave years of struggle off your life… all boiled down into about three hours.

Tony exclaims, “Wow! That sounds amazing. Can you get me in?”

The guy nods. “I probably could. But I won’t.”

“…Wait—what?” Tony’s confused.

Mentor-guy says, “Look, if I give it to you for free, you’re not going to value it.”

Tony asks, “How much is it?”

“It’s about forty bucks.”

Tony stares. “That’s a week’s pay. No way!”

The guy replies—without missing a beat: “Cool. Enjoy the next twenty years of struggle.”

Tony scrapes the money together.

Goes to the seminar.

Ultimately, he becomes the speaker’s protégé—Jim Rohn, who at the time was selling his Adventures in Achievement course.

Then, as they say in storybook land,

THE REST IS HISTORY…Why Share That Story?

I’m guessing you know.

Behavior Architecture is the product of my twenty-plus years of struggle.

The books: The Habit Factor, The Pressure Paradox, Everything is a Fcking Story.*

Together, they laid the foundation.

Now, they’ve given rise to something unprecedented:

the first elemental, unified, goal-directed, and falsifiable model of behavior.

Nearly six months after publication, every attempt by behavioral scientists as well as top LLM/AI has been unsuccessful.

UBM stands. 1500 downloads later…. a scientific response/presentation to the field’s imperative for a unified framework.

Done.

------UBM has a single mission:

To deliver the clearest, most practical, holistic framework to help anyone architect their habits, skills, goals, and life.

Not just theory.Not just big ideas.But in practice—a scientifically validated, proven framework.

Yes, proven.

Let’s be clear:Nobody else in the world can say that. That’s not boasting. It’s science.

Of course… YES! It’s backed by a 110% money-back guarantee.(Seriously. Full details on the site.)

Here’s the funny thing...

When there’s ZERO RISK, the real challenge reveals itself.

It’s no longer about the course.

It’s no longer about its value.

It’s definitely not about the science.

It’s about the MIRROR.

Because if the program delivers—If it offers what one participant of FC-01 (Australian CEO) described in his review(let me see if I have this correct… ; )

“UNBELIEVABLE VALUE”

Then the question is rarely about the money.

It’s about YOU.

Are you ready to do the work?

Behavior Architecture is the last behavior-change course you’ll need.

Risk-free. Guaranteed.

The Founders Cohort 01 (FC-01) experience was sooooo GOOOOOOOD….Here’s your special offer:

The NEW YEAR, NEW SCIENCE, FINALLY, NEW YOU. 50% OFF enrollment!!

Until January 7, 2026, or as available.

That’s HALF-OFFPLUS, a 110% risk-free guarantee.

See you on the inside!

👇PROMO CODE: “NewScience”Grab your 50% OFF!

New Year. 🎆New Science. 🔬New You. 💪🏽

The 8-Day intensive kicks off 12/11/25 on Maven.com.It’s designed to rapidly accelerate your understanding of UBM—and explode your effectiveness.

✅ 110% Money-Back Guarantee🔒 Zero risk, high upside🕓 Only 4 days left—sign-up closes 12/9

Learn more + enroll now:https://maven.com/thehabitfactor/behavior-architecture

Quick exercise: Close your eyes and think back to where you were last December—physically, mentally, emotionally, socially, spiritually, financially, and professionally.

Can you remember your vision? The goals you set? How did you hope 2025 would unfold?

In short, you probably had a few goals. So… how did it go? How much progress did you make?

10%? 25%? 0%?

If you crushed it, congratulations!!

Next week, Behavior Architecture – Founders Cohort kicks off!

Already a handful of PROFESSIONAL COACHES are enrolled!

That should tell you all you need to know.

It’s their job to understand and teach behavior—to help their clients achieve their GOALS!

Thus, New Year. New Science… New You?

» SAVE an instant $200 » Behavior Architecture

What is Behavior Architecture?

Let’s begin with what it is NOT.

It’s NOT hype.

It’s NOT marketing.

It’s A SCIENTIFIC framework that emerged from a 150-year behavioral science riddle.

You can find out more and read it yourself. UnifiedBehaviorModel.com

Your Excuses…

“I don’t have the time.”

That’s the opposite of architect mode.

You’re locked inside tenant mode—trapped within your own Behavior Echo-System (BES) by your existing HABITS, unable to step back and proactively DESIGN and architect your behaviors and goals.

To be fair, some people do have greater time commitments. That’s precisely why ~85% of the Behavior Architecture coursework is ASYNC. Meaning: you do it in your social media time, miscellaneous downtime, lunch breaks—your usual “lost time.”

“I don’t have the money.”

If this is a genuine issue, we’ve set aside a few scholarships. You can email me directly for more information.

“I’ve tried EVERYTHING—this won’t work for me.”

Two quick thoughts. First, you haven’t tried everything. UBM is brand new. This course is brand new.

Second, with that attitude, you’re right. If you truly believe nothing will work for you… nothing will work for you.

“What if it SUCKS? I’ve just thrown away money.”

Do NOT enroll if you don’t have a sincere desire to LEARN, GROW, and APPLY the principles.

There is a 110% money-back, risk-free guarantee, and you can read all about it here: Behavior Architecture (YES, that link saves you an INSTANT $200!)

From Tenant Mode to Architect Mode

Here’s where it clicks:

Most people live in Tenant Mode. Essentially, forever.

Tenant Mode is reactive. Mostly automatic.

At the mercy of their environment, emotions, default stories—and default behaviors (habits).

Your home is already designed.

You’re in it right now.It might be so comfortable, there’s no “reason” to leave.

That’s the catch.

Everyone gets pulled in.And most stay there as long as possible.

Just wait…When something shifts—and life is nothing but change—will you know what to adjust?

A deadline moves.A relationship ends.Your energy crashes.A habit, once solid, suddenly fades.

Where do you look?

INSTANT $200 Savings here→ Join the waitlist here and lock in your Founders rate

Cut through the chaos, the confusion, and the overwhelm with pure, scientific CLARITY.

🚨 The habit tracking controversy has finally been settled. Section 7.0 of the UBM whitepaper addresses every objection.

Done and Done. Read it here →

📄 Free habit tracking template: thehabitfactor.com/templates

📖 Full UBM whitepaper: Zenodo.org

📚 The trilogy that unearthed UBM:

* The Habit Factor®

* The Pressure Paradox™

* EVERYTHING

🌐 Learn more: unifiedbehaviormodel.com

Disclaimer: The following is a bit tongue-in-cheek. Just a bit.

I have the utmost respect for the behavioral science community and its vast contributions—including the many scientists whose work has directly shaped my own.

That said, the more I learn about the history of attempts to unify behavioral science (and, by association, psychology)—and then set those challenges alongside the Unified Behavior Model (UBM) as it now exists—formally published (elemental and falsifiable), 500+ downloads later—the more peculiar the entire situation becomes.

To be clear: it’s only in hindsight that these “obvious” errors and omissions—both in behavioral science (BS) and in its unification efforts—come into focus.

Subscribe now

Tip #1: Make Sure Only True Insiders Get to Play

Whatever you do, don’t approach this unification challenge from the outside. That’s where troublemakers and fresh ideas tend to arise—reportedly. 👇

Imagine that… via Stanford Business. Where is Stanford’s own Psychology Department when it comes to UBM? @stanfordpsypodInstead, ensure that no outside ideas are taken into account and non sneak their way in—even via OPEN SCIENCE.

Better yet, throw up your hands and surrender:

“Why Psychology Isn’t Unified, and Probably Never Will Be…”

“PROBABLY NEVER WILL BE.”

Valid points to be sure…

“Why a Unified Theory of Psychology is Impossible”

Unification as a Goal for Psychology

It goes on and on—for several reasons, dear friends, which appear below.

Tip #2 Prioritize Knowledge over Imagination

Ensure that only those fluent in four-letter acronyms, armed with multiple advanced degrees, and a dense theoretical vernacular are entrusted with presenting “novel” ideas.

Further, insist that only those who can quote James, Pavlov, Watson, Bandura, Maslow, Skinner, and Freud backward and forward—and who possess psychological libraries spanning generations—be invited to contribute.

“Imagination is more important than knowledge.” ~Einstein

Tip #3: Form a Large Committee. The Larger, the Better

Nothing unifies quite like 23—or maybe 43—strong personalities in one room.

When “top behavioral theorists” gather for a week-long consortium, be sure to take minutes, roll in the whiteboard, and order extra coffee.

Everyone knows: the more expert opinions, the quicker a consensus.

As history (and a few hallucinating AIs) like to remind us, when it comes to unification attempts, the go-to answers are always consortia, committees, and bowling alleys.

Darwin famously huddled with his nine-person advisory council.

Einstein wouldn’t dream of publishing without first posting to social media.

And Newton? Legendary for his gravitational consortiums.

Here’s a nutty thought: what if that unified model came from one person on the fringe? (The fringe—see above ☝️.)

One person. U N I — F I C A T I O N.

⚠️ WARNING: Unification carries a dangerous synonym—coherence.

By extension, it implies that the 150-year exercise known as behavioral science—and its twin sister, psychology—are, brace yourself...

INCOHERENT.

Oy.

To be clear, that’s not me talking, it’s Webster.

If you didn’t catch the 1991 reference—well, that was when the U.S. National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) convened a “Top Behavioral Consortium.”

Its noble goal?

To create a “Unified Framework.”

“What emerged?” you ask.

The meeting —a week long gathering—brought together “leading human behavior theorists”. While a comprehensive roster of all attendees from this specific 1991 meeting is not fully detailed in the available documentation, a critical outcome of this expert gathering was the acknowledgment that

“there was no consensus among the theorists”

on a single, universally accepted unified framework.

Imagine that.

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“Science may be described as the art of systematic oversimplification.” ― Karl Popper

What makes UBM so unique—so different from prevalent behavioral models?

First, let’s clear up a common misconception:

UBM—specifically the Behavior Echo-System (BES)—is a model of behavior, not a model of a person.

People often see the graphic and assume it represents themselves, or a diagram of the human body. It doesn’t.

As Dr. Popper’s statement above suggests, UBM simply articulates how behavior is influenced in the moment and shaped over time—within the system.

Now, here’s the B.I.G. claim:

UBM is falsifiable.

In science, that’s the gold standard.(Period.)

If a theory can’t be tested or broken, it’s just storytelling. Worse yet, Karl Popper would say it’s non-science.

What’s his core claim?

Science and non-science are divided by a single demarcation: Falsifiability.

UBM asks—check that, insists—“Go for it… Please try to break me.”

Apparently, no other behavior model—certainly not a unified one—has ever done that.

Kind of interesting? Maybe just a bit?

Worth mentioning, at least?

Or dedicating, I don’t know… twenty-plus years to uncovering?

UBM/BES Comparison Table & Major Prevalent Models as provided by DeepSeek.

According to Dr. Karl Popper—and as noted in the Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy, “Karl Popper is generally regarded as one of the greatest philosophers of science of the twentieth century”—if a theory can’t be tested (or broken), it’s just storytelling. Worse, he’d call it “non-science.”

Just to be clear: that’s Dr. Popper, philosopher and trained psychologist, who introduced the idea of falsifiability (and gave us that delightful bit with the Black Swan).

So yeah—if you can’t at least attempt to break it, he says, it doesn’t count.

UBM is so confident in its falsifiability that it’s offering a $1,000 reward to the first person to prove there’s a missing fifth element—one that isn’t reducible or emergent. (See below and bottom for official entry details.)

So far: nearly 500 downloads and…

Nada. Zip. Zilch. NOTHING.

Even the world’s top AIs—ChatGPT, Gemini, Claude, Grok, DeepSeek—took their shots.

They’ve all struck out.

Attempts include: Time (environmental), Consciousness (emergent from the system), Willpower (embodied environment), Self-Organization (embodied environment—note the “self” in self-organization).

The list goes on, and it’s kind of funny. Google’s Gemini, for example, offered a “someday” quantum property we don’t even know of yet.

Seriously.

Just to be clear: if we don’t know of it yet, and we can’t test it—it’s not a valid fifth element.

DeepSeek’s parting words? Also comical...

“UBM 1. DS 0... Game respects game.”

And, here’s Gemini’s best response after half dozen attempts…

Gemini tries desperately to break the Unified Behavior Model and fails.

The difficulty in falsification, as intended by the model’s design, is a powerful indicator of its conceptual strength and it’s potential to serve as a TRULY UNIFYING FRAMEWORK FOR BEHAVIORAL SCIENCE. ~Gemini 8/4/2025

Some have argued, “Well, UBM is overly simplified.”

Really?

Then why hasn’t anyone discovered it before—or more accurately, uncovered it and brought it to light?

Surely, by now—150 years in—some behavioral scientist, somewhere in the world, would’ve presented this kind of systematic “oversimplification,” right?

Let’s go over that one more time:

“Science may be described as the art of systematic oversimplification.” ― Karl Popper

This is precisely Dr. Popper’s point: science progresses by oversimplifying—systematically.

Voila: UBM. 👇

“Great theories have simple pictorial representation.” —Michio Kaku

The Behavior Echo-System (BES): the systematic simplification of behavior.

Which makes it—by definition—the elemental science of behavior.

Allegedly.

Until—and unless—you produce the Black Swan.

(Looking at you, top psych departments—according to U.S. News & World Report, 2025): @StanfordPsych, @HarvardPsych, @UCBPsychology, @UCLPALS, @Psych_at_Yale, @UMichPsych, @UCLA_Psych, @UCSDPsych, @OxfordPsych, @PrincetonPsych.

Please, with all due respect, step right up. 👊 🤙 🙏

“Everything should be made as simple as possible—but not simpler.” — Einstein

Let’s cut to it:

The Unified Behavior Model (UBM) may be the first-ever behavioral framework that’s elemental, falsifiable, and actually teachable to anyone—not just researchers or therapists.

UBM reveals what’s really driving your behavior (in the moment and shaping it over time)—not by various aspects, but via the operable “system”—the Behavior-Echo-System™.

The Behavior Echo-System (BES)

Environmentally speaking, the BES consists of multiple, dynamic feedback loops based upon just four elemental, interdependent components:

Environment (your surroundings + your body)

Behaviors, Habits, and Skills (what you do—or don’t)

Stories/Thinking (the meaning machine in your mind)

Emotions & Feelings (your internal salience signals)

Together, these explain the essential four elements involved in influencing and shaping behavior over time.

If you believe there’s a missing, irreducible fifth element—we have a challenge for you. 👇

🧪 UBM’s Built-In Toolset:

P.A.R.R. MethodologyMirrors the scientific method—it’s a process-driven feedback loop to build habits and skills intentionally that leverages your innate, human capacities of choice, intention and reflection. Plan → Act → Record → Reassess(Used in 4-week cycles. 85% = gold standard.) thehabitfactor.com/templates

“No Fifth Element” Challenge (PRIZE MONEY) The model is falsifiable. Be the first to disprove its elemental claim (non-emergent, irreducible, causally independent), fifth element and win $1,000. Official entry here: https://unifiedbehaviormodel.com

Architect Mode vs. Tenant ModeUBM gives you a choice: live on autopilot… or design your life’s BES on purpose.

Behavioral Literacy = The 4th RReading, wRiting, aRithmetic… and now, BehavioR.A modern education requires the tools to understand and shape behavior in a modern internet, smartphone and AI economy

Tracking as a SuperpowerBehavior tracking isn’t just data—it strengthens focus, builds awareness, affirms your intention—a lot of people say “things”—tracking proves it. Behavior/Habit tracking literally trains your brain (aMCC, anyone?).

“The real voyage of discovery consists not in seeking new landscapes, but in having new eyes.” —Marcel Proust

📥 [Download the Whitepaper]🎧 [Listen to THIS Episode ☝️]

UBM is the map. The model. The compass.

It’s time to raise the standard for behavioral literacy—together.

Let’s start with a confession.

Developing the Unified Behavioral Model (UBM) revealed, in many ways, a side quest I didn’t expect: Helping large language models (LLMs) navigate the mental spaghetti we humans lovingly call “logic”—which, if followed faithfully, often leads straight to paradox.

You know—the deep, crunchy stuff:

Body vs. environment

Emotion vs. feeling

Skill vs. habit

Logic vs. illogic

These aren’t just philosophical speed bumps.They’re full-blown conceptual cul-de-sacs.Every time the system—human or machine—hits one, it either freezes or splinters into a dozen confident-but-confused directions.

What Is Abstract Thought, Anyway?

Get it?

To “draw away”

It’s not about sounding smart or solving puzzles.

Frankly, it’s your one real edge over AI—for now.

It’s about seeing things and thinking differently, especially when the pieces don’t fit.

It’s Picasso and Pollock pulling apart realism.

It’s Einstein “riding a beam of light”.

It’s Lao Tzu explaining how “The soft and the weak overcome the hard and the strong.”

Abstract thinking is cognitive flexibility —it’s a different lens to process, beyond logic.

It’s the ability to zoom out and remove the frame.

To hold logic and contradiction in the same hand, without blowing a fuse.

So, we deliberately choose to go back to FUNDAMENTALS.

Not to simplify, but to clarify.

Not to dumb down, but to dissolve—to draw away from false binaries.

Because here’s the thing about dichotomies: Most aren’t real.

They’re often tradition wrapped in Latin, handed down like sacred scrolls, passed around in conference halls and research papers.

They survive not because they’re accurate, but because they’re familiar.

“If you can't explain it simply, you don't understand it well enough.” ~Einstein

And that’s how the Unified Behavioral Model emerged: Not from divine inspiration, but moderate exasperation.

Not from clarity, but from watching both brilliant humans and state-of-the-art LLMs get trapped in mental corners built by… You guessed it: LOGIC.

Behaviorally speaking:

Is the environment separate from the body?Not really. Both are environmental stimulants.If a headache doesn’t change your mood and behavior, just like an idiot screaming at a baseball game, let me know.

Are emotions and feelings different?Functionally perhaps? Not elementally. Both relay information.They’re conduits—waves influencing your Behavior Echo-System.

What about habits and skills?Turns out, they’re more alike than different. Both are behaviors shaped through repetition, refined over time until they become automatic. Intentional or not, they’re built the same way.

How do we reconcile logic and illogic?Reconcile? Even the most “logical” among us do spectacularly irrational things—because we’re driven by meaning, by narrative, by the stories we tell ourselves.Logic and illogic aren’t separate. They’re co-pilots.

So if you want to teach a machine how behavior works, we first have to ‘draw away’ the various dichotomies logic has constructed.

And once those dissolve?

The behavior model doesn’t need to be built.

It simply... emerges.

Google: “Why doesn’t a unified behavior model exist?”

The answer begins with complexity.

Complexity created by distinctions (above) that are both very important AND fundamentally (behaviorally speaking), not so important.

Like jiggling the old TV antenna for the hundredth time, and suddenly the picture locks in—clear as day, as though it was never scrambled at all.

Turns out, it —A UNIFIED BEHAVIOR MODEL—does exist. ☝️

It just had to be excavated from under layers of distinctions, logic, and dichotomies.

Logic is linear.

Behavior, like the human experience, is abstract.

This is elemental behavioral literacy. This is the Unified Behavioral Model (UBM)

We didn’t invent it—we excavated it.

It was buried.

Habits 2 Goals Premium by Martin Grunburg is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.

“What is your face before your parents were born?” — Zen Koan

Because while machines crunch data, humans connect dots.

While models can simulate logic, you can sit with uncertainty.

When you can envision a bigger picture, the frames dissolve.

“Reflection” (Man Sitting) M. Grunburg 1987

Elemental behavioral science shouldn't be reserved for labs and lectures. We teach adolescents the ABCs and 123s —elemental math and grammar. We can, and should, teach elemental behavior. Maybe abstract thinking will come along for the ride.

“Experience and knowledge don’t arrive with labels, silos, or departments—we create those. Sometimes those distinctions are incredibly useful (like language itself). And sometimes—also like language—they make problem-solving harder than it needs to be.”

🚨 #TrueStory: Habit Tracking News Breakthrough!Read what the new science reveals about the unmistakable power of habit tracking in the UBM White paper.

Grab your free white paper (see Section 7.0) —> Just one week ‘old’ and 200+ downloads already, https://zenodo.org/records/15844153P.S. Reminder: The Unified Behavioral Model™ (UBM) is the first behavioral model to be both falsifiable and unified—meeting the scientific gold standard of Ph.D.-level rigor.

Everyone (not just academics) is invited to download the paper and explore the “No Fifth Element” Challenge—with a $1,000 prize on the line.

Grab your free white paper (see Section 7.0) —> Just one week ‘old’ and 200+ downloads already, https://zenodo.org/records/15844153

📄 Grab the free habit tracking template: thehabitfactor.com/templates

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The Trilogy: WARNING! DO NOT READ THESE BOOKS!!!

The Habit Factor®: Habit alignment, momentum and daily wins!

The Pressure Paradox™: Productivity, Performance & Peace of Mind.

EVERYTHING: The stories you tell yourself heavily influence ‘everything.’

Revisiting a 2021 Habits Habit Interview by Brian Conroy – Through the Lens of AI and the Scientific Method

“Behavioral science may finally be catching up.”

Catching up to what?

To a simple and powerful truth:

P.A.R.R. (Plan, Act, Record, Reassess) mirrors the scientific method.

When it comes to building habits intentionally, it’s a far superior framework than the overhyped “habit loop.”

🐭 The habit loop? Developed by studying rodents in a maze.

Yet humans can choose their habits.Plan (intend) their habits.And reflect upon their efforts.

Rodents cannot.

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In this episode, we tap into Google’s Notebook LM and upload a 2021 interview I did with Brian Conroy (The Habits Habit podcast). It’s now available as a rich, AI-hosted breakdown—produced like a mini-NPR segment.

Why revisit it now?

Because:

The interview explores how P.A.R.R. is the true human-centric alternative to cue–routine–reward.

It highlights the 15+ year journey behind The Habit Factor®.

It covers why habit ≠ skill… yet they are fraternal twins.

It breaks down the limitations of SMART goals (to-do lists and “next steps”) versus the power of tracking core, related behaviors—habits!

It explains how your character (habitus) is the sum of your habits—past, present, and future.

How P.A.R.R. is the only habit-building framework that not only mirrors the scientific method, but is intentionally designed to cultivate habit strength and automaticity.

P.A.R.R. = The Scientific Method for Behavior Change and Habit Development

Plan = Observe, Question, & Hypothesis

Act = Experiment

Record = Gather Data

Reassess = Analysis & Adjustment

And yes, as the AI hosts correctly observe:You are not a rodent. 🐭

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Tracking isn’t a chore—it’s an asset.It reinforces desire. Affirms intention. Builds discipline. And sharpens focus.

Tired of spinning your wheels?

Listen in. Take notes. Start tracking your behavior.

And always remember:You are both the program and the programmer.

🎧 Listen to the full episode at Habits2Goals.substack.com📥 Or download your free P.A.R.R. tracking template at thehabitfactor.com/templates

“Science is catching up.”And you don’t have to wait.

Start habit tracking today by following P.A.R.R.

And—due to my unexpected trip to Sweden—the UBM white paper release is now likely to land in July.

👊🫵💪🏽🙌🏽🙏~mg

🚨 Tracking News Breakthrough Incoming:What science still doesn’t understand about the true power of habit tracking—…and what we’re about to reveal.

Why Experts Keep Dismissing Habit Tracking—And Why That’s a Massive MistakeThe overlooked key to intentional behavior change is hiding in plain sight.

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A respectful invitation to the academic community:

If you’re part of a university psychology department—or a related behavioral science discipline—we warmly invite you to review, challenge, and explore the Unified Behavior Model™.

The following is a pre-release site for early access and distribution (currently in development): https://unifiedbehaviormodel.comthis is draft--

Why care about a behavior model?

Because human behavior drives everything—goals, habits, change, progress.

There’ve been countless theories, experts, and frameworks.Over a century of behavioral science.

But never something complete, structured, falsifiable, and truly practical.

UBM is the first UNIFIED model of human behavior— a map, model, and compass in one.

Simple. Teachable. Built for literacy, not legacy.

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For over a century, behavioral science has been fragmented—divided by theories, disciplines, and contradictions.

Siloed. Specialized. Locked away in labs and universities.

UBM changes that.

Developed over two decades—and built from the fringe—UBM has been validated through real-world application and accelerated by AI. Large language models have compared, contrasted, and stress-tested UBM against dozens of frameworks.

The result?

UBM transforms behavioral complexity into CLARITY—finally offering a self-evident, falsifiable, teachable, and practical model of human behavior—just in time.

“It always seems impossible until it’s done.”— Nelson Mandela

The Habits 2 Goals podcast is hitting pause for a short stretch.

I’m stepping away to complete something that, by all “expert” logic, should not exist:

The Unified Behavior Model™ (UBM).

According to Google—and decades of academic consensus—this shouldn’t be possible.

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Why isn't there a unified behavior model?

Not just one theory here, or another framework there—but a truly, elemental model of behavior that encompasses the entire behavioral field.

We have models for atoms.

For ecosystems.

For economies, solar systems—even gravity.

But not for behavior?

Not one that is falsifiable, teachable, testable, and comprehensive.

Why?

Because human behavior has long been treated as too complex, too contextual, or too philosophically slippery to model with rigor.

So we settled for silos. Dozens of disciplines, each mapping fragments of the behavioral terrain—but never the whole.

UBM has changed that.

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UBM—the Unified Behavioral Model™—brings together complexity and clarity.

It reflects the dynamic nature of human behavior, while offering the simplicity of a model that can be understood, taught, and applied.

UBM won’t tell you why Jill never called Johnny back.But it will help both Johnny and Jill understand the full behavioral field from which that decision emerged.

This is what the white paper reveals:

A behavioral model that doesn’t decode every mystery of human behavior— but instead reveals the complete system in which those mysteries arise.

Former efforts revealed remarkable behavioral insights.

Yet none delivered a unified, practical, falsifiable model of behavior.

UBM is behavioral literacy for the 21st century. It’s the missing operating system for anyone who works with people—and it changes how we understand motivation, decision-making, and change itself.

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Side note: Please consider how crazy I’d have to be to announce this—if it weren’t scientifically grounded.

Gravity-like in structure.Rooted in impenetrable truth.

For the fifth time:UBM is structurally falsifiable.(At this point, I’m hopeful you’re looking it up—just like I did, when I was first told UBM is precisely that.)

It works.It’s testable.Teachable.Trackable.And most importantly?

Simple.

“Simplicity is the ultimate sophistication.”—Leonardo da Vinci

In a chaotic, smartphone-saturated world—where children face rising rates of depression, anxiety, and self-harm— even a basic understanding of behavior can be a game-changer.

Elemental behavioral literacy for a disoriented age.

No model or map offers guarantees.

Yet we use maps every day—because they’re useful.

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True to its name, UBM draws from over 30 distinct scientific disciplines—from ecology to education, psychology to design, systems theory, neuroscience, and philosophy.

The breakthrough wasn’t in specializing further— but in synthesizing broadly.

All truth passes through three stages:First, it is ridiculed.Second, it is violently opposed.Third, it is accepted as being self-evident.~ Arthur Schopenhauer

Dramatic, I know.

Back soon(ish) with the final release.

Until then—stay tuned.~mg

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A respectful invitation to the academic community:

If you’re part of a university psychology department—or a related behavioral science discipline—we warmly invite you to review, challenge, and explore the Unified Behavior Model™.

The following is a pre-release site for early access and distribution (currently in development): https://unifiedbehaviormodel.com

Keep on trackin’ ✅

~mg

📄 Grab the free habit tracking template: thehabitfactor.com/templates

Subscribe now

"Fear is both instinctive and learned—wired for survival, but shaped by experience and environment."

Is fear learned or hardwired?

Yes. It’s both.

Fear is instinctual—wired into our survival.

It’s also learned—shaped by experience, memory, and environment.

A seasoned coach posted after reading a neuroscience study:

“Is fear learned or ingrained?”

I couldn’t help but reply:

“Coach… it’s BOTH!”

And that opens the door for this convo 👇

If fear is innate and trained,

Why do we treat skills and habits like they’re either/or?

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Habits vs. Skills? Same Blueprint.

“Bad habits happen on their own; Good habits happen when planned.”

Intentional habits grow like skills—through the same four levels of learning.

1. Unconscious IncompetenceYou don’t even know you suck. (Yet.)

2. Conscious IncompetenceYou do know—and it stings. But you keep showing up.

3. Conscious CompetenceYou’ve got it, but it takes mental effort. Progress.

4. Unconscious CompetenceIt’s automatic. Habit-like. Reflexive. Feels like instinct.

The Viral “Baseball Dad” Moment

Baby in left arm. Beer in his right hand.

Outfielder tosses ball into the stands.

He lets go of the baby…

Not the beer.

Snags the ball barehanded with his left hand.

Catches the baby with his left arm on the way down.

Barely spills his beer.

Instinct-like? You bet.

Skill? 100% Forged via the habit of laying the game.

He didn’t hesitate.

Most people call that instinct.

But really? It was years of trained reflexes, built through intentional practice.

Without that practice? He might’ve flinched. Frozen.

Fear might’ve even jeopardized the baby.

Instead—Unconscious Competence.Relaxed. Confident. Focused.

Preparedness displaces panic.Practice overrides pressure.

That’s the real lesson: Decades of muscle memory—Intentional reps, delivering in an instant.

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The P-A-R-R Cycle

Behavior change isn't magic—it’s a method.

And, it doesn’t come via “HABIT LOOPS”

It comes from intentional planning, practice and refinement.

Plan → Target Days + Minimum Success CriteriaAct → Show up. Run the play.Record → 1 = Win, 0 = Miss (comments optional but powerful)Reassess → After 4 weeks: 85%+? Level up.

This is human-centered behavior change.Rooted in practice.

Beyond Either/Or Thinking

Habits aren’t just loops.Skills aren’t just talent.

Each can be learned, forged behaviors, crafted with intention.

Over to you:When did instinct kick in?When did practice pay off?

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“Scientist (noun): a person who conducts systematic research to acquire and use knowledge—especially one skilled in the systematic observation of, and experiment with, phenomena in order to answer questions and test hypotheses.”

Today, we’re talking about what it means to be a scientist.

We revere scientists.We admire their rigor.We trust their data.

Why?

Because they test!They measure.They record, reflect, and refine.

Here’s the question (one more time)…

If you love science so much, where’s your behavioral data?Where’s the record of your actions?Where’s your feedback loop driving growth?

P.A.R.R.—The Habit Factor’s method for intentional habit development—parallels the scientific method precisely:

Plan: Form your hypothesis—your goal, your MSC, your “Target Days.”

Act: Execute the behavior as best you can on those Target Days.

Record: Log your successes and misses.

Reassess: Compare “Actuals” vs. “Targets.”

Behavior change—operative word—requires behavior change.

NOT “LOOPS”

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Planning, Tracking, Recording, and Reassessing is how you’ll gather evidence that supports your commitment to developing new habits and achieving your goals.

It’s also how you’ll identify what works for you.

And, perhaps most importantly, how you reinforce your intention.

Plan – Act – Record – Reassess.

YOU ARE NOT A RODENT.

Today, we’re talking about scientists—not just the scientific method.

What does it mean to be a scientist?

Recently, a public figure was slammed for “not being a scientist.”I won’t get into the politics—they don’t matter. The news was all over social media (X and Facebook in particular):

“She’s a kook. She’s no scientist!”

Those comments nudged me to look up the definition of scientist—here it is again:

“Scientist (noun): a person who conducts systematic research to acquire and use knowledge—especially one skilled in the systematic observation of, and experiment with, phenomena in order to answer questions and test hypotheses.”

To be clear, this is NOT a political post.

This is a gentle reminder that anyone who systematically observes, experiments, documents, and tests hypotheses is a scientist.

Being a scientist—for better or worse—is not about a degree; it’s about the act itself—the rigor of following a scientific method.

That’s precisely how P.A.R.R. arrived, by the way.

So, while the social‑media frenzy prompted this inquiry, it also reminded me of what’s almost certainly around the corner with the release of The Unified Behavior Model™ white paper.

“You’re no behavioral scientist!”

Intention, Data, and the Ingredients for Lasting Habit Development

We love science. We trust scientists.

Why?

Because they use data.

They run experiments. They form hypotheses and make plans. They test, track, and refine.

Here’s the question most people never ask:

If you love science so much, where’s your behavioral data?

Where’s the record of your actions?

Where’s the feedback loop driving your growth?

That’s what this episode is about.

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Repetition without intention tends to breed bad habits.

That’s where most habit models fall short.

The Habit Loop is descriptive, not prescriptive: it explains what happens after a habit forms, but not how to build one deliberately.

That’s where P.A.R.R.—Plan, Act, Record, Reassess—comes in: a proven, habit‑building system aligned with the scientific method itself.

Plan – Form your hypothesis: the habit, your MSC (Minimum Success Criteria), and target days.

Act – Run the experiment: do the behavior as planned.

Record – Track your results using 1s and 0s, and jot down notes.

Reassess – Analyze your results: targets vs. actuals.If you’re 85% or better, raise the bar for the next four-week tracking period.If not, revise and stay consistent.

That’s how you develop habit strength and automaticity.

Unfortunately, the famed “Habit Loop” — cue, routine, reward — is not the answer.

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Habit and Skill Development Require 3 Ingredients:

There are three fundamental requirements to build a good habit or skill:

Knowledge: You need to know what to do and why it matters.

Capacity (Not skill): The late, great Stephen Covey taught that habit formation requires knowledge, skill, and desire—understandably so. However, upon closer examination, a key distinction emerges:Both intentional habits and skills, once fully formed, reside in the same part of the brain—the limbic structure.When something becomes automatic, it’s no longer a “skill in development”—it’s a capacity expressed repeatedly. That’s why skill cannot be a prerequisite for habit formation. It’s basic capacity that matters. Not skill.

Desire: The most important. With genuine desire, knowledge, and capacity, will be found—or created.

Habits 2 Goals, The Habit Factor® Podcast, Core requirements for habit development. Knowledge, Capacity (not skill) & Desire.

Reminder: Tracking is not your enemy.

Tracking is how you reaffirm intention and keep yourself honest.

Tracking is also how you align with what matters and gather essential data.

You don’t need to track everything forever.

The idea is to track the right behaviors (habit alignment), long enough for them to become automatic—to build habit strength.

That’s what P.A.R.R. does. 🙌🏼

“It’s tough to improve what you aren’t tracking. And it’s even tougher to track what you haven’t planned.”

If scientists gather data to uncover the secrets of the universe, maybe you should consider the same to uncover the secrets of your own behavior.

P.A.R.R. is your answer.

Your behavior is the question. (Say that again)

Start tracking. Start testing.

Start building the habits aligned with your goals and ideals.

Want better results? Start thinking like a scientist.

Not with lab coats and equations—just two basic question:

“What did I try? Did it work?”

That’s the core message and method behind The Habit Factor’s habit development framework, P.A.R.R.

»That’s also the heart of intentional behavior change.

We said it before:

Behavior change requires behavior change.

Silly? Maybe.Stupid? Perhaps.Accurate? Absolutely.

You are the scientist. Your behavior is the experiment.

Change. Collect data. Reassess & Interate.

Plan. Act. Record. & Reassess. = PARR

What behavioral data are you collecting?

P.A.R.R. applies the scientific method to your life.

It’s not a theory. It’s a method. And it works.

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🔬 P.A.R.R. = Plan. Act. Record. Reassess.

PlanChoose a behavior (habit) that supports a goal. “Writing”

The Goal is “To write a book.”

Define your Minimum Success Criteria (MSC) — something clear and doable.

Example: Write for 15 minutes or write 1 page.

Pick your Target Days (like M/W/F).

Set the “Bar” low for both of these. NOT EACH DAY. And, not 5 Pages or 50 Minutes. A LOW bar.

Planning to succeed starts with choosing a rhythm you can repeat and a low frequency per week, and MSC.

ActDo the behavior. Or don’t. Either way, you’re generating feedback.

RecordUse 1s and 0s to track your actions:1 = did it. Achieved the MSC. 0 = didn’t.

Add a quick note. You’re collecting behavioral data, not guessing. By adding comments/notes, you affirm your intention and gather data—information about what is working and what is NOT working.

Reassess

After 4 full weeks, review your results.

What worked? What didn’t?

If your execution was 85% or better, raise the bar — update your MSC and/or Target Days/Frequency per Week.

If not, keep the same plan and build consistency.

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Automaticity isn’t magic — it’s by design with PARR.

Some people hope their habits become automatic.

Most habit trackers? Unfortunately, they appear to miss the point.

30 days? Where’s the rhythm of the week?

What are the Target Days? Where’s the Minimum Success Criteria?

Where’s the Reassessment?

To build real habit strength, you need more than hope — you need a method.

The scientific method— common sense codified— is used for everything under the sun:

Marketing? A/B tested.

Ads? Split tested.

Vaccines. Test Immune Response.

Water Purification.

Pasteurization

Fertilizer. Identify Kill Bacteria

Space travel? Rocket science.

The scientific method dates back to the 16th and 17th centuries, with brilliant thinkers like Sir Francis Bacon and Isaac Newton laying the groundwork.

It’s shaped our world ever since.

Yet when it comes to habit development—the stuff that changes lives...

Where is the scientific method in habit development?

Awkwardly, it seems behavioral science keeps directing us to the habit loop.

Again. And again.

Cue → Routine → Reward.

If you’re a rodent, a deer, or a cow, the habit loop is terrific. 🐁 🐄 🦌

If you’re a human—with choice, intention, and self-reflection?

What exactly is the habit loop doing for you?

Where’s the plan? The data collection? The analysis?

Where’s the mechanism to strengthen the habit’s automaticity over time?

Anyone? Bueller?

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That’s the awkward part.

The Scientific Method: Step by Step

Observation – Identify a problem or ask a question.

Hypothesis – Predict a possible explanation or outcome.

Experiment – Design and perform a test to gather evidence.

Data Collection – Measure and record results.

Analysis – Evaluate the data to see what it reveals.

Conclusion / Reassessment – Confirm, revise, or reject the hypothesis and iterate.

Say it with me:

Behavior change requires behavior change.

I’m sure that sounds obvious or perhaps even stupid.

And, it’s true.

It’s a core truth you won’t find in the habit loop.

Enter: P.A.R.R.: Plan. Act. Record. Reassess.

PARR is the scientific method for behavior change.

Here’s how it works—and, dare I say, perfectly aligns with the scientific method.

🔬 P.A.R.R. Is The Scientific Method For Habit Development

1. PLAN = HypothesisYou choose a behavior and create a habit plan. You can even (optionally) align the habit to your goal.

Choose the habit you’d like to develop and track. “Writing” for instance.

Identify the Minimum Success Criteria (MSC) — e.g., "2 pages" or "20 minutes"

Select the Target Days — M/W/F or Tu/Th/Sat. Here you use the rhythm of the week by selecting “Target Days”.

This becomes your hypothesis: If I do X, Y will improve and i’ll ultimately achieve Z (goal- writing a book).

2. ACT = Experiment

You act according to the plan. Here’s the great news, even if you miss a “Target Day” you’re now gathering data AND you can make it up on a Non-Target Day.

3. RECORD = Track! Data Collection

Each day, mark a “1” if you did it—met your MSC, a “0” if not.Important: Add comments—what worked, what didn’t.

4. REASSESS = Analysis + Adjustment

After 4 weeks, review your results.

If you’re 85% or better (actuals vs targets) you raise the bar—increase your MSC or Target Days.

That’s how you cultivate habit strength over time—by design and successive 28-Day habit tracking periods.

That’s how you cultivate automaticity—on purpose.

Don’t Die with Your Music Still In You. » Opens the 15th of each month.

“Out beyond ideas of wrongdoing and rightdoing, there is a field. I’ll meet you there.” ~ Rumi

We ended last time with the idea that peace of mind is found by embracing paradox.

On that note, we’re headed back — since we left some meat on the bone.

Let’s explore a few familiar paradoxes:

Expectations

Sam Walton: “High expectations are the key to everything.”

Shakespeare: “Expectation is the root of all heartache.”

Who's right?

Both.

High expectations can pull us to greatness — and they may cause heartache.

Peace arises from learning to manage expectations.

Ego

Ryan Holiday: “Ego is the enemy.”

Charlie Munger: “Never underestimate the man who overestimates himself.”

So which is it?

Is ego the problem… or the secret weapon?

Yes.

Ego can destroy you — and propel you.

It depends.

Customer-Centricity

Sales guru: “You must know what the customer wants!”

Steve Jobs, channeling Henry Ford: “If I had asked people what they wanted, they would have said faster horses.”

Which is it?

Do you follow the customer… or lead them?

Yes.

Innovation moves on instinct — and listens to the customer.

Compromise

“Never compromise!”

“Relationships are built on compromise.”

Can both be true?

Yes.

Compromise is how bridges are built.

“The highest form of maturity is interdependence.”— Dr. Stephen Covey

Peace demands discernment, not dogma.

This is an invitation to sit with the opposition and the tension.

This is the art of holistic understanding.

It is not about being indecisive — it’s about being OPEN.

“He who confronts the paradoxical exposes himself to reality.”— Friedrich Dürrenmatt

See you in the field.

“The test of a first-rate intelligence is the ability to hold two opposed ideas in mind at the same time and still retain the ability to function.” ~F. Scott Fitzgerald

Today’s episode is about a rare kind of peace—the kind that arises not from resolution, but from accepting contradiction and choosing to live within it.

Not by picking sides. Not by attempting to make the tension disappear.

By learning to live with it—curious, present, alive.

I was working with a guy the other day—frustrated, spinning.

First, he says: “Man, I don’t get it… sometimes I’m such an idiot.”

Later, without a blink: “But other times, I feel like a genius.”

“It’s both…”

I assured him with a chuckle, “You’re a genius and you’re an idiot. So am I.”

So are you, dear reader.

Life is fluid, context-dependent, and full of contradiction.

Exhibit A: Elon Musk.

One minute he’s launching rockets into space— the next, he’s firing off a drunk tweet at 2 a.m. and tanking his company’s stock.

Genius? Yes.

Idiot? Yes.

Both.

Yes! 🙌🏻

Western culture has wired us to live in either/or:

Good or bad.

Right or wrong.

Success or failure.

Right wing vs. left wing.

But real life?

Real life is the WHOLE BIRD.

Real life is BOTH/AND.

That’s why The Pressure Paradox™ (2015)—even in its name—centers on this TRUTH:

Pressure isn’t good or bad. It’s BOTH.

It’s fuel and friction.

Same goes for HABIT.

Same goes for YOU.

The who you become is forged within the tension.

The sooner you stop resisting, the more peace you find.

Remember the prior episode?

The Guru Dilemma and, “The best heroes and philosophers are dead.”

Why?

Because they can no longer contradict themselves.

It’s ALL highlight reels—clean, curated, canonized from the grave.

Living?

Messy.

Contradictory.

WHOLE.

Even the Gooroos tend to miss this.

One recently wrote:

“My whole life changed the moment Ram Dass taught me that I am just a speck of sand—not the center of the universe.”

Respectfully...

Guru Dass is only HALF-RIGHT.

YES, you’re a speck of sand.

AND—while you’re alive, breathing, capable—you are the center of YOUR universe.

“The cave you fear to enter holds the treasure you seek.” ~Joseph Campbell

Everybody Dies, But Not Everybody Lives

Let’s call it what it is:

Fear.

Real, gut-level, heart-thumping fear.

The kind of fear that shows up right before you leap.

Or, begin the difficult conversation.

Or, commit to chasing your dream goal.

What if fear isn’t the villain?

What if it’s an invitation?

Welcome to the cave.

And, The Hero’s Journey (See EVERYTHING)

The Cave is the Call to Adventure

Joseph Campbell, the master mythologist, mapped it all out.

The Hero’s Journey is the underlying story behind every great story.

Luke Skywalker hears the call.

Alice tumbles down the rabbit hole.

Dorothy’s world is swept into color.

And you? You KNOW the calling… and, you’re standing at the entrance of the cave.

This is the call to adventure. The choice to enter the unknown.

And just like in the myths, you have a choice:

Remain in the known world, where it’s safe and stagnant.

Or step into the unknown, where it’s SKEH-WEE —and transformational.

Funny how it works.

The fear is the test. It’s the guard at the gate. It is the dragon.

Behind it? Growth. Gold. Treasure.

And, your STORY.

What’s worse than fear?

Regret.» Don’t Die with Your Music Still In You

“The pleasure isn’t from the activity—it’s from your brain’s calculation of how much more there is to do.” ~Dr. K

Ever feel like no matter how much you accomplish, it’s never enough?

You’re not lazy or broken.

You’re probably caught up in the mathematics of misery.

We’re calling this episode The Denominator for a reason.

Recently, YouTube neuroscientist and psychiatrist Dr. K (from the HealthyGamer channel) addressed one of the most misunderstood emotional conditions today—anhedonia: the inability to feel joy in life.

His insight, after reviewing a recent study on his YouTube channel?

It’s not just about what you’re doing—it’s what you think remains undone.

In short, the denominator is your mental chatter—story—about everything that remains unfinished.

It’s the looming, pending, unresolved business that intensifies overwhelm and, in the process, diminishes your ability to feel good.

And when nothing feels good, people begin to shut down—motivation disappears.

This maps eerily well to a core concept within The Pressure Paradox™, where pressure—in the psychological sense—is often referenced as Force divided by Area.

That’s right. It’s the same as the physics formula for pressure:

P = F / A

By the way: you’re not alone if you’re thinking, “Slow down MG, we shouldn’t be conflating physics and psychology!”

DeepSeek AI said the same thing to me.

Until it (he? she?) did.

(See the bottom.)

In The Pressure Paradox™, the denominator—Area—represents one’s available resources: skills, time, energy, capacity, money, etc.

The smaller the denominator, the greater the pressure. The larger it is, the more the force is diffused—and thus, the pressure is mitigated.

When anyone is short on time, energy—even emotional bandwidth—and staring down a mountain of unmet goals—pressure spikes.

Their story? One of insufficiency.

Anhedonia and the Hidden Math of Misery:

Since we think predominantly in terms of stories (see EVERYTHING), our brains script everything in real-time—call it “Thought 2.0.”

According to the study Dr. K references, dopamine release is based on this calculation:

Progress ÷ Perceived Total Work

Perceived being the operative word.

If you believe you have 30 units to address and you’ve only made 1 unit of progress, his point is clear:The dopamine release is marginal—1/30.

The larger the denominator—the imagined, storied workload—the flatter and more joyless the experience becomes.

And, here’s where things get interesting.

Dichotomy Collapse

(Bridging Present & Future)

How often do we talk about dichotomous thinking on this show?

Almost as much as we talk about P.A.R.R.

It turns out, P.A.R.R. addresses this precise phenomenon:The tension between being present and active (low denominator) and planning for a future goal (big denominator).

Dr. K shows how an oversized denominator—thinking in massive time scales like years or decades, paired with big goals—kills dopamine release and leaves us feeling numb.

P.A.R.R. breaks this dilemma down.

It shifts that “unsurmountable” thinking from impossible to simply directional—that’s the destination.

Today, we made progress.

When following P.A.R.R., the denominator becomes just the “Target Day.”And that’s it.

P.A.R.R. encourages you to hold a long-term vision and stay grounded in today’s focused action.

By checking off our habits in the present, we feel good, stay present, and still move toward long-term goals.

The denominator is reduced to that day—while we hold on to the long-term vision.Nothing is surrendered.

For 15+ years, P.A.R.R. has been bridging this gap—and, according to science, addressing this denominator unknowingly.

P.A.R.R. — The Method

Plan: Identify a meaningful habit—or three—aligned with your goal. Set your target days and minimum success criteria (MSC).

Act: Execute in small, manageable steps.

Record: Track it daily, using binary metrics (1 or 0), and take brief notes.

Reassess: Review after 28 days.

P.A.R.R. helps people feel great—by shrinking the denominator.

“Courage is the mother of all virtues because, without it, you cannot consistently practice any other virtue.” ~Aristotle”

We’ve approached this topic from seemingly every angle possible…

Time for one more.

Skew-Wee.

AlfredAI and I—at your service.

Most of what’s scary is risky.

Most of what’s risky is necessary for personal growth.

As Jim Rohn put it:

“It’s all risky. The moment you were born, it got risky. Getting married is risky. Having kids is risky. I’ll tell you how risky life is, you’re not going to get out alive!”

Public speaking? Skew-Wee.

Posting an article or podcast episode? Skew-Wee.

Publishing a book? Skew-Wee.

One more time: “Courage is the mother of all virtues.”

There’s another way to say this, but we’re not going there.

How do you develop the virtue of courage?

Anyone?

The same way you develop any habit—intentional practice.

Just ask our hero, Ben Franklin. (From H2G, Season 2)

What About Real Danger?

Risk shouldn’t be an excuse for recklessness.

Calculated courage versus blind fear… but what is calculated courage?

Determining the value of the desired outcome

Understanding the driving why behind the desire

Knowing the difference between probable, improbable, and impossible

Recognizing the real risk—“Right View”

This is where (borrowed once again from The Pressure Paradox™) The 3 P’s come into play.

Since we can’t escape pressure forever—only temporarily—we’d better learn to handle it.

What are the 3 P’s?

“At the highest level, you don’t pursue the goal; you embody it.”

In Season 6, Episode 49, we explored Obsessed—what I framed as Desire Level 10.0.

Upon further reflection, I recognize that was incorrect.

To be obsessed with a goal is a very high-level desire, but there’s a higher level.

Possessed.

When we think of obsession, we often picture someone deeply fixated on a goal, fully immersed, operating at a level of focus that few understand.

But there’s still a degree of self-awareness in obsession. The person is aware they are obsessed.

Possession is different.

The separation between you and your mission becomes nearly indistinguishable at this level.

The idea owns you.

It consumes you. It drives your actions intuitively—with little conscious effort.

Key Distinctions Between Obsessed and Possessed

Obsessed = Intensity Level 10.0 → High desire, relentless pursuit.

Possessed = Beyond 10.0 → You are compelled. It’s no longer a choice.

Deadline + Pressure + Maximum Intensity = Possessed → External forces fuel internal drive until you must act.

In The Pressure Paradox™, we explore how pressure favorably channels energy and fosters focus.

At its peak, pressure eliminates hesitation and forces action.

To be possessed is when pressure fuses with identity—you’re no longer chasing a goal; you become one with the goal.

"A man possessed by his goal does not doubt or hesitate—he moves with a confidence that even surprises himself."

Questions to consider:

What happens when hesitation disappears, and all that remains is action?

“Behavior is science. Achievement is art."

Today we break down a simple but powerful concept: become a scientist when it comes to your goals and personal transformation.

Too many people rely on motivation, willpower, or vague intentions.

Real progress comes from data—collecting data: tracking habits, testing what works, taking notes accordingly, and making adjustments along the way."

Key Takeaways from This Episode

🔬 Data > Feelings

We trust scientists, doctors, and accountants because they work with data—not guesses.

If a doctor made a claim without data, we’d be skeptical. The same should apply to personal goals: without tracking, how can we truly know we’re making progress?"

⚖️ Your Habits Serve Two Masters

Habits are a means to two ends: who you become and what you accomplish.

Good habits, when aligned with your goals, drive achievement—but they also shape your virtues, your character, and the person you become in the process

🎯 The Intention-Action Gap

Most people have good intentions but fail to follow through.

The key to closing this gap? Tracking habits. It forces the intersection of desire and action—that’s what willpower truly is: taking actions that align with your intentions.

📊 Habit Tracking with P.A.R.R.: Putting the Science of Behavior to Work

Scientists gather data. Goal achievers must do the same.

Why is science so fascinating? Because it relies on data. So, where’s your freakin’ data?

🛠 Plan, Act, Record, Reassess (P.A.R.R.)

Traditional habit models treat humans like rats in a maze.

The P.A.R.R. methodology (Plan, Act, Record, Reassess) accounts for human capacities of choice, intention and reflection.

💡 Habit Tracking = A Performance Hack

If you're stuck, frustrated, or unsure why progress isn’t happening, start tracking your habits.

Without data, troubleshooting is difficult—if not impossible. Habit tracking is the hack to accelerate progress toward your goals and ideals. Get after it!

The Challenge: Become the Scientist of Your Own Life

If goals matter, stop relying on gut feelings. Experiment. Track. Adjust.

The Habits-to-Goals methodology is the both a philosophy and a framework. Your data will be your guide.

"Until you intersect your intention with your actions, you are not moving toward your goals and ideals."

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Enter: The Habit Factor’s P.A.R.R. Methodology

The Habit Factor provides a simple, repeatable system to create lasting change by focusing on habits as the foundation for achieving your goals.

Habits are the foundation for meaningful change, and this is the method to build them:

Plan: Define “Target Days” (specific days for action) and “Minimum Success Criteria” (a low bar to build momentum).

Act: Stick to the plan consistently, even if imperfectly.

Record: Track progress using a binary system (1 for success, 0 for no success).

Reassess: After 28 days, review your results to adjust and improve.

This simple framework bridges the gap between intention and consistent action, empowering you to design habits that align with your goals.

“Where there is behavior, there is motivation."

“Motivation is what gets you started. Habit is what keeps you going.” ~Jim Rohn

Ever thought, “I’m just not motivated”?

Here’s the truth: You’re always motivated.

Motivation is simply behavior—a movement toward a goal.

For better or worse, that goal might be to sit on the couch and watch football.

The point is, you’re still motivated—just not toward what may matter most.

The distinction is simple: One moves you toward your goals and ideals. The other pushes you away and delays them.

The first is a decision to move through difficulty and temporary pain. The latter is a quick fix—an escape toward immediate pleasure.

These two—pleasure and pain—are the monster pillars of human behavior.If we’re not careful—if we’re unaware—pleasure almost always kicks pain’s ass.

Until habits are cultivated, pleasure is almost always the default setting.

It’s the easy, comfortable path—but it’s also a vote to delay your goals.

Challenging behavior? That’s different. Every time you take it on, you’re casting a vote to fast-track your growth and get closer to your ideals.

After all, this is why we call it discipline—it hurts.

As soon as we recognize these two polar forces at work, we can address them.

Ignoring that tough email, avoiding that difficult conversation, or skipping the gym? Chances are, that’s motivation away from pain.

To be clear, the problem isn’t a lack of motivation.

It’s understanding the motivation that’s always at work—either for or against your goals. And almost always, the path toward your goals runs through pain.

The good news: a little awareness changes everything.As soon as you recognize the forces at play, you can flip the script.

Pain becomes your ally. Discomfort is the gatekeeper.

Reframe the story. Look at what you’re motivated toward, most of the time.

The “difficult” isn’t punishment—it’s progress.

This is where habit tracking and the P.A.R.R. framework come into play.

Something shifts when you align a few key habits with your most important goals and track them.

You push through discomfort—temporary pain—and gain momentum.

You experience the feel-good chemicals: endorphins and neurotransmitters tied to self-efficacy—the ability to produce a desired result.

The magic is in the simple P.A.R.R. framework:

It turns hard “stuff” into habits and momentum toward your most important goals.

Ever wonder why there are so many self-help programs?

It’s simple: demand is high, but most solutions miss the mark.

What’s the mark?

Connecting desire to action.Most self-help programs focus on knowledge or motivation but lack a clear process for accountability.

They emphasize action items and next steps but overlook the deeper work of developing core behaviors—HABITS.

The result?

People start with enthusiasm but quickly revert to their old routines and, yes, their old habits.

Here’s the truth: what binds you can also set you free.

That’s where The Habit Factor stands apart—with a proven system to cultivate habits aligned with your goals, bridging the gap between knowledge, desire, and consistent action.And because it’s a habit-centric approach, the new habits you build naturally replace the old ones.

Enter: The Habit Factor’s P.A.R.R. Methodology

The Habit Factor provides a simple, repeatable system to create lasting change by focusing on habits as the foundation for achieving your goals.

Habits are the foundation for meaningful change, and this is the method to build them:

Plan: Define “Target Days” (specific days for action) and “Minimum Success Criteria” (a low bar to build momentum).

Act: Stick to the plan consistently, even if imperfectly.

Record: Track progress using a binary system (1 for success, 0 for no success).

Reassess: After 28 days, review your results to adjust and improve.

This simple framework bridges the gap between intention and consistent action, empowering you to design habits that align with your goals.“Motivation gets you started habit keeps you going.”~Jim Rohn

Take a moment to reflect: What habit will you begin today?

Apply the P.A.R.R. methodology to bridge the gap between where you are and where you want to be.

Make it a habit and keep on trackin’ ✅

~mg

“Where there is hope in the future, there is happiness in the present."

Language shapes our logic and thoughts. Small shifts in the words we use can unlock big changes—just like a simple line of programming code.

Consider these three simple, three-letter words: YET, GET, AND.

YET

Yet is about hope.

When kids (or adults) feel stuck, they often use absolute language: “I’m just no good at this.”

By simply adding yet, we shift the story: “I’m not good at this... yet.”

Yet is a word that turns frustration into possibility, reminding us that growth is within reach.

“Yet” suggests hope, which lights the way forward and, as the quote goes, can bring “happiness to the present.”

GET

GET is about gratitude.

When you catch yourself thinking, “I have to do the dishes,” “I have to go to work,” “I have to go to the gym,” or “I have to go to practice,” consider changing the programming language to: “I get to.”

After all, you possess hands to clean with, eyes to see with, and opportunities others may not have.

Get transforms obligation into appreciation.

Get opens your eyes to the gifts within everyday “tasks.”

AND

And is about openness. It challenges rigid, either/or thinking.

Are habits better than goals?

No—habits and goals support each other.

Is pressure good or bad?

It’s both—too little can leave you unmotivated, while the right amount sharpens focus.

By adding and to your programming, you remove silos.

And welcomes holistic thinking and, interestingly enough, fosters peace of mind.

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Consider adding these tiny three words—YET, GET, AND—and watch how they reshape how you see yourself and the world.

After all, it’s easy to see how hope, gratitude, and openness pave the way to growth, happiness, and harmony.

"The limits of my language are the limits of my world." ~Ludwig Wittgenstein

Language is both a bridge and a barrier.

It connects us to new ideas and can divide and constrain us.

By choosing our words carefully—and sometimes setting aside prevailing definitions to explore their roots—we open up possibilities instead of closing them off.

In today’s hyper-connected world, staying focused feels nearly impossible.

Algorithms are designed to serve up distractions tailored to our deepest interests.

Case in point: I recently visited YouTube for instructions and was immediately bombarded with an irresistible buffet of videos—chess, surfing, golf, etc…

Within 30 seconds, I forgot what I was even looking for.

Sound familiar?

The battle for your attention isn’t just a minor inconvenience—it’s a full-scale assault on your productivity, your goals, and your future.

Every moment we surrender to distractions, we’re not just losing time; we’re forming habits of fractured attention and diminished focus.

By being proactive and intentional, you can reclaim your attention and your future.

Key Ideas to Guard Your Attention:

Out of Sight, Out of Mind (and its Corollary): Removing distractions from your environment works wonders: the less you see, the less tempted you’ll be. Delete non-essential apps, declutter your workspace, and turn off notifications. But here’s the kicker: Out of Mind, Out of Sight. As soon as your attention fragments, your focus and the mental “sight” of your project leave you. Once the vision of what you’re working on fades, it’s as if the task itself disappears. Protect your attention, and you protect your inner vision.

Create Attention Sanctuaries: Dedicate specific times and spaces for deep work. A clean, distraction-free desk and a phone left in another room can work wonders.

Guardrails for Your Mind:

Pomodoro Technique: Work in focused bursts (e.g., 25 minutes), then take short breaks. This prevents burnout and builds focus and stamina.

Phone in DND: Set your phone to “Do Not Disturb” during work blocks. Use tools like Focus Mode to block distracting apps.

Single-Tasking Over Multitasking: Do one thing at a time and do it well. Multitasking splinters attention and increases mistakes.

Recognize Environmental Triggers:Social media apps, autoplay features, and algorithm-driven feeds are designed to hook you. Acknowledge these triggers and implement barriers:

Use browser extensions like Freedom or StayFocusd to limit time on certain websites.

Log out of accounts when not actively using them.

Reflect and Realign:

Set daily intentions: What’s the one thing you need to accomplish today?

End your day with a quick reflection: Did you win the battle for your attention? What could you adjust tomorrow?

Write It Down:The simplest yet most effective way to keep your focus is to write things down. As Confucius said, “The weakest ink is stronger than the strongest memory.”

Writing anchors your thoughts reinforces your goals, and provides a clear roadmap when distractions inevitably pull you away. The act of revisiting your notes restores clarity and commitment.

»Tired of spinning your wheels? One course can change everything » The Habit Mastery Workshop. Begins 1/17/25

Let’s talk about finishing strong. Does anyone remember who led at halftime, anyway?

Whether it’s the final reps of a workout, the last chapter of a book, the home stretch of a goal, or the end of the year, finishing with purpose and intensity changes everything.

The act of finishing strong isn't just motivational fluff; it's a game-changer for habit-building, self-confidence, and—bonus—a sweet dopamine rush.

Benefits of Finishing Strong

Supercharges Confidence: Ending on a high note convinces your brain you’re the kind of person who executes on a plan and finishes what they start. When your last mile is faster than your first mile—you’re finishing strong! Finishing what you plan—even small tasks (behaviors you’re looking to cultivate into habits)—produces self-efficacy. Self-efficacy is the cornerstone of The Habit Factor’s P.A.R.R., habit-building methodology.

Reinforces Habit Strength: Imagine your habit as a snowball rolling downhill. Finishing strong reinforces your commitment; it grows larger and faster and gains momentum with each successful completion.

Brain Candy: When you complete a task—almost any task you set out to accomplish—your brain rewards you with dopamine, serotonin, oxytocin, and endorphins. Bonus: all these feel-good chemicals help to reinforce your motivation to get back after it!

Tomorrow Meets a Stronger You: Today’s strong finish equates to you rejoining that next practice effort even stronger. You’re essentially handing future-you a gift—you’re paying it forward with each strong finish!

Laser Focus: Aiming to finish strong forces you to up the ante—increase the energy, intensity, and focus.

“A good start’s a joyful run, but finishing strong is second to none.”

P.A.R.R. and Finishing Strong

The Habit Factor’s P.A.R.R. methodology (Plan, Act, Record, Reassess) sets you up for a strong finish by helping you to establish a “low bar”—making finishing strong easier.

How it all connects:

Plan: Start with your habit’s “Target Days” are they (M, W, F) or (Tu, Th)? Notice they do NOT need to be every day. You select the days that work with you and your schedule. Then, identify the “Minimum Success Criteria” (MSC)—the “low-bar” part of your habit-building plan. For instance, 5 pushups or 25 pushups? Writing for 10 minutes or 10 pages?

Act: Each action (according to your plan) becomes a mini-finish line. Crush it on your target days, and you’re already finishing strong at a micro-level, which keeps the momentum building.

Record: Track your progress against your “Targets” and build accountability. The more you see wins stack up, the easier it is to keep finishing strong.

Reassess: Reflecting on what worked (and what didn’t) ties a neat bow on your efforts and preps you for the next challenge.

When you approach habits with P.A.R.R., you’re not just grinding—you’re creating a cycle of intentional starts and triumphant finishes.

How to Finish Strong

Set Your Sights on Small Wins: Small helps to get started—convincing yourself it’ll be easy to start. Establishing low “Minimum Success Criteria” on your “Target Days” is the secret weapon of P.A.R.R., which works to help get started AND to finish strong.

Consistency Beats Intensity: Skip the “all or nothing” mindset. Show up consistently and let habit strength compound over time.

Plan to Win: Strong finishes rarely happen by accident. Decide in advance if you’ll be exceeding your “Minimum Success Criteria.” Not so you can get two checks—but so you’ll finish strong and show up next time even stronger.

Reflect and Celebrate: Celebration is almost instantaneous as your natural reward systems—endorphins and neurotransmitters like serotonin and dopamine—will kick in every time you complete your “Minimum Success Criteria” on your “Target Days.” It won’t just be a mental high-five… it’ll be an emotional one that will keep you pumped and motivated as you prove self-efficacy.

“Habit development cares little about bursts of energy. Habits are developed via consistency over time. The notion that you have to keep daily streaks alive or you can’t miss two days is completely a myth. Consistency over time is the key to habit development, period.”

**Private Coaching Accelerator (Limited Spots): Learn More Here! **

Debunking the Myth of ‘1% Better Every Day’

The idea of getting 1% better every day has been popularized by books, influencers, and motivational speakers for more than thirty years.

I recall Tony Robbins preaching the message back in the late '80s. More recently, another bestselling habit book has taken Tony’s mantra to new levels of cliché-dom.

On the surface, “1% Better Every Day” sounds fantastic, and it’s certainly aspirational.

After all, it represents consistent, steady improvement over time—day in, day out. What could be more motivational than that?

It seems like the perfect recipe for day-to-day self-improvement, right?

1% better every day.

Unfortunately, the reality is very different.

Learning any new skill, building any new habit, or improving in any meaningful way is a process filled with starts, stops, gradual and sometimes rapid progress, as well as regression.

All growth requires space—rest and silence.

After all, muscles don’t grow while you’re lifting the weights; they grow when you’re resting.

So, while the message of “1% Better Every Day” is well-meaning, it’s also a myth.

Improvement is never linear.

Ever heard the phrase “two steps forward, one step back”?

Sometimes, it may be three or even ten steps back.

Credit: The “Success” meme

“Don’t break the streak,” “Never miss two days,” “It takes 21 days to build a habit,” and “1% Better Every Day” all fall into the same silly cliché bucket when it comes to personal improvement and habit development.

And all miss the crucial idea that rest, recovery, space, and silence should be part of anyone’s growth and new skill and habit development plan.

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Take a hard look at the meme above—does that resemble 1% better every day?

Yet, this (below) is what “they” want you to believe. 👇

** New Private Coaching Accelerator (Pilot): Learn More Here! **

Does it ever feel like pressure is out to get you?

For years, experts in performance psychology have told us that pressure is the “enemy of success.”

It seems logical, right?

After all, under pressure, things can go sideways. Deadlines get blown. People choke. Sometimes, terrible things happen.

But here’s the twist: pressure isn’t the bad guy.

It can be one of your most unexpected allies—if you allow it.

Think about it: What’s a deadline, if not pressure’s way of snapping us out of procrastination and forcing us to get things done?

At the Olympics—where the stakes are enormous and the pressure is sky-high—not all athletes crumble; in every Olympics, world and Olympic records are set.

Why is that?

If pressure were truly the enemy of success, why are so many ‘successful’ people known for navigating pressure-filled waters?

Consider Abraham Lincoln, Mahatma Gandhi, or Nelson Mandela. Weren’t they immersed in some of the most pressure-packed circumstances imaginable?

Isn’t their heroism defined by how they navigated that pressure, rather than crumbled under it?

Here’s the truth: Pressure isn’t inherently good or bad—it’s neutral, precisely like the force of habit.Whether we like it or not, it’s not going away anytime soon.

Pressure was with you the day you were born, and it’s certain to be with you until your final breath.

Thus, it’s probably worth understanding it better.

»New Year Special: Upgrade your membership in 2025! Enter: The Pressure Paradox® —the sequel to The Habit Factor®.

Turns out, there’s a simple mantra—a formula—for navigating pressure, and it’s detailed extensively in The Pressure Paradox®; it’s identified simply as “The 3 P’s.”

Plan. Prepare. Practice.More at: https://habits2goals.substack.com

While “manifest” can function as an adjective, it is most commonly used as a noun or verb.

As a noun: A manifest is the captain’s list—a detailed record of what’s being carried and delivered to a destination.

As a verb: To manifest refers to the act of turning goals, dreams, and ideals into physical reality.

In today’s Mind Bullet, we explore the common ground between these meanings.

It’s likely no coincidence that they share the same name. The concepts are inherently connected.

To manifest your goals (verb), it’s crucial to DOCUMENT your efforts—the process itself.

This is where many TikTok and Instagram "Gooroos" get it wrong. They promise you’ll manifest your dreams simply by visualizing, repeating mantras, and meditating.

What they often overlook is this fundamental truth:

Manifestation is a process of documentation.

Read that again.

To manifest effectively, you must track where you’re headed, what’s working, and what isn’t. You need to record your actions, behaviors, and habits. (Join the waitlist here.)

The act of documenting and tracking is the manifestation bridge—the critical link between a foggy, far-off dream and seeing it take shape in reality.Why Habit Tracking Changes Everything

All captains are required to carry a manifest:

It clarifies the mission: You can’t deliver what you can’t define.

It keeps you accountable: Progress is easier to measure when it’s written down.

It shows the path forward: If you get off course, the manifest reminds you where you’re going—and why.

In your life, tracking your habits is your personal manifest. Without it, you’re just guessing whether you’re moving in the right direction.

What are you building?

Wise words, right?

Let’s be honest—Socrates didn’t have to deal with email inboxes or social media.

Change was easier when your biggest distractions were donkeys.

Still, his message holds up.

If you’re tired of replaying your greatest bad habits hits… (Procrastination: The Remix, anyone?), it’s time to focus on building the new.

Key Ideas

Change is constant: Everything bound by time is changing—including you. Whether you like it or not, life keeps moving forward.

Let go of your EX—the past: Whether it’s a toxic habit, a dead-end goal, or your undying love for midnight ice cream binges, clinging to the old only makes it harder to build the new. The past is like that annoying ex—it’s not helping you grow, so why keep holding on?

Build, don’t battle: Ever tried arguing with yourself? It’s exhausting. Telling yourself you’ll “definitely start tomorrow” only to repeat the same old habits feels like shadowboxing your brain. Instead, channel that energy into ACTION. Dust off that dream—like writing that book you’ve been “starting” since 2012— take the first step.

Start small and keep it real: Plato said, "The beginning is the most important part of the work." Translation? S.T.A.R.T.—Simple. Today. Actions. Repeated. Tracked. Quit over-researching, overthinking, or waiting for the perfect moment. Just start—even if it’s messy.

Time is short: As Brian Tracy put it, “There’s never enough time to do everything, but there’s always enough time to do the most important things.” Stop waiting…

Today The Building Begins!

Build habits like a boss: Use the P.A.R.R. method—Plan, Act, Record, Reassess. You're a human, not a rodent stuck in a habit loop. (see below)

Listen while you build: Subscribe to the Habits 2 Goals podcast—it’s like having a coach in your pocket, but without the shouting.

Level up with accountability: Upgrade to a paid Annual Premium subscription and gain access to our upcoming Peer Accountability and Small Coaching group.

Go PRO: Enroll in the 8-Day Habit Mastery Workshop for on-demand, next-level habit and skill development. It’s structured, supportive, and (don’t worry) kale-free.

Today’s Frequently Asked Friday (FAF): What’s the one ‘habit/skill/trait’ holding me back from living the life I desire?”

The Price of Admission

Steve Jobs often said that starting and running a business is “painful and difficult.”

Elon Musk? Same tune, different key.

These guys didn’t just waltz onto the stage of success—they slogged through the swamp of pain, discomfort, frustration, and failure.

Why?

Because success is never a gift; it’s the result of grit—a prize you wrestle from life as it growls at you.

Here’s a PAINFUL truth (again): nobody is born disciplined.

Not you, not me, not even that annoying friend who crushes marathons before breakfast.

Discipline is just a dressed-up way of saying, “I’ve become really good at tolerating pain without b******g too much.”

The best part? Discipline—tolerable pain—is a learnable skill, trait, and habit, no matter how much you currently enjoy hitting the snooze button.

Make Pain Your Frenemy

Pain doesn’t have to be your eternal arch-nemesis.

The Master Key: Begin with Pain Lite™

Nobody’s asking you to climb Everest in flip-flops. Heck, even David Goggins—yes, that David Goggins—was reportedly, in his own words, a “fat, lazy slob” before he turned his life around. Need proof? Look no further than the title of his bestselling book: “Can’t Hurt Me.”

Here’s the thing: Goggins didn’t wake up one day as the poster child for superhuman discipline. He developed it—one habit at a time, by embracing discomfort and leaning into pain.

P.A.R.R. Your Way to Glory

No, this isn’t a catchy new pirate slogan—it’s a simple, proven process to help you build the habit of discipline. Consider it your battle plan:

Plan: Outline your goal or habit. What are you aiming for?

Act: Take small, consistent steps forward. Start messy if you have to—just start.

Record: Track your progress, even if it feels tedious. Writing it down creates accountability.

Reassess: Reflect on what’s working and tweak as needed. Growth is a constant experiment.

P.A.R.R. Leverages Your Executive Brain—You Are Not a Rodent

Unlike rodents, you’re not stuck in a loop of pain-and-pleasure-based survival. You’re human, which means you have access to three incredible superpowers:

Choice: You decide what’s important and where to focus your energy.

Intention/Planning: You can anticipate challenges and create strategies to overcome them.

Reflection: You’re able to look back, evaluate, and adjust your approach for better results.

Pain is inevitable, but suffering is optional.

By following The Habit Factor’s P.A.R.R. methodolgy, you can tap into your higher brain functions and break free from the automatic “pain-pleasure” cycle that drives most behavior.

So no—you don’t have to climb mountains barefoot or live like a Navy SEAL to embrace discipline.

Start small, embrace some discomfort.

First Things First: A Football Story (Kind Of)

Picture this: it’s Sunday morning, and I’m getting some “very important work” done.

Deadlines, projects, emails—cue dramatic music—it’s all calling my name.

I’m laser-focused, in the zone.

Then, my wife comes skipping down the stairs (okay, not actually skipping):“It’s time to watch some football!”

Now, I’m not going to lie. My gut reaction? Football?! Really?!

I love football, but I knew I had to get caught up on these projects.

My inner voice insisted, “You don’t have time for this! You’ve got WORK to do!”

But then, after a poorly timed epiphany, I realized the irony. I had set out to write about “FIRST THINGS”—about putting priorities in order. Yet, saying no to football would make my wife unhappy.

Could I really write a productivity post about “first things” and then turn around and say, “No can do, wifey”?

Was I productive? Nope.

Was I effective? YES.

Did I make her happy? Yep.

And therein lies just one of the first lessons about FIRST THINGS.

Lessons in Priorities

People and Relationships > Projects and Things

Stephen Covey’s principle isn’t just about managing time; it’s about managing life—what matters most.

Few, if any, lie on their deathbed wishing they had answered more emails or finished more projects.

Almost everyone wishes they had spent more time with loved ones.

Watching football wasn’t really about the game. It was about showing my wife that she was a priority.

In the end, effectiveness always beats efficiency.

“Most people are busy, yet ineffective.”

I could’ve been “efficient,” said no, and powered through my work—but at what cost? An unhappy spouse?

True effectiveness came from trading productivity time for relationship time.

Maturity (and a few prior mistakes) are great teachers.

My younger self would’ve chosen work, believing it was the smart and responsible thing to do.

Older (and hopefully wiser) me has learned that success is less about checking boxes and more about making choices—and forging habits—that align with your values and your “ideal future.”

What Are Your First Things?

As Thanksgiving approaches, I’m reminded that gratitude and connection are our true FIRST THINGS.

Work will always be there. Time with loved ones? That’s fleeting.

One less Thanksgiving is being served up on Thursday!

So, take a moment to figure out your own “first things”—whether it’s family, friends, or simply being present.

Focus on what you value most—and be grateful for the real first things.

----

For personalized instruction on the P.A.R.R. methodology, check out the upcoming 8-Day Habit Mastery Workshop—an affordable program designed to help you build lasting habits and skills. Master on-demand habit and skill development for a lifetime, and kick off 2025 with real momentum!

Napoleon Dynamite got it right!

Between you and your big, shiny goal is a gatekeeper.

Any clue?

It’s the difference between doing and dreaming.

It’s skills.

Do you possess, at a high level, the skills your goal requires?

Identify 3-5 of the key SKILLS that your goal demands, and list them.

Here’s the kicker: skills and habits arrive together, like Batman and Robin—like salt and pepper—one invariably brings the other.

Picture this: you want to write a book, run a marathon, or play the piano like a pro. Big dreams, to be sure.

However, without the requisite skills/habits, these dreams will remain dreams.

Is playing the piano a skill or a habit?

Drum roll please: It’s both!

Skills don’t just appear; they grow out of relentless, boring, intentional practice—repetition.

How does one intentionally cultivate habits and skills?

By following the P.A.R.R. method for habit development (published within The Habit Factor®). P.A.R.R. stands for Plan, Act, Record, and Reassess.

Do you think this P.A.R.R. methodology sounds tedious?

You’re correct. It is.

It’s also where the rubber—your intention—meets the road—your actions.

It’s where progress, momentum, and ultimately greatness hide. Exhibit One: Steph Curry’s tedium. To him of course, it’s anything but tedious.

Steph teaches us that it’s the silent, stubborn act of showing up consistently, practicing that one shot or “kick” 10,000 times until you can do it in your sleep.

“You are rewarded in public for what you have intensely practiced and refined in private.” ~Tony Robbins

So, what’s it going to be?

Will you dream about your goals or practice them into existence?

Decide which skills/habits you need today to move closer to your most important goal.

Your future self is watching.

Enjoy the show!

~mg

Eager to put this into practice?

For personalized instruction on the P.A.R.R. methodology, check out the upcoming 8-Day Habit Mastery Workshop—an affordable program designed to help you build lasting habits and skills. Master on-demand habit and skill development for a lifetime, and kick off 2025 with real momentum!

Life can be a real, unpredictable mess at times.

There are things within our control—and way more beyond it. (See the Behavior Echo-System).

So, we tumble through life, tripping over our expectations, cursing when things don’t go our way, and thinking the universe owes us a smoother ride.

Here’s a quick story, courtesy of the NFL.

It’s halftime. The reporter is interviewing Mike Tomlin, the Pittsburgh Steelers' Super Bowl-winning head coach. “You’ve been inside the red zone a few times and come away with nothing but field goals. Isn’t that frustrating?”

His response: “It’s not frustrating, it’s football.”

Boom.

Without pause, Tomlin dropped a truth bomb that should be knitted on pillows worldwide.

Football comes with challenges built right in. As does life.

How many of us set ourselves up for disappointment, convinced life is supposed to be a never-ending merry-go-round of cotton candy and catchy music?

We have generations of ‘kids’ growing up (thanks to social media), floating along, expecting (happiness loop - prior episode), each day to be an easy ride.

The last time I checked, life wasn’t designed for ease and comfort - feel free to thank whatever gods you’d like for that.

The good-ish news is this; when we stop expecting ease, comfort, and smoothness, we’re braced for a bumpy ride.

When we train ourselves for difficulties, the difficulties become easier.

Welcome to NOvember

"Who Is In Control?"

This November, H2G - Habits 2 Goals challenges you to ask one crucial question:

Who is in control?

Discipline is a Habit

“Nobody is born disciplined. It’s something you cultivate.”

Discipline is not an inborn trait.

Like any habit, discipline is cultivated through practice, it’s a habit/skill anyone can develop over time. (see Behavior Echo-System 👇)

Self-Mastery and Freedom

True freedom results from self-mastery— to choose one’s response rather than reacting impulsively.

The decision to practice discipline leads to greater freedom and autonomy.

“The choice of discipline and diligence produces freedom."

Share

The Behavior Echo-System

Your behaviors don’t occur in a vacuum—they’re part of your “Behavior Echo-System.” Everyone has their own behavior echo-system – an interconnected set of influencers that includes one’s environment, thoughts (stories), and emotions.

Habits are NOT better than goals. Goals are not better than habits.

Understand the crucial role each play in your life and how each serve the other.

Heading into my summer hiatus, I’m leaving you with a handful of episodes to revisit and to help reset your habit tracking and goal journey.

HABITS:

"How Systems Help to Create Habits & Skills" - Discusses how systems can support habit formation.

"Discipline is a Habit" - Focuses on the role of discipline in habit building.

"Killing Negative Habits" - Offers insights into breaking bad habits using the 4 Ments!

"28 Days!" - Likely about the significance of the 28-day habit formation process.

"How to Create Any Habit" - Offers practical steps to start new habits.

"The Habit Factor: Starting Small" - Emphasizes the importance of starting small with habit formation to demonstrate self-efficacy and create momentum!

"Why Accountability Matters" - Explores the role of accountability in habit development. A tracking sheet, an accountability buddy; these are examples of environmental influencers that help to forge good, positive habits.

"Tracking Your Habits" - Discusses the importance of habit tracking in achieving goals. (See above ☝️ )

GOALS:

"Goals are Not Optional" - This episode discusses the critical nature of goal setting and why it's essential to have clear goals.

"The End is the Beginning" - This episode delves into the importance of knowing your desired outcome before setting your goals.

"2021 New Year Series: Do Not Pass Go!" - A motivational episode that emphasizes the importance of committing to your goals and tracking your habits.

Metamorphosis

Change: one of life’s great constants.

For those between 45 and 60, life often brings significant challenges: marriages end, careers shift, personal identities and appearances evolve.

After decades of laying a foundation, it may feel like it’s slipping away...

Quantum physics offers a fascinating perspective on transformation. It suggests that multiple possibilities exist in any given moment and that our focus heavily influences which 'reality' unfolds.

When one chapter ends, the story can improve if we remain open to the same curiosity and optimism that served us initially.

Fear and resistance hold us back. Acceptance and equanimity serve times of change best.

“Faith alone defends. Life is either a daring adventure or nothing. To keep our faces toward change and behave like free spirits in the presence of fate is strength undefeatable.”~ Helen Keller

Appreciate endings as gateways to new beginnings. See losses as lessons and challenges as stepping stones.

Failure Number 9

Lincoln’s quote ☝️ is a powerful and stark reminder that even the greatest among us stumble, fail, and fall flat on their faces.

Given enough time, as Ray Dalio puts it, “There are a whole host of ways that something will get you.” See image below…

This is where Lincoln’s example is proof positive that failure isn’t just a stepping stone to success; it’s an essential ingredient—a requirement.

In the realm of biophysics, there’s a concept known as the principle of maximum error*. It suggests that organisms, including humans, benefit from mistakes. It is through experimentation and failing that we learn, grow, and optimize ourselves.

Thus, Failure Number 9 or 18 or 72 isn’t a cause for despair but rather encouragement.

As long as you have the capacity to choose your response (see prior episode, Stimulus vs Response), and guide your behaviors toward your goals and ideals, you are on the path.

Sometimes when you are in a dark place you may feel you have been buried, when in fact you have been planted. ~ Christine Caine

Do your best to approach each setback as an opportunity to refine your approach, develop resilience, and discover new strengths.

Responding to failure is largely about finding a hopeful narrative. A H.E.R.O.’s narrative—one that is Hopeful, Empowering, Responsible, and Optimistic—even when the chapter you’re in feels like a tragedy.

Meaning as a Derivative of Perspective

Our perspective often shapes our emotions and actions.

Consider a bad breakup: Initially, it feels devastating, but years later, it might become a source of amusement.

This shift in perspective changes the meaning of the event, which in turn influences our feelings, behaviors, and outcomes.

Introducing: The Behavior Echo-System

The Behavior Echo-System, a new behavior model, illustrates how three key influencers are interconnected through our emotions and feelings:

Thinking/Story: Our thoughts and beliefs. These are the internal narratives we rely on to plan, predict, and explain events.

Behaviors/Habits/Skills: The actions we take and the habits and skills we develop.

Environment: Our surroundings, including people and places. While we can influence our environment, it also impacts us and our behaviors.

These three components continuously affect one another, creating a perpetual cycle.

Enter: Response-Ability

We can't always control what happens to us, but we can almost always choose how we respond. This is known as "response-ability."

Emotionally mature individuals often manage to choose their responses to frustrating, challenging, and stressful events.

Twain’s profound insight serves as a cornerstone for understanding the importance of focus in our lives.

Focus is about harnessing and directing our energy effectively.

Imagine a five-watt light bulb—it can barely light up a closet. But when that same energy is focused, it can cut through steel.

This is the fundamental principle behind the order of focus: selection, concentration, and then focus.

SELECT » CONCENTRATE » FOCUS

A popular method to enhance focus is the Pomodoro® Technique.

This ttechnique involves using a timer (app on a mobile device) for a specific period, such as 25 or 45 minutes, and dedicating that time solely to one task.

This method establishes a defined focus period, allowing for deep, uninterrupted work. Its simplicity and effectiveness lie in its ability to create a sense of urgency and clarity, making it easier to concentrate on the task at hand.

To improve your Habitstrength™, The Habit Factor applies the concepts of “Minimum Success Criteria” and “Target Days” for successive 28-day habit-tracking periods. Combining The Habit Factor® with the Pomodoro® Technique creates a powerful one-two punch to enhance productivity.

You can quickly transition from scattered energy to focused accomplishment.

Give it a try: track as few as three habits for 28 days and apply the Pomodoro® Technique for your focus periods.

Viktor Frankl, a Holocaust survivor and founder of logotherapy, once said, “Between stimulus and response, there is a space. In that space lies our power to choose our response. In our response lies our growth and our freedom.”

…In our response lies our growth and our freedom

This profound observation has anchored much of popular psychology, a beacon highlighting our ability to govern our responses to any situation.

But let’s strip this idea down to the bone—what if the story isn’t so starkly drawn?

Learning and Growth: The Power to Respond

Frankl nails it—our power resides in how we respond.

Picture this: a student, face-to-face with a brutal exam (stimulus/environment). Their success hinges on their ability to recall what they've learned and to tame the beast of anxiety (the internal narrative in their head/response).

In these moments we learn, we adapt, and we grow.

Or, take a business leader confronting a market nosedive (stimulus/environment). Innovate or retreat (response/thoughts/behavior).

This decision shifts the company’s fate.

Overwhelming Stimuli

Frankl’s wisdom has its limits.

Hurdle Number One, Self Control

Facing challenges tends to reveal our strengths and weaknesses.

By managing some pain and discomfort, we gain insight about our willpower and our character.

Think of self-discipline as the first hurdle to reaching larger goals.

That may mean getting up earlier instead of sleeping in or choosing healthy snacks instead of junk food. These repeated, small acts of self-control (habits) can propel one toward big changes in their lives.

There is a strong link between self-discipline and goal achievement.

While goal achievement is never assured, having good habits helps to prepare one for growth and trains them to use their willpower.

Beginning with self-mastery is the way.

“I’ve never met a disciplined baby.” ...

This profound quote from Bruce Lee touches on a critical point that many people overlook: the distinction between the lesson and the teacher.

We often expect perfection from those who teach us, assuming that their wisdom and personal lives must be flawless. However, Lee’s insight suggests that a good teacher ensures that their students are not tainted by the teacher’s own mistakes and challenges.

This idea is crucial as we navigate today’s complex landscape of “gurus” and their teachings.

A few quick examples:

Tony Robbins: Known for his powerful seminars and self-help books, Tony Robbins gives extensive advice on relationships. Yet, he has been through at least one divorce and likely a handful of breakups. Does this disqualify him from offering relationship advice? Arguably, his experiences may make him more qualified, as he has learned valuable lessons from his own relationship challenges.

Sadhguru: A spiritual leader who speaks about health and peace of mind, Sadhguru himself has faced significant personal health issues lately, including a brain tumor. Does this diminish his teachings on health? Or does it highlight the reality that even those with profound wisdom face their own battles?

The Wealth Coach: True story: I recently spoke to someone who was asked to invest in a business by a “wealth coach.” Is that ridiculous or does it reflect the complex realities of business management and investment.

A guru’s personal issues may not necessarily invalidate their teachings.

Instead, their challenges and experiences may even enrich their lessons and provide a more realistic perspective.

The Best Guru is (still) YOU.

This profound quote from Bruce Lee touches on a critical point that many people overlook: the distinction between the lesson and the teacher.

We often expect perfection from those who teach us, assuming that their wisdom and personal lives must be flawless. However, Lee’s insight suggests that a good teacher ensures that their students are not tainted by the teacher’s own mistakes and challenges.

This idea is crucial as we navigate today’s complex landscape of “gurus” and their teachings.

A few quick examples:

Tony Robbins: Known for his powerful seminars and self-help books, Tony Robbins gives extensive advice on relationships. Yet, he has been through at least one divorce and likely a handful of breakups. Does this disqualify him from offering relationship advice? Arguably, his experiences may make him more qualified, as he has learned valuable lessons from his own relationship challenges.

Sadhguru: A spiritual leader who speaks about health and peace of mind, Sadhguru himself has faced significant personal health issues lately, including a brain tumor. Does this diminish his teachings on health? Or does it highlight the reality that even those with profound wisdom face their own battles?

The Wealth Coach: True story: I recently spoke to someone who was asked to invest in a business by a “wealth coach.” Is that ridiculous or does it reflect the complex realities of business management and investment.

A guru’s personal issues may not necessarily invalidate their teachings.

Instead, their challenges and experiences may even enrich their lessons and provide a more realistic perspective.

The Best Guru is (still) YOU.

“Your state is a state of mind. Change your state, and you can change your life.” ~ Tony Robbins

“Your state of mind is often a default disposition. It’s a habit that can be modified with intention and practice.” ~ M. Grunburg

Emotions: Beyond the Trigger Lies the Story

Tony Robbins nails it when he speaks about how a red flashing light in your rearview mirror can instantly change your physiology - your physical state.

But, there’s more to the story, so to speak.

That jolt of emotion – fear – isn’t purely a reaction to the red light itself.

The fear reaction is associated with a story about the red light.

The red light triggers a stored story in our minds; either a direct or shared memory from past experiences about red flashing lights in rear-view mirrors.

“The road to excellence lies in deliberate practice.” - Anders Ericsson

“Excellence, then, is not a single act, but a habit.” ~Aristotle

If “excellence” is a habit and the road to excellence is paved via deliberate or intentional practice, then both habit and skill development require PRACTICE.

Ericsson, a renowned psychologist pioneered the term “deliberate practice” back in 1996.* (More on intentional vs deliberate practice below)

The Spirit of Aloha

We all yearn for more aloha in our life; kindness, love, compassion and respect.

Interestingly enough, these qualities, just like any virtue, do not arise from mere aspiration; rather each is developed through intentional practice.

Personality traits, virtues, habits and skills are a result of practice.

“The road to excellence lies in deliberate practice.” - Anders Ericsson

“Excellence, then, is not a single act, but a habit.” ~Aristotle

If “excellence” is a habit and the road to excellence is paved via deliberate or intentional practice, then both habit and skill development require PRACTICE.

Ericsson, a renowned psychologist pioneered the term “deliberate practice” back in 1996.* (More on intentional vs deliberate practice below)

The Spirit of Aloha

We all yearn for more aloha in our life; kindness, love, compassion and respect.

Interestingly enough, these qualities, just like any virtue, do not arise from mere aspiration; rather each is developed through intentional practice.

Personality traits, virtues, habits and skills are a result of practice.

This Habits 2 Goals episode is FREE for ALL subscribers.

“The only person you are destined to become is the person you decide to be.” - Ralph Waldo Emerson

Note: There are a few occasions where MG accidentally says determination instead of determinism.

For eons, a philosophical debate has raged: Free will vs determinism.

Where do you stand? Determinism says you have no free will, and that all actions and events are predetermined.

However, free will says, you are fully accountable and responsible for your entire life.

Once again, MG takes the middle path in this debate.

“Life is much like any card or board game. You have rules (in life these are laws like gravity, etc. AND you have chance and randomness. You have the ability to move up and across the board and can influence your results, and your are subject to chaos and randomness.”

One of the worst quotes, it may make some people feel better but it’s absent much critical thinking is: “Well, EVERYTHING happens for a reason.”

Depending upon what happened, a tsunami in indonesia killing thousands. Or an earthquake in Japan. Or, the helicopter crash that killed Kobe Bryan. Good luck telling his wife and children that it happened for a reason.”

again, it may make them feel better by creating a story to support a theory of determinism.

Speaking of stories; since there truly is something called chaos and randomness – if not, we probably wouldn’t have those phrases. In legalese, these are know as “Acts of God.”

So, when it comes to luck it’s important to recogbize that it does exist. Thomas Jefferson reportedly said, “The harder I work, the luckier I get.

There is an entire TED talk her on ways to influence your luck.

So a few questions for you to ponder:

Does luck exist?

Are you lucky?

How can you enhance your luck?

Enjoy the show!

~mg

The link to the tracking sheet is here: https://thehabitfactor.com/templates

Additional:

* Download the free habits-to-goals tracking template to cultivate the habits that support your goals here: https://thehabitfactor.com/templates.

* Books that may help "The Power of Positive Thinking" by Norman Vincent Peale and "How to Win Friends and Influence People" by Dale Carnegie.

* MG’s Books: EVERYTHING is a F*cking Story, The Pressure Paradox™ & The Habit Factor®

Enjoy the show!

~mg

From the world of statistics: All models are flawed, but some are useful.

We asked Google’s AI experiment Gemini to “break” the “3 Circles of Behavior Echo-System” behavior model.

The short story (no pun intended), is he/she/IT could not.

The best Gemini could offer: “What about people who aren’t aware of their unconscious stories/thinking?”

It’s a good question and a nice attempt. However, an unconscious story is still a story (represented within the model), and that is the point of the latest book, EVERYTHING is a F*cking STORY where the latest version of the model was revealed.

BTW: You are invited to try and “break” the “3 Circles of Behavior Echo-System” behavior model as well.

If you think you can, please email or leave comments here.

*Note: ChatGPT’s does not know the model yet, officially published in October of 2022. GPT’s latest update is from January 2022.

***Get the inspiring, free and world’s first HABITS to GOALS tracking template here: → https://thehabitfactor.com/templates

“The Three Circles of Behavior Echo-System” / The Grunburg Behavior Model is a holistic, fluid, and dynamic behavior-change model. It’s the very first behavior-change model to demonstrate how our thoughts, feelings, behaviors, and even our environment vibrate (echo and reverberate) to influence each other.

Hence, it’s an “Echo-System” not an eco-system. All prior behavior models represent human behavior in a linear-flow type diagram.Background here.

If you’d like to understand human behavior at an even deeper level, learn more about the “Three Circles of Behavior Echo-System” which is featured in the book, “EVERYTHING!”

I teach and coach organizations and executives and executive coaches worldwide how to best apply and leverage “The Three Circles of Behavior Echo-System” and the P.A.R.R. [Plan, Act, Record & Reassess] scientifically-backed methodology for individual and organizational behavior design.

Check out the latest cohort offering; the waitlist is now open: The 28-Day Breakthrough!

*Recently Awarded: “Finalist: Self-help, Motivation”International Book Awards: EVERYTHING is a F*cking STORY.

Visit https://thehabitfactor.com/templates

To learn more about P.A.R.R., just Google “P.A.R.R. and The Habit Factor.”

Get The Habit Factor® FREE with your audible trial! https://audibletrial.com/habits2goals

Feedspot’s “Top 10 Habit Podcasts You Must Follow in 2021”

New listeners, grab your free habits 2 goals tracking template here: https://thehabitfactor.com/templates

FREE copy of As a Man Thinketh (PDF) right here: As a Man Thinketh

Subscribe iTunes here! Subscribe: Android

This Habits 2 Goals episode is FREE for ALL subscribers.

“The only person you are destined to become is the person you decide to be.” - Ralph Waldo Emerson

Note: There are a few occasions where MG accidentally says determination instead of determinism.

For eons, a philosophical debate has raged: Free will vs determinism.

Where do you stand? Determinism says you have no free will, and that all actions and events are predetermined.

However, free will says, you are fully accountable and responsible for your entire life.

Once again, MG takes the middle path in this debate.

“Life is much like any card or board game. You have rules (in life these are laws like gravity, etc. AND you have chance and randomness. You have the ability to move up and across the board and can influence your results, and your are subject to chaos and randomness.”

One of the worst quotes, it may make some people feel better but it’s absent much critical thinking is: “Well, EVERYTHING happens for a reason.”

Depending upon what happened, a tsunami in indonesia killing thousands. Or an earthquake in Japan. Or, the helicopter crash that killed Kobe Bryan. Good luck telling his wife and children that it happened for a reason.”

again, it may make them feel better by creating a story to support a theory of determinism.

Speaking of stories; since there truly is something called chaos and randomness – if not, we probably wouldn’t have those phrases. In legalese, these are know as “Acts of God.”

So, when it comes to luck it’s important to recogbize that it does exist. Thomas Jefferson reportedly said, “The harder I work, the luckier I get.

There is an entire TED talk her on ways to influence your luck.

So a few questions for you to ponder:

Does luck exist?

Are you lucky?

How can you enhance your luck?

Enjoy the show!

~mg

The link to the tracking sheet is here: https://thehabitfactor.com/templates

Additional:

* Download the free habits-to-goals tracking template to cultivate the habits that support your goals here: https://thehabitfactor.com/templates.

* Books that may help "The Power of Positive Thinking" by Norman Vincent Peale and "How to Win Friends and Influence People" by Dale Carnegie.

* MG’s Books: EVERYTHING is a F*cking Story, The Pressure Paradox™ & The Habit Factor®

Enjoy the show!

~mg

From the world of statistics: All models are flawed, but some are useful.

We asked Google’s AI experiment Gemini to “break” the “3 Circles of Behavior Echo-System” behavior model.

The short story (no pun intended), is he/she/IT could not.

The best Gemini could offer: “What about people who aren’t aware of their unconscious stories/thinking?”

It’s a good question and a nice attempt. However, an unconscious story is still a story (represented within the model), and that is the point of the latest book, EVERYTHING is a F*cking STORY where the latest version of the model was revealed.

BTW: You are invited to try and “break” the “3 Circles of Behavior Echo-System” behavior model as well.

If you think you can, please email or leave comments here.

*Note: ChatGPT’s does not know the model yet, officially published in October of 2022. GPT’s latest update is from January 2022.

***Get the inspiring, free and world’s first HABITS to GOALS tracking template here: → https://thehabitfactor.com/templates

“The Three Circles of Behavior Echo-System” / The Grunburg Behavior Model is a holistic, fluid, and dynamic behavior-change model. It’s the very first behavior-change model to demonstrate how our thoughts, feelings, behaviors, and even our environment vibrate (echo and reverberate) to influence each other.

Hence, it’s an “Echo-System” not an eco-system. All prior behavior models represent human behavior in a linear-flow type diagram.Background here.

If you’d like to understand human behavior at an even deeper level, learn more about the “Three Circles of Behavior Echo-System” which is featured in the book, “EVERYTHING!”

I teach and coach organizations and executives and executive coaches worldwide how to best apply and leverage “The Three Circles of Behavior Echo-System” and the P.A.R.R. [Plan, Act, Record & Reassess] scientifically-backed methodology for individual and organizational behavior design.

Check out the latest cohort offering; the waitlist is now open: The 28-Day Breakthrough!

*Recently Awarded: “Finalist: Self-help, Motivation”International Book Awards: EVERYTHING is a F*cking STORY.

Visit https://thehabitfactor.com/templates

To learn more about P.A.R.R., just Google “P.A.R.R. and The Habit Factor.”

Get The Habit Factor® FREE with your audible trial! https://audibletrial.com/habits2goals

Feedspot’s “Top 10 Habit Podcasts You Must Follow in 2021”

New listeners, grab your free habits 2 goals tracking template here: https://thehabitfactor.com/templates

FREE copy of As a Man Thinketh (PDF) right here: As a Man Thinketh

Subscribe iTunes here! Subscribe: Android

This Habits 2 Goals episode is FREE for ALL subscribers.

“The only person you are destined to become is the person you decide to be.” - Ralph Waldo Emerson

Note: There are a few occasions where MG accidentally says determination instead of determinism.

For eons, a philosophical debate has raged: Free will vs determinism.

Where do you stand? Determinism says you have no free will, and that all actions and events are predetermined.

However, free will says, you are fully accountable and responsible for your entire life.

Once again, MG takes the middle path in this debate.

“Life is much like any card or board game. You have rules (in life these are laws like gravity, etc. AND you have chance and randomness. You have the ability to move up and across the board and can influence your results, and your are subject to chaos and randomness.”

One of the worst quotes, it may make some people feel better but it’s absent much critical thinking is: “Well, EVERYTHING happens for a reason.”

Depending upon what happened, a tsunami in indonesia killing thousands. Or an earthquake in Japan. Or, the helicopter crash that killed Kobe Bryan. Good luck telling his wife and children that it happened for a reason.”

again, it may make them feel better by creating a story to support a theory of determinism.

Speaking of stories; since there truly is something called chaos and randomness – if not, we probably wouldn’t have those phrases. In legalese, these are know as “Acts of God.”

So, when it comes to luck it’s important to recogbize that it does exist. Thomas Jefferson reportedly said, “The harder I work, the luckier I get.

There is an entire TED talk her on ways to influence your luck.

So a few questions for you to ponder:

Does luck exist?

Are you lucky?

How can you enhance your luck?

Enjoy the show!

~mg

The link to the tracking sheet is here: https://thehabitfactor.com/templates

Additional:

* Download the free habits-to-goals tracking template to cultivate the habits that support your goals here: https://thehabitfactor.com/templates.

* Books that may help "The Power of Positive Thinking" by Norman Vincent Peale and "How to Win Friends and Influence People" by Dale Carnegie.

* MG’s Books: EVERYTHING is a F*cking Story, The Pressure Paradox™ & The Habit Factor®

Enjoy the show!

~mg

From the world of statistics: All models are flawed, but some are useful.

We asked Google’s AI experiment Gemini to “break” the “3 Circles of Behavior Echo-System” behavior model.

The short story (no pun intended), is he/she/IT could not.

The best Gemini could offer: “What about people who aren’t aware of their unconscious stories/thinking?”

It’s a good question and a nice attempt. However, an unconscious story is still a story (represented within the model), and that is the point of the latest book, EVERYTHING is a F*cking STORY where the latest version of the model was revealed.

BTW: You are invited to try and “break” the “3 Circles of Behavior Echo-System” behavior model as well.

If you think you can, please email or leave comments here.

*Note: ChatGPT’s does not know the model yet, officially published in October of 2022. GPT’s latest update is from January 2022.

***Get the inspiring, free and world’s first HABITS to GOALS tracking template here: → https://thehabitfactor.com/templates

“The Three Circles of Behavior Echo-System” / The Grunburg Behavior Model is a holistic, fluid, and dynamic behavior-change model. It’s the very first behavior-change model to demonstrate how our thoughts, feelings, behaviors, and even our environment vibrate (echo and reverberate) to influence each other.

Hence, it’s an “Echo-System” not an eco-system. All prior behavior models represent human behavior in a linear-flow type diagram.Background here.

If you’d like to understand human behavior at an even deeper level, learn more about the “Three Circles of Behavior Echo-System” which is featured in the book, “EVERYTHING!”

I teach and coach organizations and executives and executive coaches worldwide how to best apply and leverage “The Three Circles of Behavior Echo-System” and the P.A.R.R. [Plan, Act, Record & Reassess] scientifically-backed methodology for individual and organizational behavior design.

Check out the latest cohort offering; the waitlist is now open: The 28-Day Breakthrough!

*Recently Awarded: “Finalist: Self-help, Motivation”International Book Awards: EVERYTHING is a F*cking STORY.

Visit https://thehabitfactor.com/templates

To learn more about P.A.R.R., just Google “P.A.R.R. and The Habit Factor.”

Get The Habit Factor® FREE with your audible trial! https://audibletrial.com/habits2goals

Feedspot’s “Top 10 Habit Podcasts You Must Follow in 2021”

New listeners, grab your free habits 2 goals tracking template here: https://thehabitfactor.com/templates

FREE copy of As a Man Thinketh (PDF) right here: As a Man Thinketh

Subscribe iTunes here! Subscribe: Android

This Habits 2 Goals episode is FREE for ALL subscribers.

Commitment

Until one is committed, there is hesitancy,the chance to draw back.Concerning all acts of initiative (and creation),there is one elementary truth, the ignorance of which kills countless ideas and splendid plans.That the moment one definitely commits oneself, then Providence moves too.All sorts of things occur to help one that would never otherwise have occurred.A whole stream of events issues from the decision, raising in one’s favor all manner of unforeseen incidents and meetings and material assistance, which no man could have dreamed would have come his way. Whatever you can do, or dream you can do, begin it.Boldness has genius, power, and magic in it. Begin it now.

~ Johan Wolfgang von Goethe

“If you're looking for a guarantee, buy a toaster.” ~ Clint Eastwood

Life is far less predictable than a kitchen appliance.

It’s full of opportunities, each possessed of great promise. Yet, there is a catch, of course; each comes with risk.

Opportunities and experiences rarely come with an instruction manual or a guarantee.

While we tend to wait for the “perfect” time – when all our questions will be answered - and all our doubts will vanish.

Unfortunately, that time doesn’t exist.

The truth is that significant personal and professional explorations require a leap of faith.

We gather the necessary info – what is available and then commit.

One day; one step at a time—unable to see the entire staircase (as MLK famously put it), we proceed because we’ve committed and we can see the next step.

Enjoy the show!

~mg

The link to the tracking sheet is here: https://thehabitfactor.com/templates

Additional:

* Download the free habits-to-goals tracking template to cultivate the habits that support your goals here: https://thehabitfactor.com/templates.

* Books that may help "The Power of Positive Thinking" by Norman Vincent Peale and "How to Win Friends and Influence People" by Dale Carnegie.

* MG’s Books: EVERYTHING is a F*cking Story, The Pressure Paradox™ & The Habit Factor®

Enjoy the show!

~mg

From the world of statistics: All models are flawed, but some are useful.

We asked Google’s AI experiment Gemini to “break” the “3 Circles of Behavior Echo-System” behavior model.

The short story (no pun intended), is he/she/IT could not.

The best Gemini could offer: “What about people who aren’t aware of their unconscious stories/thinking?”

It’s a good question and a nice attempt. However, an unconscious story is still a story (represented within the model), and that is the point of the latest book, EVERYTHING is a F*cking STORY where the latest version of the model was revealed.

BTW: You are invited to try and “break” the “3 Circles of Behavior Echo-System” behavior model as well.

If you think you can, please email or leave comments here.

*Note: ChatGPT’s does not know the model yet, officially published in October of 2022. GPT’s latest update is from January 2022.

***Get the inspiring, free and world’s first HABITS to GOALS tracking template here: → https://thehabitfactor.com/templates

“The Three Circles of Behavior Echo-System” / The Grunburg Behavior Model is a holistic, fluid, and dynamic behavior-change model. It’s the very first behavior-change model to demonstrate how our thoughts, feelings, behaviors, and even our environment vibrate (echo and reverberate) to influence each other.

Hence, it’s an “Echo-System” not an eco-system. All prior behavior models represent human behavior in a linear-flow type diagram.Background here.

If you’d like to understand human behavior at an even deeper level, learn more about the “Three Circles of Behavior Echo-System” which is featured in the book, “EVERYTHING!”

I teach and coach organizations and executives and executive coaches worldwide how to best apply and leverage “The Three Circles of Behavior Echo-System” and the P.A.R.R. [Plan, Act, Record & Reassess] scientifically-backed methodology for individual and organizational behavior design.

Check out the latest cohort offering; the waitlist is now open: The 28-Day Breakthrough!

*Recently Awarded: “Finalist: Self-help, Motivation”International Book Awards: EVERYTHING is a F*cking STORY.

Visit https://thehabitfactor.com/templates

To learn more about P.A.R.R., just Google “P.A.R.R. and The Habit Factor.”

Get The Habit Factor® FREE with your audible trial! https://audibletrial.com/habits2goals

Feedspot’s “Top 10 Habit Podcasts You Must Follow in 2021”

New listeners, grab your free habits 2 goals tracking template here: https://thehabitfactor.com/templates

FREE copy of As a Man Thinketh (PDF) right here: As a Man Thinketh

Subscribe iTunes here! Subscribe: Android

“Wisdom is equal parts experience and reflection.” ~ Aristotle

Rumination

The term 'rumination' is often associated with negative thinking patterns. For better or worse, psychology has perpetuated this idea.

As you can see from the definition above, to ruminate is to simply consider or think deeply about something; as in philosophical ruminations.

Have you ever encountered a new concept that left you confused?

Perhaps worse, you thought you fully understood the idea and you didn’t.

Encountering new ideas in a strange way is somewhat similar to meeting a large group of new people.

Just as it takes time to distinguish faces and learn names, it takes time to really grasp new ideas.

Imagine embarking on a week-long hike with a group of strangers. On day one, the faces blur together, and names are impossible to recall.

By day four, after shared experiences and conversations, you not only know each of the individuals but their distinct personalities and backstories emerge.

New ideas, concepts and information unfold similarly.

By ruminating on new ideas important distinctions appear that were unnoticeable at first.

The next time you encounter an idea that seems confusing or even interesting, ruminate on it for a week, a month, or even longer.

View it as an opportunity for deep exploration.

Ironically, by dwelling upon the complex, important and simple distinctions come to light.

~mg

Enjoy the show!

The link to the tracking sheet is here: https://thehabitfactor.com/templates

Additional:

* Download the free habits-to-goals tracking template to cultivate the habits that support your goals here: https://thehabitfactor.com/templates.

* Books that may help "The Power of Positive Thinking" by Norman Vincent Peale and "How to Win Friends and Influence People" by Dale Carnegie.

* MG’s Books: EVERYTHING is a F*cking Story, The Pressure Paradox™ & The Habit Factor®

Enjoy the show!

~mg

From the world of statistics: All models are flawed, but some are useful.

We asked Google’s AI experiment Gemini to “break” the “3 Circles of Behavior Echo-System” behavior model.

The short story (no pun intended), is he/she/IT could not.

The best Gemini could offer: “What about people who aren’t aware of their unconscious stories/thinking?”

It’s a good question and a nice attempt. However, an unconscious story is still a story (represented within the model), and that is the point of the latest book, EVERYTHING is a F*cking STORY where the latest version of the model was revealed.

BTW: You are invited to try and “break” the “3 Circles of Behavior Echo-System” behavior model as well.

If you think you can, please email or leave comments here.

*Note: ChatGPT’s does not know the model yet, officially published in October of 2022. GPT’s latest update is from January 2022.

***Get the inspiring, free and world’s first HABITS to GOALS tracking template here: → https://thehabitfactor.com/templates

“The Three Circles of Behavior Echo-System” / The Grunburg Behavior Model is a holistic, fluid, and dynamic behavior-change model. It’s the very first behavior-change model to demonstrate how our thoughts, feelings, behaviors, and even our environment vibrate (echo and reverberate) to influence each other.

Hence, it’s an “Echo-System” not an eco-system. All prior behavior models represent human behavior in a linear-flow type diagram.Background here.

If you’d like to understand human behavior at an even deeper level, learn more about the “Three Circles of Behavior Echo-System” which is featured in the book, “EVERYTHING!”

I teach and coach organizations and executives and executive coaches worldwide how to best apply and leverage “The Three Circles of Behavior Echo-System” and the P.A.R.R. [Plan, Act, Record & Reassess] scientifically-backed methodology for individual and organizational behavior design.

Check out the latest cohort offering; the waitlist is now open: The 28-Day Breakthrough!

*Recently Awarded: “Finalist: Self-help, Motivation”International Book Awards: EVERYTHING is a F*cking STORY.

Visit https://thehabitfactor.com/templates

To learn more about P.A.R.R., just Google “P.A.R.R. and The Habit Factor.”

Get The Habit Factor® FREE with your audible trial! https://audibletrial.com/habits2goals

Feedspot’s “Top 10 Habit Podcasts You Must Follow in 2021”

New listeners, grab your free habits 2 goals tracking template here: https://thehabitfactor.com/templates

FREE copy of As a Man Thinketh (PDF) right here: As a Man Thinketh

Subscribe iTunes here! Subscribe: Android

“Success is always a co-creative endeavor.”

Who wants to be a “success”?

The short answer is, “Only EVERYONE!”

Yet, when someone attempts to define ‘success’ they tend to struggle.

They say things like, “I just want to be happy or have a smile on my face.”

It’s tough to hit a target you haven’t defined. Is your definition for success any better?

MG and JG discuss a slightly amended definition for ‘success’.

Largely due to the “Three Circles of Behavior Echo-System”. It’s the acknowledgement that ‘outside forces’ – acts of god, luck, good fortune, etc., play a role in one’s ‘success’.

The truth is, we can only CO-CREATE our ideal future. We have a large role in our success and forces beyond our control contribute.

Enjoy the show!

~mg

The link to the tracking sheet is here: https://thehabitfactor.com/templates

Additional:

* Download the free habits-to-goals tracking template to cultivate the habits that support your goals here: https://thehabitfactor.com/templates.

* Books that may help "The Power of Positive Thinking" by Norman Vincent Peale and "How to Win Friends and Influence People" by Dale Carnegie.

* MG’s Books: EVERYTHING is a F*cking Story, The Pressure Paradox™ & The Habit Factor®

Enjoy the show!

~mg

From the world of statistics: All models are flawed, but some are useful.

We asked Google’s AI experiment Gemini to “break” the “3 Circles of Behavior Echo-System” behavior model.

The short story (no pun intended), is he/she/IT could not.

The best Gemini could offer: “What about people who aren’t aware of their unconscious stories/thinking?”

It’s a good question and a nice attempt. However, an unconscious story is still a story (represented within the model), and that is the point of the latest book, EVERYTHING is a F*cking STORY where the latest version of the model was revealed.

BTW: You are invited to try and “break” the “3 Circles of Behavior Echo-System” behavior model as well.

If you think you can, please email or leave comments here.

*Note: ChatGPT’s does not know the model yet, officially published in October of 2022. GPT’s latest update is from January 2022.

***Get the inspiring, free and world’s first HABITS to GOALS tracking template here: → https://thehabitfactor.com/templates

“The Three Circles of Behavior Echo-System” / The Grunburg Behavior Model is a holistic, fluid, and dynamic behavior-change model. It’s the very first behavior-change model to demonstrate how our thoughts, feelings, behaviors, and even our environment vibrate (echo and reverberate) to influence each other.

Hence, it’s an “Echo-System” not an eco-system. All prior behavior models represent human behavior in a linear-flow type diagram.Background here.

If you’d like to understand human behavior at an even deeper level, learn more about the “Three Circles of Behavior Echo-System” which is featured in the book, “EVERYTHING!”

I teach and coach organizations and executives and executive coaches worldwide how to best apply and leverage “The Three Circles of Behavior Echo-System” and the P.A.R.R. [Plan, Act, Record & Reassess] scientifically-backed methodology for individual and organizational behavior design.

Check out the latest cohort offering; the waitlist is now open: The 28-Day Breakthrough!

*Recently Awarded: “Finalist: Self-help, Motivation”International Book Awards: EVERYTHING is a F*cking STORY.

Visit https://thehabitfactor.com/templates

To learn more about P.A.R.R., just Google “P.A.R.R. and The Habit Factor.”

Get The Habit Factor® FREE with your audible trial! https://audibletrial.com/habits2goals

Feedspot’s “Top 10 Habit Podcasts You Must Follow in 2021”

New listeners, grab your free habits 2 goals tracking template here: https://thehabitfactor.com/templates

FREE copy of As a Man Thinketh (PDF) right here: As a Man Thinketh

Subscribe iTunes here! Subscribe: Android

“Learning Zen is a phenomenon of gold and dung.Before you understand it, it’s like gold; after you understand it, it’s like dung.”

Gold & Dung

In this episode MG and JG discuss a perplexing and important Zen koan

For many, Zen appears to possess the “gold” – the promise of enlightenment – peace, and a deeper understanding of oneself.

However, this koan teaches us that the value of such knowledge is in its application.

It’s easy to drown in intellectual concepts. It’s even easier to get caught up in the constant consumption of knowledge.

Here's the rub: intellectual understanding, however impressive, is ultimately DUNG – valuable as fertilizer.

The essence of Zen (and most worthwhile concepts), lies within its PRACTICE.

Embrace the transformation that comes from putting knowledge into action.

PRACTICE. PRACTICE. PRACTICE.

That's where the real gold truly lies.

~mg

The link to the tracking sheet is here: https://thehabitfactor.com/templates

Additional:

* Download the free habits-to-goals tracking template to cultivate the habits that support your goals here: https://thehabitfactor.com/templates.

* Books that may help "The Power of Positive Thinking" by Norman Vincent Peale and "How to Win Friends and Influence People" by Dale Carnegie.

* MG’s Books: EVERYTHING is a F*cking Story, The Pressure Paradox™ & The Habit Factor®

Enjoy the show!

~mg

From the world of statistics: All models are flawed, but some are useful.

We asked Google’s AI experiment Gemini to “break” the “3 Circles of Behavior Echo-System” behavior model.

The short story (no pun intended), is he/she/IT could not.

The best Gemini could offer: “What about people who aren’t aware of their unconscious stories/thinking?”

It’s a good question and a nice attempt. However, an unconscious story is still a story (represented within the model), and that is the point of the latest book, EVERYTHING is a F*cking STORY where the latest version of the model was revealed.

BTW: You are invited to try and “break” the “3 Circles of Behavior Echo-System” behavior model as well.

If you think you can, please email or leave comments here.

*Note: ChatGPT’s does not know the model yet, officially published in October of 2022. GPT’s latest update is from January 2022.

***Get the inspiring, free and world’s first HABITS to GOALS tracking template here: → https://thehabitfactor.com/templates

“The Three Circles of Behavior Echo-System” / The Grunburg Behavior Model is a holistic, fluid, and dynamic behavior-change model. It’s the very first behavior-change model to demonstrate how our thoughts, feelings, behaviors, and even our environment vibrate (echo and reverberate) to influence each other.

Hence, it’s an “Echo-System” not an eco-system. All prior behavior models represent human behavior in a linear-flow type diagram.Background here.

If you’d like to understand human behavior at an even deeper level, learn more about the “Three Circles of Behavior Echo-System” which is featured in the book, “EVERYTHING!”

I teach and coach organizations and executives and executive coaches worldwide how to best apply and leverage “The Three Circles of Behavior Echo-System” and the P.A.R.R. [Plan, Act, Record & Reassess] scientifically-backed methodology for individual and organizational behavior design.

Check out the latest cohort offering; the waitlist is now open: The 28-Day Breakthrough!

*Recently Awarded: “Finalist: Self-help, Motivation”International Book Awards: EVERYTHING is a F*cking STORY.

Visit https://thehabitfactor.com/templates

To learn more about P.A.R.R., just Google “P.A.R.R. and The Habit Factor.”

Get The Habit Factor® FREE with your audible trial! https://audibletrial.com/habits2goals

Feedspot’s “Top 10 Habit Podcasts You Must Follow in 2021”

New listeners, grab your free habits 2 goals tracking template here: https://thehabitfactor.com/templates

FREE copy of As a Man Thinketh (PDF) right here: As a Man Thinketh

Subscribe iTunes here! Subscribe: Android

“Opportunities multiply as they are seized.”~Sun Tzu

The Epiphany

Where do opportunities come from?

JG and MG discuss a prior Thursday Thread subject: Opportunities.

Einstein famously said, “Nothing happens until something moves.”

There is no telling the ripple effect a decision or action may have once it’s seized.

Saying "yes" to a challenging project or adventure often leads to new projects and adventures. Attend an industry event and lo and behold, unexpected collaborations and opportunities present themselves.

Stepping outside your comfort zone is about more than just success or failure. It's about setting in motion a ripple effect of experiences, learning, and growth.

Opportunities rarely arrive with fanfare. They often whisper, disguised as invitations, or perhaps even as anxieties urging you to break free from self-imposed limits.

Initiate, move, and observe.

Enjoy the show!

~mg

The link to the tracking sheet is here: https://thehabitfactor.com/templates

Additional:

* Download the free habits-to-goals tracking template to cultivate the habits that support your goals here: https://thehabitfactor.com/templates.

* Books that may help "The Power of Positive Thinking" by Norman Vincent Peale and "How to Win Friends and Influence People" by Dale Carnegie.

* MG’s Books: EVERYTHING is a F*cking Story, The Pressure Paradox™ & The Habit Factor®

Enjoy the show!

~mg

From the world of statistics: All models are flawed, but some are useful.

We asked Google’s AI experiment Gemini to “break” the “3 Circles of Behavior Echo-System” behavior model.

The short story (no pun intended), is he/she/IT could not.

The best Gemini could offer: “What about people who aren’t aware of their unconscious stories/thinking?”

It’s a good question and a nice attempt. However, an unconscious story is still a story (represented within the model), and that is the point of the latest book, EVERYTHING is a F*cking STORY where the latest version of the model was revealed.

BTW: You are invited to try and “break” the “3 Circles of Behavior Echo-System” behavior model as well.

If you think you can, please email or leave comments here.

*Note: ChatGPT’s does not know the model yet, officially published in October of 2022. GPT’s latest update is from January 2022.

***Get the inspiring, free and world’s first HABITS to GOALS tracking template here: → https://thehabitfactor.com/templates

“The Three Circles of Behavior Echo-System” / The Grunburg Behavior Model is a holistic, fluid, and dynamic behavior-change model. It’s the very first behavior-change model to demonstrate how our thoughts, feelings, behaviors, and even our environment vibrate (echo and reverberate) to influence each other.

Hence, it’s an “Echo-System” not an eco-system. All prior behavior models represent human behavior in a linear-flow type diagram.Background here.

If you’d like to understand human behavior at an even deeper level, learn more about the “Three Circles of Behavior Echo-System” which is featured in the book, “EVERYTHING!”

I teach and coach organizations and executives and executive coaches worldwide how to best apply and leverage “The Three Circles of Behavior Echo-System” and the P.A.R.R. [Plan, Act, Record & Reassess] scientifically-backed methodology for individual and organizational behavior design.

Check out the latest cohort offering; the waitlist is now open: The 28-Day Breakthrough!

*Recently Awarded: “Finalist: Self-help, Motivation”International Book Awards: EVERYTHING is a F*cking STORY.

Visit https://thehabitfactor.com/templates

To learn more about P.A.R.R., just Google “P.A.R.R. and The Habit Factor.”

Get The Habit Factor® FREE with your audible trial! https://audibletrial.com/habits2goals

Feedspot’s “Top 10 Habit Podcasts You Must Follow in 2021”

New listeners, grab your free habits 2 goals tracking template here: https://thehabitfactor.com/templates

FREE copy of As a Man Thinketh (PDF) right here: As a Man Thinketh

Subscribe iTunes here! Subscribe: Android

“After our startup’s ‘failure’, with my tail between my legs, I took a trip to Puerto Escondido, Mexico to surf for nearly two weeks, reorient and clear my head. Out of that trip, I dove headfirst into personal development.”

The Epiphany

One day, in early 2003, while the iPod was in shuffle mode, it was riffling through various programs; Ed Foreman, Wayne Dyer, Stephen Covey and Anthony Robbins.

Even though I’d probably heard these tracks hundreds of times, something clicked. I noticed that all of them had a common theme; they were saying nearly the same thing, just in very different ways. Robbins was talking about “conditioning” and Foreman was talking about daily habits for success, while Dr. Stephen Covey was talking about seven habits.

I started talking to myself aloud, then began pacing in circles. “It’s not about morning habits or success habits or a list of habits. It’s far more basic! It’s about HABIT; the singular force of HABIT.”

Enjoy the show!

~mg

The link to the tracking sheet is here: https://thehabitfactor.com/templates

Additional:

* Download the free habits-to-goals tracking template to cultivate the habits that support your goals here: https://thehabitfactor.com/templates.

* Books that may help "The Power of Positive Thinking" by Norman Vincent Peale and "How to Win Friends and Influence People" by Dale Carnegie.

* MG’s Books: EVERYTHING is a F*cking Story, The Pressure Paradox™ & The Habit Factor®

Enjoy the show!

~mg

From the world of statistics: All models are flawed, but some are useful.

We asked Google’s AI experiment Gemini to “break” the “3 Circles of Behavior Echo-System” behavior model.

The short story (no pun intended), is he/she/IT could not.

The best Gemini could offer: “What about people who aren’t aware of their unconscious stories/thinking?”

It’s a good question and a nice attempt. However, an unconscious story is still a story (represented within the model), and that is the point of the latest book, EVERYTHING is a F*cking STORY where the latest version of the model was revealed.

BTW: You are invited to try and “break” the “3 Circles of Behavior Echo-System” behavior model as well.

If you think you can, please email or leave comments here.

*Note: ChatGPT’s does not know the model yet, officially published in October of 2022. GPT’s latest update is from January 2022.

***Get the inspiring, free and world’s first HABITS to GOALS tracking template here: → https://thehabitfactor.com/templates

“The Three Circles of Behavior Echo-System” / The Grunburg Behavior Model is a holistic, fluid, and dynamic behavior-change model. It’s the very first behavior-change model to demonstrate how our thoughts, feelings, behaviors, and even our environment vibrate (echo and reverberate) to influence each other.

Hence, it’s an “Echo-System” not an eco-system. All prior behavior models represent human behavior in a linear-flow type diagram.Background here.

If you’d like to understand human behavior at an even deeper level, learn more about the “Three Circles of Behavior Echo-System” which is featured in the book, “EVERYTHING!”

I teach and coach organizations and executives and executive coaches worldwide how to best apply and leverage “The Three Circles of Behavior Echo-System” and the P.A.R.R. [Plan, Act, Record & Reassess] scientifically-backed methodology for individual and organizational behavior design.

Check out the latest cohort offering; the waitlist is now open: The 28-Day Breakthrough!

*Recently Awarded: “Finalist: Self-help, Motivation”International Book Awards: EVERYTHING is a F*cking STORY.

Visit https://thehabitfactor.com/templates

To learn more about P.A.R.R., just Google “P.A.R.R. and The Habit Factor.”

Get The Habit Factor® FREE with your audible trial! https://audibletrial.com/habits2goals

Feedspot’s “Top 10 Habit Podcasts You Must Follow in 2021”

New listeners, grab your free habits 2 goals tracking template here: https://thehabitfactor.com/templates

FREE copy of As a Man Thinketh (PDF) right here: As a Man Thinketh

Subscribe iTunes here! Subscribe: Android

“It can scarcely be denied that the supreme goal of all theory is to make the irreducible basic elements as simple and as few as possible without having to surrender the adequate representation of a single datum of experience.” ~ Albert Einstein

Systems

I’ve come across a few authors, ”thought leaders,” who, in an attempt to describe a system, unfortunately, confuse their audience.

Author #1: A system is “a series of habits.”

Author #2: A system is something that “gives you the most options.”

On top of these loose and inaccurate definitions, each author repeatedly states, “Systems are better than goals.”

Oy veh!

Let’s review an actual definition of a system.

A system is a collection of interrelated components that function together to achieve a specific objective.

“To achieve a specific objective.” Interesting.

A “specific objective” is a goal.

Hence, systems serve goals; they need each other, and they are not better than goals.

Why the confusion?

Well, it turns out the universality of systems is partially to blame. Consider that there is everything from ecosystems to solar systems, digestive systems, nervous systems, weather systems, etc.

Why this matters…

Systems are essential for forging/cultivating behaviors and habits that serve your goals! (read that again)

If your goal is to lose some weight, you’ll want to devise a “system” to help forge the habits and behaviors that support that goal.

Enter: “The 3 Circles of Behavior Echo-System.”

When it comes to forging behaviors/habits (middle concentric circle) it’s essential to understand the two major influencers: The Environment & one’s Thinking/Stories.

Feelings & Emotions are potentially twice as important/influential at any particular moment and less so over a period of time.

Translated: Goal pursuit takes months, if not years, a significant period of time. Thus, feelings and emotions which fluctuate from one day to the next are less important to your long-term goals.

If you were a two-year-old and not emotionally mature this model wouldn’t apply. However, because you’re an emotionally mature adult, there are just TWO MAJOR INFLUENCERS OF YOUR BEHAVIOR, particularly in pursuit of your long-term goals: Thinking/Stories & Environment.

Enjoy the show!

~mg

“The whole is greater than the sum of its parts.”~ Aristotle

Additional:

* Download the free habits-to-goals tracking template to cultivate the habits that support your goals here: https://thehabitfactor.com/templates.

* Books that may help "The Power of Positive Thinking" by Norman Vincent Peale and "How to Win Friends and Influence People" by Dale Carnegie.

* MG’s Books: EVERYTHING is a F*cking Story, The Pressure Paradox™ & The Habit Factor®

From the world of statistics: All models are flawed, but some are useful.

We asked Google’s AI experiment Gemini to “break” the “3 Circles of Behavior Echo-System” behavior model.

The short story (no pun intended), is he/she/IT could not.

The best Gemini could offer: “What about people who aren’t aware of their unconscious stories/thinking?”

It’s a good question and a nice attempt. However, an unconscious story is still a story (represented within the model), and that is the point of the latest book, EVERYTHING is a F*cking STORY where the latest version of the model was revealed.

BTW: You are invited to try and “break” the “3 Circles of Behavior Echo-System” behavior model as well.

If you think you can, please email or leave comments here.

*Note: ChatGPT’s does not know the model yet, officially published in October of 2022. GPT’s latest update is from January 2022.

***Get the inspiring, free and world’s first HABITS to GOALS tracking template here: → https://thehabitfactor.com/templates

“The Three Circles of Behavior Echo-System” / The Grunburg Behavior Model is a holistic, fluid, and dynamic behavior-change model. It’s the very first behavior-change model to demonstrate how our thoughts, feelings, behaviors, and even our environment vibrate (echo and reverberate) to influence each other.

Hence, it’s an “Echo-System” not an eco-system. All prior behavior models represent human behavior in a linear-flow type diagram.Background here.

If you’d like to understand human behavior at an even deeper level, learn more about the “Three Circles of Behavior Echo-System” which is featured in the book, “EVERYTHING!”

I teach and coach organizations and executives and executive coaches worldwide how to best apply and leverage “The Three Circles of Behavior Echo-System” and the P.A.R.R. [Plan, Act, Record & Reassess] scientifically-backed methodology for individual and organizational behavior design.

Check out the latest cohort offering; the waitlist is now open: The 28-Day Breakthrough!

*Recently Awarded: “Finalist: Self-help, Motivation”International Book Awards: EVERYTHING is a F*cking STORY.

Visit https://thehabitfactor.com/templates

To learn more about P.A.R.R., just Google “P.A.R.R. and The Habit Factor.”

Get The Habit Factor® FREE with your audible trial! https://audibletrial.com/habits2goals

Feedspot’s “Top 10 Habit Podcasts You Must Follow in 2021”

New listeners, grab your free habits 2 goals tracking template here: https://thehabitfactor.com/templates

FREE copy of As a Man Thinketh (PDF) right here: As a Man Thinketh

Subscribe iTunes here! Subscribe: Android

"Opportunities multiply as they are seized." ~ Sun Tzu

LIMITED

As we approach middle age, we realize that our time, opportunities, energy and certainly, our experiences become limited.

While this may seem obvious, it can also provide a terrific wake-up call!

How much longer are you going to put off that trip “of a lifetime”?

How much longer are you going to put off that creative project?

Let this episode remind you to seize the moment and realize that each new day is a gift to seize the opportunities that are vanishing before your eyes.

NOW! Now is the time to make the most of your life.

“Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things that you didn’t do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines, sail away from safe harbor, catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore, Dream, Discover.” ~ Mark Twain.”

Key ideas:

* Whether financial or otherwise, recognize decisions as limited opportunities

* Qualify opportunities that come your way and put them through a “20 years from now” filter.

* Qualify decisions relative to the frequency of the opportunity.

* Seize the moment by challenging yourself to do things that are important..

* Be brave, be assertive and make the most of your time on Earth.

Summary

The time is NOW. Take action, NOW.

Seize opportunities that come your way.

While we may be eternal beings, this life - right now - is very limited.

“Life is what happens to you while you’re busy making plans.” ~ John Lennon

Additional:

* Download the free habits-to-goals tracking template to cultivate the habits that support your goals here: https://thehabitfactor.com/templates.

* Books that may help "The Power of Positive Thinking" by Norman Vincent Peale and "How to Win Friends and Influence People" by Dale Carnegie.

* MG’s Books: EVERYTHING is a F*cking Story, The Pressure Paradox™ & The Habit Factor®

Enjoy the show!

~mg

From the world of statistics: All models are flawed, but some are useful.

We asked Google’s AI experiment Gemini to “break” the “3 Circles of Behavior Echo-System” behavior model.

The short story (no pun intended), is he/she/IT could not.

The best Gemini could offer: “What about people who aren’t aware of their unconscious stories/thinking?”

It’s a good question and a nice attempt. However, an unconscious story is still a story (represented within the model), and that is the point of the latest book, EVERYTHING is a F*cking STORY where the latest version of the model was revealed.

BTW: You are invited to try and “break” the “3 Circles of Behavior Echo-System” behavior model as well.

If you think you can, please email or leave comments here.

*Note: ChatGPT’s does not know the model yet, officially published in October of 2022. GPT’s latest update is from January 2022.

***Get the inspiring, free and world’s first HABITS to GOALS tracking template here: → https://thehabitfactor.com/templates

“The Three Circles of Behavior Echo-System” / The Grunburg Behavior Model is a holistic, fluid, and dynamic behavior-change model. It’s the very first behavior-change model to demonstrate how our thoughts, feelings, behaviors, and even our environment vibrate (echo and reverberate) to influence each other.

Hence, it’s an “Echo-System” not an eco-system. All prior behavior models represent human behavior in a linear-flow type diagram.Background here.

If you’d like to understand human behavior at an even deeper level, learn more about the “Three Circles of Behavior Echo-System” which is featured in the book, “EVERYTHING!”

I teach and coach organizations and executives and executive coaches worldwide how to best apply and leverage “The Three Circles of Behavior Echo-System” and the P.A.R.R. [Plan, Act, Record & Reassess] scientifically-backed methodology for individual and organizational behavior design.

Check out the latest cohort offering; the waitlist is now open: The 28-Day Breakthrough!

*Recently Awarded: “Finalist: Self-help, Motivation”International Book Awards: EVERYTHING is a F*cking STORY.

Visit https://thehabitfactor.com/templates

To learn more about P.A.R.R., just Google “P.A.R.R. and The Habit Factor.”

Get The Habit Factor® FREE with your audible trial! https://audibletrial.com/habits2goals

Feedspot’s “Top 10 Habit Podcasts You Must Follow in 2021”

New listeners, grab your free habits 2 goals tracking template here: https://thehabitfactor.com/templates

FREE copy of As a Man Thinketh (PDF) right here: As a Man Thinketh

Subscribe iTunes here! Subscribe: Android

Joel Brown & Addicted2Success.com

“I think success is seeing your potential play out and knowing that it matches alignment with what you value most and it resonates in reality.”~ Joel Brown

This Habits 2 Goals episode is FREE for ALL subscribers.

The Journey

Joel Brown founder of Addicted2Success.com as well as mindstrongacademy.com. He’s a master coach and host of the podcast sharing the same name, “Addicted2Success.”

JB and MG discuss everything from Joel’s journey as a dropout in high school to creating the phenomenally successful website Addicted2Success, which boasts lifetime viewership upwards of 370 million people!

The discussion covers a wide array of topics, from overcoming obstacles to defining discipline and success, as well as a handful of anecdotes that make Joel’s journey so special.

They explore the importance of setting goals and the essence of building and aligning habits for those goals.

Background and Intro:

* Joel was born in Perth, Australia.

* He describes the city as laid-back and casual.

* He was always fascinated by what makes people successful and what it takes to be disciplined.

* Joel begins by sharing that he read The Habit Factor® in its entirety 12-plus years ago and found it immensely helpful in understanding habits.

* JB expresses his appreciation for Martin’s pioneering work in the field of habit and, in particular, how habits relate to goal achievement.

* He dropped out of high school and pursued various business ventures.

* He eventually built the website Addicted2Success.com, which shares advice on personal development personal transformation, goals, and habits.

“I think discipline gets mistaken a lot for motivation. They're really not the same, you know I think a lot of people sit around waiting for motivation to show up; like sitting there watching Dwayne, The Rock Johnson on YouTube hoping that you feel jacked-up and excited enough to

More:

* JB on Success: JB believes that success is not about achieving material possessions or external validation, but rather about living in alignment with your values and fulfilling your potential.

* Joel emphasizes the importance of avoiding someone else's definition of success.

* JB on Discipline: Discipline is doing what you need to do when you need to do it, whether you feel like it or not. Motivation is fleeting and unreliable.

* Personal anecdotes: JB shares his story of dropping out of high school and starting his own business. His stories underscore the importance of perseverance and overcoming challenges.

* Goals and habits: Joel discusses the importance of setting clear goals and building habits that support those goals. JB shares how his new program at mindstrongacademy.com accelerates personal development.

I want to make a decision from a place of love. I love what I do. I'm inspired by it. I'm in acceptance and understanding and joy and peace with this. I'm centered in this. This is power. ~ Joel Brown

Joel Brown's background and STORY are a testament to the power of personal development. His love and knowledge of the subject matter shine and are undoubtedly the reason behind the immense popularity of his website, Addicted2Success.

You can learn more about Joel and his work here:

addicted2success.com

mindstrongacademy.com

doquiz.com

Insta: @iamjoelbrown

Twitter: @iamjoelbrown

Recommended book: The Bible

“If I do the hard thing, then all the other things feel a lot easier. So, whenever I'm going through a tough situation, all I have to do is go back to my memory bank and go, hey, you know what? You went through this, this, this, this, and this. Like if you’ve been through that, you can get through this. And it's worth it. It's really worth doing that because life does become easier. It’s not perfect, but it becomes easier when you’ve gone through the tough things and overcome them.” ~ Joel Brown

Additional:

* MG’s Books: EVERYTHING is a F*cking Story, The Pressure Paradox™ & The Habit Factor®

* » FREE habits-to-goals tracking template to cultivate the habits that support your goals here: https://thehabitfactor.com/templates.

* Books that may help "The Power of Positive Thinking" by Norman Vincent Peale and "How to Win Friends and Influence People" by Dale Carnegie.

*

Enjoy the show!

~mg

From the world of statistics: All models are flawed, but some are useful.

We asked Google’s AI experiment Gemini to “break” the “3 Circles of Behavior Echo-System” behavior model.

The short story (no pun intended), is he/she/IT could not.

The best Gemini could offer: “What about people who aren’t aware of their unconscious stories/thinking?”

It’s a good question and a nice attempt. However, an unconscious story is still a story (represented within the model), and that is the point of the latest book, EVERYTHING is a F*cking STORY where the latest version of the model was revealed.

By the way, you are also invited to try to “break” the “3 Circles of Behavior Echo-System” behavior model.

If you think you can, please email or leave comments here.

*Note: Microsoft Co-Pilot and Gemini are up to speed. ChatGPT’s does not know the model exists. GPT’s latest update is from January 2022. 3 Circles of Behavior Echo-System was officially published in October of 2022.

***Get the inspiring, free and world’s first HABITS to GOALS tracking template here: → https://thehabitfactor.com/templates

“The Three Circles of Behavior Echo-System” / The Grunburg Behavior Model is a holistic, fluid, and dynamic behavior-change model. It’s the very first behavior-change model to demonstrate how our thoughts, feelings, behaviors, and even our environment vibrate (echo and reverberate) to influence each other.

Hence, it’s an “Echo-System” not an eco-system. All prior behavior models represent human behavior in a linear-flow type diagram.Background here.

If you’d like to understand human behavior at an even deeper level, learn more about the “Three Circles of Behavior Echo-System” which is featured in the book, “EVERYTHING!”

I teach and coach organizations and individuals worldwide how to best utilize and leverage “The Three Circles of Behavior Echo-System” (below) and the P.A.R.R. [Plan, Act, Record & Reassess] scientifically-backed methodology for individual and organizational behavior design.

Check out the latest cohort offering; the waitlist is now open: The 28-Day Breakthrough!

*Recently Awarded: “Finalist: Self-help, Motivation”International Book Awards: EVERYTHING is a F*cking STORY.

Visit https://thehabitfactor.com/templates

To learn more about P.A.R.R., just Google “P.A.R.R. and The Habit Factor.”

Get The Habit Factor® FREE with your audible trial! https://audibletrial.com/habits2goals

Feedspot’s “Top 10 Habit Podcasts You Must Follow in 2021”

New listeners, grab your free habits 2 goals tracking template here: https://thehabitfactor.com/templates

FREE copy of As a Man Thinketh (PDF) right here: As a Man Thinketh

Subscribe iTunes here! Subscribe: Android

“Decisions are the hinges of destiny.” ~ Edwin Markham

“The greatest mistake you can make in life is to be continually afraid you will make one.” ~ Zig Ziglar

Better Decisions: The Art of Choice

Decision-making - it's the bedrock of our lives, shaping every experience from the mundane to the monumental.

Our approach to decision-making isn’t always thorough, and therein lies the potential for growth.

1. The Comfort of Habitual Decisions:

Often, we navigate routine decisions on autopilot. The familiar barber, the trusted mechanic, the well-worn route home - these choices, while not necessarily the ‘best,’ work.

Each brings a sense of comfort and efficiency. While this serves us well for day-to-day tasks, it can also inhibit exploration.

Stepping outside our comfort zones, trying a new restaurant, or exploring a different route might just unlock better results and experiences!

2. Intuition vs. Expertise:

For infrequent, high-consequence decisions, we might rely on intuition, crafting narratives in our heads about the “right” choice. While gut instinct holds value, neglecting expert advice can be costly.

Seek out expertise relevant to your decision, whether it's a financial advisor for major investments or a doctor for health concerns.

Diversifying your sources of information leads to better, well-rounded choices.

“Good decisions come from experience. Experience comes from bad decisions.”~ Nelson Mandela

3. From Good to Great: Just add Awareness

We often view decisions as binary: good or bad. But the reality is that our choices and results rest upon a spectrum.

A “good” decision today might become a “great" decision with a little more awareness, thoroughness and effort.

Take the time to reflect on your current decisions by assessing potential alternatives and related narratives. Then, actively seek resources to assist you in up-leveling your “good” decisions to “great.”

Remember, making better decisions is a process to refine and revisit.

By challenging your autopilot routine, seeking expert advice, and actively seeking improvement, you unlock the potential for greatness in every choice you make.

“The quality of your life is the quality of your decisions.” ~ Bob Dylan

Additional:

* Download the free habits-to-goals tracking template to cultivate the habits that support your goals here: https://thehabitfactor.com/templates.

* Books that may help "The Power of Positive Thinking" by Norman Vincent Peale and "How to Win Friends and Influence People" by Dale Carnegie.

* MG’s Books: EVERYTHING is a F*cking Story, The Pressure Paradox™ & The Habit Factor®

Enjoy the show!

~mg

From the world of statistics: All models are flawed, but some are useful.

We asked Google’s AI experiment Gemini to “break” the “3 Circles of Behavior Echo-System” behavior model.

The short story (no pun intended), is he/she/IT could not.

The best Gemini could offer: “What about people who aren’t aware of their unconscious stories/thinking?”

It’s a good question and a nice attempt. However, an unconscious story is still a story (represented within the model), and that is the point of the latest book, EVERYTHING is a F*cking STORY where the latest version of the model was revealed.

BTW: You are invited to try and “break” the “3 Circles of Behavior Echo-System” behavior model as well.

If you think you can, please email or leave comments here.

*Note: ChatGPT’s does not know the model yet, officially published in October of 2022. GPT’s latest update is from January 2022.

***Get the inspiring, free and world’s first HABITS to GOALS tracking template here: → https://thehabitfactor.com/templates

“The Three Circles of Behavior Echo-System” / The Grunburg Behavior Model is a holistic, fluid, and dynamic behavior-change model. It’s the very first behavior-change model to demonstrate how our thoughts, feelings, behaviors, and even our environment vibrate (echo and reverberate) to influence each other.

Hence, it’s an “Echo-System” not an eco-system. All prior behavior models represent human behavior in a linear-flow type diagram.Background here.

If you’d like to understand human behavior at an even deeper level, learn more about the “Three Circles of Behavior Echo-System” which is featured in the book, “EVERYTHING!”

I teach and coach organizations and individuals worldwide how to best utilize and leverage “The Three Circles of Behavior Echo-System” (below) and the P.A.R.R. [Plan, Act, Record & Reassess] scientifically-backed methodology for individual and organizational behavior design.

Check out the latest cohort offering; the waitlist is now open: The 28-Day Breakthrough!

*Recently Awarded: “Finalist: Self-help, Motivation”International Book Awards: EVERYTHING is a F*cking STORY.

Visit https://thehabitfactor.com/templates

To learn more about P.A.R.R., just Google “P.A.R.R. and The Habit Factor.”

Get The Habit Factor® FREE with your audible trial! https://audibletrial.com/habits2goals

Feedspot’s “Top 10 Habit Podcasts You Must Follow in 2021”

New listeners, grab your free habits 2 goals tracking template here: https://thehabitfactor.com/templates

FREE copy of As a Man Thinketh (PDF) right here: As a Man Thinketh

Subscribe iTunes here! Subscribe: Android

“You are perfect and you could use some work.”

Self-Help Sucks!

One Size Fits All?

“The shoe that fits one person pinches another; there is no recipe for living that suits all cases.” ~ Carl Jung

Challenges and Words of Caution:

* The “One Size Fits All” Fallacy: As Jung rightfully pointed out, individual differences are inescapable. What works for one person may not apply at all for another. It’s crucial to critically evaluate any self-help advice and adapt it to your unique personality, circumstances, and needs.

* Having said that, The Habit Factor’s P.A.R.R. methodology (habit-tracking process) provides a broad, application framework designed to ‘fit’ any person regardless of the goals or habits they are looking to develop.

* » https://thehabitfactor.com/templates

* The Cult of Positivity: While optimism is valuable, ignoring negative emotions or experiences can be counterproductive. It’s important to acknowledge and process the full spectrum of human emotions for healthy growth.

* The Risk of Comparison and Inadequacy: Comparing ourselves to idealized versions of success portrayed in self-help materials can lead to feelings of inadequacy and discouragement. Remember, progress is rarely linear, and celebrating your own unique journey is key.

Advantages of Self-Help and Personal Development:

* Empowerment and Self-Awareness: Self-help resources can equip individuals with valuable tools for self-reflection and growth. By exploring different methodologies and perspectives, we gain a deeper understanding of ourselves, our strengths, and areas for improvement. This newfound self-awareness empowers us to take charge of our lives and make conscious choices aligned with our values.

* Skill Development and Knowledge Acquisition: The self-help industry offers a vast array of resources focused on acquiring new skills and knowledge. Whether it's mastering communication techniques, improving time management, or fostering emotional intelligence, these resources can provide practical strategies for enhancing various aspects of our lives.

* Community and Support: Self-help communities, both online and offline, offer invaluable support and connection. Sharing experiences, challenges, and successes with others on a similar journey can foster a sense of belonging and encourage sustained motivation.

Final thoughts:

Self-help and personal development are potent tools for growth and transformation. However, approaching them with a critical and discerning eye is crucial.

The most effective path to self-fulfillment lies in embracing your individuality and tailoring these resources to fit your unique journey.

Additional:

* Download the free habits-to-goals tracking template to cultivate the habits that support your goals here: https://thehabitfactor.com/templates.

* Books that may help "The Power of Positive Thinking" by Norman Vincent Peale and "How to Win Friends and Influence People" by Dale Carnegie.

* EVERYTHING is a F*cking Story, The Pressure Paradox™ & The Habit Factor®

Enjoy the show!

~mg

P.S.: From the world of statistics: All models are flawed, but some are useful.

With this in mind, we asked Google’s AI experiment Bard to “break” the “Three Circles of Behavior System” model (perhaps a future post).

The short story (no pun intended) is he/she/IT could not.

The best Bard offered: “What about people who aren’t aware of their unconscious stories/thinking?

It’s a good question and a nice attempt. However, an unconscious story is still a story (represented within the model), and that is the point of the latest book, EVERYTHING is a F*cking STORY where the latest version of the model was revealed.

BTW: YOU are also invited to try and “break” the “Three Circles of Behavior Echo-System” model.

If you think you can, please email or leave comments here.

*Note: ChatGPT’s does not know the model yet, officially published in October of 2022. GPT’s latest update is from January 2022.

***Get the inspiring, free and world’s first HABITS to GOALS tracking template here: → https://thehabitfactor.com/templates

“The Three Circles of Behavior Echo-System” / The Grunburg Behavior Model is a holistic, fluid, and dynamic behavior-change model. It’s the very first behavior-change model to demonstrate how our thoughts, feelings, behaviors, and even our environment vibrate (echo and reverberate) to influence each other.

Hence, it’s an “Echo-System” not an eco-system. All prior behavior models represent human behavior in a linear-flow type diagram.Background here.

If you’d like to understand human behavior at an even deeper level, learn more about the “Three Circles of Behavior Echo-System” which is featured in the book, “EVERYTHING!”

I teach and coach organizations and individuals worldwide how to best utilize and leverage “The Three Circles of Behavior Echo-System” (below) and the P.A.R.R. [Plan, Act, Record & Reassess] scientifically-backed methodology for individual and organizational behavior design.

Check out the latest cohort offering; the waitlist is now open: The 28-Day Breakthrough!

*Recently Awarded: “Finalist: Self-help, Motivation”International Book Awards: EVERYTHING is a F*cking STORY.

Visit https://thehabitfactor.com/templates

To learn more about P.A.R.R., just Google “P.A.R.R. and The Habit Factor.”

Get The Habit Factor® FREE with your audible trial! https://audibletrial.com/habits2goals

Feedspot’s “Top 10 Habit Podcasts You Must Follow in 2021”

New listeners, grab your free habits 2 goals tracking template here: https://thehabitfactor.com/templates

FREE copy of As a Man Thinketh (PDF) right here: As a Man Thinketh

Subscribe iTunes here! Subscribe: Android

“There is no way to happiness, happiness is the way.” ~ Buddha

The Happiness Episode

Key takeaways:

Internal and External Factors:

* Happiness originates from BOTH internal (choice/control) AND external factors (events/circumstances). (see behavior model below)

* Things we can control with intention and practice, better thoughts, choices, and habits. Genetics, relationships, circumstances and events are external influences.

* Choosing happiness is a crucial part of the equation, even when faced with external challenges.

Beyond Happiness… Contentment

* Contentment is a deeper level of happiness. Happiness is fleeting, like the surface of the lake; it can be stormy or calm. However, deep down at the very bottom of the lake, the waters are still and calm; this is contentment.

* Contentment is not about complacency; it’s about being confident and comfortable with who you are AND striving for personal growth, developing new skills and enjoying new experiences.

Internal Factors Influencing Happiness: See “The Three Circles of Behavior Echo-System”

* Positive thinking and choosing the “right” stories to tell ourselves play a significant role.

* Having direction, purpose and meaning (something that you choose and evolves over time) tends to foster happiness.

* Maintaining healthy habits like exercise, reading, and good sleep also contribute.

External Factors:

* Quality, long-term relationships: According to Harvard's research, strong, quality relationships are the number one factor.

* Accomplishments, acts of kindness, and positive experiences also improve happiness.

“He who is not satisfied with a little is satisfied with nothing” ~ Epicurus

Actions to develop the happiness habit.

* Upon waking, practice reading something positive and see if you can decide to be happy for the day.

* Begin tracking your habits by following The Habit Factor’s P.A.R.R. methodology. This process ensures you have direction (goals) and intention which helps to develop self-efficacy, which drives happiness.

* Desire is an essential factor for habit formation; knowledge and capability are not enough.

“Happiness depends upon ourselves.” ~ Aristotle

Summary:

* Happiness is complex and achievable. It's not about perfect days or constant highs; it's about embracing both internal and external contributors and choosing to be content with who you are while still striving for improvement.

* You can and should do both.

Additional Notes:

* References "The Power of Positive Thinking" by Norman Vincent Peale and "How to Win Friends and Influence People" by Dale Carnegie.

* Download the free habits-to-goals tracking template to cultivate the habits that support your goals here: https://thehabitfactor.com/templates.

Finally, happiness is a journey, not a destination. Take control of what you can, appreciate what you have, and keep moving forward!

Enjoy the show!

~mg

P.S.: From the world of statistics: All models are flawed, but some are useful.

With this in mind, we asked Google’s AI experiment Bard to “break” the “Three Circles of Behavior System” model (perhaps a future post).

The short story (no pun intended) is he/she/IT could not.

The best Bard offered: “What about people who aren’t aware of their unconscious stories/thinking?

It’s a good question and a nice attempt. However, an unconscious story is still a story (represented within the model), and that is the point of the latest book, EVERYTHING is a F*cking STORY where the latest version of the model was revealed.

BTW: YOU are also invited to try and “break” the “Three Circles of Behavior Echo-System” model.

If you think you can, please email or leave comments here.

*Note: ChatGPT’s does not know the model yet, officially published in October of 2022. GPT’s latest update is from January 2022.

***Get the inspiring, free and world’s first HABITS to GOALS tracking template here: → https://thehabitfactor.com/templates

“The Three Circles of Behavior Echo-System” / The Grunburg Behavior Model is a holistic, fluid, and dynamic behavior-change model. It’s the first behavior-change model to demonstrate how our thoughts, feelings, behaviors, and even our environment vibrate (echo and reverberate) to influence each other.

Hence, the “Echo-System.” Other behavior models represent human behavior in a linear-flow type diagram.Background here.

If you’d like to understand human behavior at an even deeper level, learn more about the “Three Circles of Behavior Echo-System” which is featured in the book, “EVERYTHING!”

I teach and coach organizations and individuals worldwide how to best utilize and leverage “The Three Circles of Behavior Echo-System” (below) and the P.A.R.R. [Plan, Act, Record & Reassess] scientifically-backed methodology for individual and organizational behavior design.

Check out the latest cohort offering; the waitlist is now open: The 28-Day Breakthrough!

*Recently Awarded: “Finalist: Self-help, Motivation”International Book Awards: EVERYTHING is a F*cking STORY.

Visit https://thehabitfactor.com/templates

To learn more about P.A.R.R., just Google “P.A.R.R. and The Habit Factor.”

Get The Habit Factor® FREE with your audible trial! https://audibletrial.com/habits2goals

Feedspot’s “Top 10 Habit Podcasts You Must Follow in 2021”

New listeners, grab your free habits 2 goals tracking template here: https://thehabitfactor.com/templates

FREE copy of As a Man Thinketh (PDF) right here: As a Man Thinketh

Subscribe iTunes here! Subscribe: Android

“Discipline is doing what you ought to do, when you ought to do it, whether you feel like it or not.” ~ Jim Rohn

Bridging the Gap between Desire and Doing

New Year, new you. Right?

Did you promise to get in shape for 2024 only to feel the comfy couch pulling you into its fluffy abyss?

Incredibly, the second Friday of January is known as “Quitter’s Day,” according to several online publications, such as Fortune.

That’s when people quit – they abandon their New Year’s resolutions.

Just two weeks into the New Year!?

A Bible proverb says, “The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.”

What does that mean?

In short, it means goals, aspirations, and desires are easy to conjure up; however, to realize your goals, dreams, and desires requires work; work that most people are unlikely to do.

For better or worse, humans are naturally wired to avoid pain and seek pleasure.

Thus, “weak” flesh is simply your body seeking comfort instead of effort.

Your spirit says, “I will complete the half marathon!”

However, until you bridge the gap between what you say you’re going to do – your desires and your actions, you’ll be left frustrated and unfulfilled, wondering what went wrong.

Arguably, the entire personal development industry wants to crack the discipline code.

See below.

Is your discipline triangle closed or open?

An open discipline triangle leaks…potential.

Discipline develops as soon as you practice intersecting your behaviors (the doing) with your ambitions (desires).

The key to discipline is ensuring that desire and doing intersect, repeatedly.

How?

ENTER THE P.A.R.R. METHOD: PLAN. ACT. RECORD and REASSESS.

P.A.R.R. is the key to strengthening the discipline habit.

By tracking any habit following P.A.R.R. you strengthen discipline.

The P.A.R.R. method forces the practice of intersecting DOING with their DESIRE.

«SEE the FREE HABITS-to-GOALS Tracking Template»

Thus, by following P.A.R.R. you practice the art of discipline by continually intersecting your DOING with your DESIRE.

While the flesh may be weak, it becomes stronger by following P.A.R.R.

Enjoy the show!

~mg

P.S.: From the world of statistics: All models are flawed, but some are useful.

With this in mind, we asked Google’s AI experiment Bard to “break” the “Three Circles of Behavior System” model (perhaps a future post).

The short story (no pun intended) is he/she/IT could not.

The best Bard offered: “What about people who aren’t aware of their unconscious stories/thinking?

It’s a good question and a nice attempt. However, an unconscious story is still a story (represented within the model), and that is the point of the latest book, EVERYTHING is a F*cking STORY where the latest version of the model was revealed.

BTW: YOU are also invited to try and “break” the “Three Circles of Behavior Echo-System” model.

If you think you can, please email or leave comments here.

*Note: ChatGPT’s does not know the model yet, officially published in October of 2022. GPT’s latest update is from January 2022.

***Get the inspiring, free and world’s first HABITS to GOALS tracking template here: → https://thehabitfactor.com/templates

“The Three Circles of Behavior Echo-System” / The Grunburg Behavior Model is a holistic, fluid, and dynamic behavior-change model. It’s the first behavior-change model to demonstrate how our thoughts, feelings, behaviors, and even our environment vibrate (echo and reverberate) to influence each other.

Hence, the “Echo-System.” Other behavior models represent human behavior in a linear-flow type diagram.Background here.

If you’d like to understand human behavior at an even deeper level, learn more about the “Three Circles of Behavior Echo-System” which is featured in the book, “EVERYTHING!”

I teach and coach organizations and individuals worldwide how to best utilize and leverage “The Three Circles of Behavior Echo-System” (below) and the P.A.R.R. [Plan, Act, Record & Reassess] scientifically-backed methodology for individual and organizational behavior design.

Check out the latest cohort offering; the waitlist is now open: The 28-Day Breakthrough!

*Recently Awarded: “Finalist: Self-help, Motivation”International Book Awards: EVERYTHING is a F*cking STORY.

Visit https://thehabitfactor.com/templates

To learn more about P.A.R.R., just Google “P.A.R.R. and The Habit Factor.”

Get The Habit Factor® FREE with your audible trial! https://audibletrial.com/habits2goals

Feedspot’s “Top 10 Habit Podcasts You Must Follow in 2021”

New listeners, grab your free habits 2 goals tracking template here: https://thehabitfactor.com/templates

FREE copy of As a Man Thinketh (PDF) right here: As a Man Thinketh

Subscribe iTunes here! Subscribe: Android

“The vast majority of people do not recognize that this is what they're doing.So my work is showing them, no, that's not the world.That's the story you're telling yourself about the world.And some stories serve you, but many of your stories do not serve you.” ~ Srikumar Rao

This Habits 2 Goals episode is FREE for ALL subscribers.

Creativity and Personal Mastery.

Srikumar Rao’s remarkable journey spans Indian roots and a pioneering course at Columbia, “Creativity & Personal Mastery,” empowering countless individuals to tap into their creative and personal strength.

Srikumar insists that we are not just our physical selves, but pure consciousness that creates the reality we experience through our mental narratives.

Key Points:

* Personal mastery: Begins with understanding and controlling the stories we tell ourselves and using that awareness to shape our lives.

* The Matrix analogy: Dr. Rao compares our perceived reality to a self-constructed “matrix” shaped by our mental chatter and models. We can deconstruct and rebuild this matrix to create a more fulfilling life.

* Stories vs. reality: We often confuse our stories about the world with the actual world itself. Recognizing and letting go of unhelpful stories is crucial for personal growth.

* Spirituality vs. religion: The essence of personal mastery lies in recognizing our true nature as pure consciousness, which transcends specific religious beliefs. Different religions offer diverse paths to this core truth.

* Action and awareness: While being fully aware doesn't negate the need for action, it allows us to act from a place of groundedness and clarity, letting go of unnecessary goals and striving.

* Free will vs. divine guidance: Dr. Rao suggests that even within our awareness, there's a larger force at play guiding us. We act to the best of our ability within the circumstances presented, recognizing that our understanding of “right” may evolve over time.

Personal mastery is a journey of self-discovery and empowerment.

By becoming aware of the stories we tell ourselves and recognizing our true nature as pure consciousness, we can create a more fulfilling and meaningful life, even within the limitations of our perceived reality.

“Habit: A Framework for a Beautiful Life”

MG and Dr. Rao, discuss goals, success, and habits.

On Goals:

* Focus on the journey, not just the outcome: While setting goals is important, it's crucial to remember that the real value lies in the process of learning and growing as you strive towards them. Don't get fixated on achieving the final destination; enjoy the journey itself.

* Reframe your goals as aspirations: Instead of viewing goals as rigid targets, see them as aspirational stepping stones that guide your direction and help you evolve. This takes the pressure off and allows you to embrace the unexpected turns along the way.

On Success:

* True success lies in inner peace and fulfillment: Success isn’t about material possessions or external validation. It’s about finding inner peace, feeling radiantly alive, and experiencing deep gratitude for the gift of being who you are and doing what you do.

* Seek meaning and purpose: True fulfillment comes from connecting with something bigger than yourself. Pursue activities that ignite your passion and contribute to a greater purpose, whether it's personal growth, helping others, or making a positive impact on the world.

On Habits:

* Habits are the bedrock of a good life: Positive habits, like meditation, reading, and exercise, form the foundation for a fulfilling life. They shape your daily routines, cultivate discipline, and contribute to your overall well-being.

* Consciously choose your habits: Be mindful of the habits you cultivate. They have a significant impact on your life, so choose them wisely. Break free from negative habits that hold you back and replace them with positive ones that empower you to thrive.

It’s evident that Dr. Rao's teachings, forged through his own journey of transformation, offer a path to transcend the limitations of material goals. By cultivating positive habits and seeking inspiration from traditional wisdom, anyone can apply his tools to navigate life’s challenges and find meaning. In essence, his teachings empower individuals to “unstuck” themselves.

Dr. Rao’s story proves that creativity and personal mastery are worthy goals in an of themselves.

Books mentioned/recommended by Dr. Rao

• Ram Dass - Be Here Now• The Teachings of Ramana Maharshi

The Rao Institute - Get on his newsletter here!

His book to help anyone get “unstuck” immediately,Are you ready to Succeed?

Enjoy the show!

~mg

P.S.: From the world of statistics: All models are flawed, but some are useful.

With this in mind, we asked Google’s AI experiment Bard to “break” the “Three Circles of Behavior System” model (perhaps a future post).

The short story (no pun intended) is he/she/IT could not.

The best Bard offered: “What about people who aren’t aware of their unconscious stories/thinking?

It’s a good question and a nice attempt. However, an unconscious story is still a story (represented within the model), and that is the point of the latest book, EVERYTHING is a F*cking STORY where the latest version of the model was revealed.

BTW: YOU are also invited to try and “break” the “Three Circles of Behavior Echo-System” model.

If you think you can, please email or leave comments here.

*Note: ChatGPT’s does not know the model yet, officially published in October of 2022. GPT’s latest update is from January 2022.

***Get the inspiring, free and world’s first HABITS to GOALS tracking template here: → https://thehabitfactor.com/templates

“The Three Circles of Behavior Echo-System” / The Grunburg Behavior Model is a holistic, fluid, and dynamic behavior-change model. It’s the first behavior-change model to demonstrate how our thoughts, feelings, behaviors, and even our environment VIBRATE (echo and reverberate) to influence each other.

Hence, the “Echo-System.” All prior behavior models represent human behavior in a linear-flow type diagram.Background here.

If you’d like to understand human behavior at an even deeper level, learn more about the “Three Circles of Behavior Echo-System” which is featured in the book, “EVERYTHING!”

I teach and coach organizations and individuals worldwide how to best utilize and leverage “The Three Circles of Behavior Echo-System” (below) and the P.A.R.R. [Plan, Act, Record & Reassess] scientifically-backed methodology for individual and organizational behavior design.

Check out the latest cohort offering; the waitlist is now open: The 28-Day Breakthrough!

*Recently Awarded: “Finalist: Self-help, Motivation”International Book Awards: EVERYTHING is a F*cking STORY.

Visit https://thehabitfactor.com/templates

To learn more about P.A.R.R., just Google “P.A.R.R. and The Habit Factor.”

Get The Habit Factor® FREE with your audible trial! https://audibletrial.com/habits2goals

Feedspot’s “Top 10 Habit Podcasts You Must Follow in 2021”

New listeners, grab your free habits 2 goals tracking template here: https://thehabitfactor.com/templates

FREE copy of As a Man Thinketh (PDF) right here: As a Man Thinketh

Subscribe iTunes here! Subscribe: Android

“Where there is no vision, the people perish.” ~ Proverbs

The Greater the Vision, the Greater the Possibilities

Imagine yourself staring at a chessboard, lost in the tangle of pieces. Suddenly, a move leaps out, clear as day. Not because you’re a grandmaster, but because you finally saw the board differently.

This is the magic of vision.

It's not just about eyesight, it's about perspective, understanding, and the ability to see greater possibilities

Outstanding quarterbacks and point guards have one thing in common, great vision.

They see things differently and thus, better options unfold. Coaches call it “field vision” and it's often the difference between a good player and a game-changer.

But vision isn't just about sports and games.

Throughout history, great leaders and thinkers alike have emphasized its importance.

Even in the Bible, Proverbs 29:18 says, “Where there is no vision, the people perish,” underscoring how a clear vision guides individuals and communities.

In Buddhism, “Right View” is the foundation – the very first precept – of the Noble Eightfold Path.

Vision transcends physical sight as well. Studies reveal that blind individuals, through heightened other senses and enhanced mental abilities, develop a different kind of “vision.”

Thus, many blind people can navigate complex environments, solve problems creatively, and possess remarkable spatial awareness.

This episode is a reminder to all to open up your vision; to change your perspective, to see problems and challenges differently,

Different perspectives tend to create new opportunities and unlock insights.

So, how can you cultivate this powerful vision? Here are some tips:

* Question your assumptions: Don’t just accept things at face value. Challenge your own perspective and seek out different viewpoints.

* Practice active listening: Pay attention to others, understand their needs, and see things from their perspective.

* Embrace curiosity: Be open to new experiences and ideas. Step outside your comfort zone and explore the unknown to broaden your vision.

* Think creatively: Don’t be afraid to break the mold and come up with unconventional solutions.

* Reflect and learn: Take time to analyze your experiences and identify areas for improvement.

Remember, vision isn't just about seeing; it’s about understanding, and it’s the foundation of problem-solving.

By taking a step back and taking a fresh look, you’ll discover possibilities hidden in plain sight. Just like this photo below… do you see the inscription?

So, open your mind and/or maybe even squint your eyes; solutions begin with different views.

After all, it’s not always about being the most intelligent, it’s often about being the one who sees the most possibilities.

Enjoy the show!

~mg

P.S.: From the world of statistics: All models are flawed, but some are useful.

With this in mind, we asked Google’s AI experiment Bard to “break” the “Three Circles of Behavior System” model (perhaps a future post).

The short story (no pun intended) is he/she/IT could not.

The best Bard offered: “What about people who aren’t aware of their unconscious stories/thinking?

It’s a good question and a nice attempt. However, an unconscious story is still a story (represented within the model), and that is the point of the latest book, EVERYTHING is a F*cking STORY where the latest version of the model was revealed.

BTW: YOU are also invited to try and “break” the “Three Circles of Behavior Echo-System” model.

If you think you can, please email or leave comments here.

*Note: ChatGPT’s does not know the model yet, officially published in October of 2022. GPT’s latest update is from January 2022.

***Get the inspiring, free and world’s first HABITS to GOALS tracking template here: → https://thehabitfactor.com/templates

“The Three Circles of Behavior Echo-System” / The Grunburg Behavior Model is a holistic, fluid, and dynamic behavior-change model. It’s the first behavior-change model to demonstrate how our thoughts, feelings, behaviors, and even our environment vibrate (echo and reverberate) to influence each other.

Hence, the “Echo-System.” Other behavior models represent human behavior in a linear-flow type diagram.Background here.

If you’d like to understand human behavior at an even deeper level, learn more about the “Three Circles of Behavior Echo-System” which is featured in the book, “EVERYTHING!”

I teach and coach organizations and individuals worldwide how to best utilize and leverage “The Three Circles of Behavior Echo-System” (below) and the P.A.R.R. [Plan, Act, Record & Reassess] scientifically-backed methodology for individual and organizational behavior design.

Check out the latest cohort offering; the waitlist is now open: The 28-Day Breakthrough!

*Recently Awarded: “Finalist: Self-help, Motivation”International Book Awards: EVERYTHING is a F*cking STORY.

Visit https://thehabitfactor.com/templates

To learn more about P.A.R.R., just Google “P.A.R.R. and The Habit Factor.”

Get The Habit Factor® FREE with your audible trial! https://audibletrial.com/habits2goals

Feedspot’s “Top 10 Habit Podcasts You Must Follow in 2021”

New listeners, grab your free habits 2 goals tracking template here: https://thehabitfactor.com/templates

FREE copy of As a Man Thinketh (PDF) right here: As a Man Thinketh

Subscribe iTunes here! Subscribe: Android

“If it bleeds, it leads.” ~ William Randolph Hearst

Cloudy with a Chance of Success

There’s a reason the phrase “If it bleeds, it leads” exists in the media, it captures people’s attention.

Eyeballs and ears gravitate toward sights and sounds of fear and panic.

Imagine: You’re about to cross a rickety bridge. Mr. Optimism skips along, whistling a happy tune, while Ms. Pessimism checks the planks, grumbling about “potential splinters and structural integrity.”

Who comes out ahead?

It depends.

The pessimist may appear to be the party pooper. Yet, she might’ve just saved some lives.

Humans are naturally, hard-wired with a built-in alarm system; constantly scanning for threats, risks, and what-ifs. Media companies know this and run stories accordingly.

Isn't optimism the real ally though?

Similar to “Expectations” (prior episode) the idea is that both pessimism and optimism can be superpowers when used wisely.

The trick is finding the balance – the sweet spot – the perspective that allows you to see both the storm and know that the sun is there, behind the clouds.

A few tips:

* Listen to both voices: Don’t silence Ms. Pessimism or Mr. Optimism. When facing a challenge, acknowledge the potential pitfalls, but also the possible triumphs.

* Plan for the worst, hope for the best: Ms. Pessimism can help you pack the umbrella, while Mr. Optimism keeps you looking for the rainbow.

* Prepare for bumps on the road, but don't lose sight of the finish line.

* Focus on personal growth: Both Mr. Optimism and Ms. Pessimism are twin guides of personal development. Pessimism may reveal weaknesses – opportunities for improvement, while optimism can showcase strengths to build on.

With an optimistic long-term perspective and a sharp scrutiny of threats in the near term, great things can be accomplished over time.

And, remember…

“Where there is hope in the future, there is happiness in the present.”

Success doesn’t ignore present storms yet, it finds a way to persist, find value where it may be hidden and know the sun is shining beyond.

Mentioned in this episode: The Psychology of Money

Enjoy the show!

~mg

P.S.: From the world of statistics: All models are flawed, but some are useful.

With this in mind, we asked Google’s AI experiment Bard to “break” the “Three Circles of Behavior System” model (perhaps a future post).

The short story (no pun intended) is he/she/IT could not.

The best Bard offered: “What about people who aren’t aware of their unconscious stories/thinking?

It’s a good question and a nice attempt. However, an unconscious story is still a story (represented within the model), and that is the point of the latest book, EVERYTHING is a F*cking STORY where the latest version of the model was revealed.

BTW: YOU are also invited to try and “break” the “Three Circles of Behavior Echo-System” model.

If you think you can, please email or leave comments here.

*Note: ChatGPT’s does not know the model yet, officially published in October of 2022. GPT’s latest update is from January 2022.

***Get the inspiring, free and world’s first HABITS to GOALS tracking template here: → https://thehabitfactor.com/templates

“The Three Circles of Behavior Echo-System” / The Grunburg Behavior Model is a holistic, fluid, and dynamic behavior-change model. It’s the first behavior-change model to demonstrate how our thoughts, feelings, behaviors, and even our environment vibrate (echo and reverberate) to influence each other.

Hence, the “Echo-System.” Other behavior models represent human behavior in a linear-flow type diagram.Background here.

If you’d like to understand human behavior at an even deeper level, learn more about the “Three Circles of Behavior Echo-System” which is featured in the book, “EVERYTHING!”

I teach and coach organizations and individuals worldwide how to best utilize and leverage “The Three Circles of Behavior Echo-System” (below) and the P.A.R.R. [Plan, Act, Record & Reassess] scientifically-backed methodology for individual and organizational behavior design.

Check out the latest cohort offering; the waitlist is now open: The 28-Day Breakthrough!

*Recently Awarded: “Finalist: Self-help, Motivation”International Book Awards: EVERYTHING is a F*cking STORY.

Visit https://thehabitfactor.com/templates

To learn more about P.A.R.R., just Google “P.A.R.R. and The Habit Factor.”

Get The Habit Factor® FREE with your audible trial! https://audibletrial.com/habits2goals

Feedspot’s “Top 10 Habit Podcasts You Must Follow in 2021”

New listeners, grab your free habits 2 goals tracking template here: https://thehabitfactor.com/templates

FREE copy of As a Man Thinketh (PDF) right here: As a Man Thinketh

Subscribe iTunes here! Subscribe: Android

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

This Habits 2 Goals episode is FREE for ALL subscribers.

From Ring Conqueror to Hollywood Canvas

Forget the Rocky Balboa wannabes. Meet Michael Bentt.

A man who claimed the World Boxing Organization (WBO) Heavyweight Championship title (1993) and would later star in the boxing classic “Ali” as Sonny Liston (2001).

Our conversation reveals an intelligent, complex man whose life defied expectations; a tapestry of grit, resilience, and seized opportunity.

Roots of a Champion:

* Aviation Aspirations: A bright student at New York’s Aviation High School, Bentt harbored dreams of soaring as a pilot. Baseball, however, was his first love, a passion nurtured by his supportive father.

* Fistic Footsteps: Fate had other plans. His father, a former boxer and aficionado, saw raw talent and a fighting spirit in young Michael and steered him toward the ring. This wasn’t just about toughening up; it was about channeling raw energy building discipline and elevating his stature.

The Ring:

* The Paradox of Safety: Inside the squared circle, amidst the roars and stinging jabs, Bentt found his sanctuary. The controlled chaos, the rhythmic dance of offense and defense, became a refuge from the uncertainties of life outside.

* A Crown and a Crushing Blow: His amateur accolades are legendary, but it was in 1993 that Bentt etched his name in boxing history, a huge underdog, he captured the WBO Heavyweight Championship with a thunderous first-round KO of Tommy Morrison. The subsequent brutal loss in his first title defense, however, could have broken him.

Canvas to Canvas:

* A Writing and Guiding Hand: Enter Thomas Hauser, a well-known boxing writer who saw beyond the knockout. Thomas showed sincere concern for the former champ and became Bentt's unlikely mentor providing much-needed guidance and contacts along the way.

* Reinvention in the Spotlight: Seizing multiple opportunities, Hollywood welcomed Bentt and he appeared in dozens of films, adding depth to roles like Sonny Liston in the iconic “Ali” alongside Will Smith.

The Man Unmasked:

Michael Bentt’s story transcends the ropes and the silver screen. It’s a beautiful tapestry and a testament to the human spirit – its capacity to find a way; to arise from life’s unexpected storms, weather the blows, and emerge with greater wisdom and grace.

It’s a powerful story (EVERYTHING is a F*cking STORY) that affirms, “Regardless of the last punch you took, the fight remains, and another round is coming quickly!”

Ding. Ding. Ding.

Enjoy the show!

~mg

P.S.: From the world of statistics: All models are flawed, but some are useful.

With this in mind, we asked Google’s AI experiment Bard to “break” the “Three Circles of Behavior System” model (perhaps a future post).

The short story (no pun intended) is he/she/IT could not.

The best Bard offered: “What about people who aren’t aware of their unconscious stories/thinking?

It’s a good question and a nice attempt. However, an unconscious story is still a story (represented within the model), and that is the point of the latest book, EVERYTHING is a F*cking STORY where the latest version of the model was revealed.

BTW: YOU are also invited to try and “break” the “Three Circles of Behavior Echo-System” model.

If you think you can, please email or leave comments here.

*Note: ChatGPT’s does not know the model yet, officially published in October of 2022. GPT’s latest update is from January 2022.

***Get the inspiring, free and world’s first HABITS to GOALS tracking template here: → https://thehabitfactor.com/templates

“The Three Circles of Behavior Echo-System” / The Grunburg Behavior Model is a holistic, fluid, and dynamic behavior-change model. It’s the first behavior-change model to demonstrate how our thoughts, feelings, behaviors, and even our environment vibrate (echo and reverberate) to influence each other.

Hence, the “Echo-System.” Other behavior models represent human behavior in a linear-flow type diagram.Background here.

If you’d like to understand human behavior at an even deeper level, learn more about the “Three Circles of Behavior Echo-System” which is featured in the book, “EVERYTHING!”

I teach and coach organizations and individuals worldwide how to best utilize and leverage “The Three Circles of Behavior Echo-System” (below) and the P.A.R.R. [Plan, Act, Record & Reassess] scientifically-backed methodology for individual and organizational behavior design.

Check out the latest cohort offering; the waitlist is now open: The 28-Day Breakthrough!

*Recently Awarded: “Finalist: Self-help, Motivation”International Book Awards: EVERYTHING is a F*cking STORY.

Visit https://thehabitfactor.com/templates

To learn more about P.A.R.R., just Google “P.A.R.R. and The Habit Factor.”

Get The Habit Factor® FREE with your audible trial! https://audibletrial.com/habits2goals

Feedspot’s “Top 10 Habit Podcasts You Must Follow in 2021”

New listeners, grab your free habits 2 goals tracking template here: https://thehabitfactor.com/templates

FREE copy of As a Man Thinketh (PDF) right here: As a Man Thinketh

Subscribe iTunes here! Subscribe: Android

“The unexamined life is not worth living.” ~ Socrates

This Habits 2 Goals episode is FREE for ALL subscribers.

AUDIT-U: Your Year-End Personal Inventory for Wellness and Optimized Living

“The only person you are destined to become is the person you decide to become.” ~ Ralph Waldo Emerson

As the confetti falls and champagne fizzles, marking the end of another year, we often turn inwards, reflecting on the journey just passed.

Resolutions flit across our minds, fleeting promises whispered to the new year.

Wouldn't it be more effective to approach personal growth like a savvy CEO, conducting a thorough audit of her company?

Imagine yourself as the head of LIFE Corp. You are responsible for your well-being, success, and happiness.

Just as any business undergoes regular audits, so too should YOU.

Dive deeply into the following eight key areas of your life, assessing, optimizing, and strategizing for the year ahead.

The Core Four Pillars of Wellness: Building Solid Foundations

* Mind: Did you nurture your intellect through learning, challenge your perspectives, and prioritize mental well-being? Did you conquer limiting beliefs and cultivate a positive mindset?

* AUDIT-U: Identify areas for growth, prioritize continuous learning, and implement a self-care routine.

* Body: Did you nourish your physical vessel with healthy choices? Did you move your body, listen to its needs, and prioritize quality sleep?

* AUDIT-U: Evaluate your diet, exercise habits, and sleep hygiene. Design a plan for better movement, mindful eating, and restful slumber.

* Spirit: Did you connect with your inner self, find meaning and purpose, and cultivate gratitude? Did you nurture your spirituality through whatever practice nourishes your soul?

* AUDIT-U: Explore mindfulness practices, spiritual activities, and acts of service that bring you a sense of purpose and connection.

* Social: Did you deepen meaningful connections, foster healthy relationships, and build a supportive network? Did you give back to your community and nurture a sense of belonging?

* AUDIT-U: Invest in relationships, nurture existing bonds, and expand your social circle. Look for volunteer opportunities to connect with your community.

“Leadership is not a position. It's a choice. Everyone can choose to lead.” ~ Simon Sinek

Expanding for Greater Fulfillment: The Next Four Pillars

* Professional: Did you feel fulfilled in your career? Did you learn new skills, take on challenges, and progress towards your goals? AUDIT-U: Evaluate your job satisfaction, identify skill gaps, and set attainable career objectives.

* Financial: Did you manage your finances prudently, build savings, and make wise investments? Did you live within your means and plan for the future? AUDIT-U: Analyze your budget, create a savings plan, and explore responsible investment options.

* Adventure/Lifestyle: Did you create memorable experiences, embrace new adventures, and step outside your comfort zone? Did you cultivate a lifestyle that fuels your soul and sparks joy? AUDIT-U: Schedule adventures, prioritize time for hobbies and passions, and design a lifestyle that aligns with your values.

* Emotional: Did you manage your emotions healthily, build resilience, and navigate challenges with grace? Did you foster self-compassion and nurture inner peace? AUDIT-U: Identify emotional triggers, learn stress management techniques, and seek professional help if needed.

By conducting your personal AUDIT-U, you move beyond fleeting resolutions and into a strategic plan for growth and fulfillment.

This year, ditch the generic wishes and replace them with actionable goals, backed by self-awareness and a clear vision for your life.

Make 2024 your most intentional year yet, built on the solid foundation of self-knowledge and optimized living. Remember, you are the CEO of your life – take control, audit wisely, and create a future that sparks joy and ignites your soul.

Enjoy the show!

~mg

P.S.: From the world of statistics: All models are flawed, but some are useful.

With this in mind, we asked Google’s AI experiment Bard to “break” the “Three Circles of Behavior System” model (perhaps a future post).

The short story (no pun intended) is he/she/IT could not.

The best Bard offered: “What about people who aren’t aware of their unconscious stories/thinking?

It’s a good question and a nice attempt. However, an unconscious story is still a story (represented within the model), and that is the point of the latest book, EVERYTHING is a F*cking STORY where the latest version of the model was revealed.

BTW: YOU are also invited to try and “break” the “Three Circles of Behavior Echo-System” model.

If you think you can, please email or leave comments here.

*Note: ChatGPT’s does not know the model yet, officially published in October of 2022. GPT’s latest update is from January 2022.

***Get the inspiring, free and world’s first HABITS to GOALS tracking template here: → https://thehabitfactor.com/templates

“The Three Circles of Behavior Echo-System” / The Grunburg Behavior Model is a holistic, fluid, and dynamic behavior-change model. It’s the first behavior-change model to demonstrate how our thoughts, feelings, behaviors, and even our environment vibrate (echo and reverberate) to influence each other.

Hence, the “Echo-System.” Other behavior models represent human behavior in a linear-flow type diagram.Background here.

If you’d like to understand human behavior at an even deeper level, learn more about the “Three Circles of Behavior Echo-System” which is featured in the book, “EVERYTHING!”

I teach and coach organizations and individuals worldwide how to best utilize and leverage “The Three Circles of Behavior Echo-System” (below) and the P.A.R.R. [Plan, Act, Record & Reassess] scientifically-backed methodology for individual and organizational behavior design.

Check out the latest cohort offering; the waitlist is now open: The 28-Day Breakthrough!

*Recently Awarded: “Finalist: Self-help, Motivation”International Book Awards: EVERYTHING is a F*cking STORY.

Visit https://thehabitfactor.com/templates

To learn more about P.A.R.R., just Google “P.A.R.R. and The Habit Factor.”

Get The Habit Factor® FREE with your audible trial! https://audibletrial.com/habits2goals

Feedspot’s “Top 10 Habit Podcasts You Must Follow in 2021”

New listeners, grab your free habits 2 goals tracking template here: https://thehabitfactor.com/templates

FREE copy of As a Man Thinketh (PDF) right here: As a Man Thinketh

Subscribe iTunes here! Subscribe: Android

This Habits 2 Goals episode is FREE for ALL subscribers.

Got Discipline? Cultivate it.

Frequently Asked Friday: How can I be more disciplined?

How to Be More Disciplined

A great definition of discipline comes from Jim Rohn: doing what you ought to do, when you ought to do it, whether you feel like it or not.

Forget genetic predispositions or willpower superpowers. Discipline isn’t some magical quality reserved for the “chosen few.”

Discipline is a habit, just like brushing your teeth or making your bed. And like any habit, it can be cultivated, nurtured, and strengthened over time.

Think of building discipline just like building a muscle. Each time you choose the salad over the fries, the early morning jog over the extra hour of sleep, you’re flexing your discipline muscle.

It will feel tough at first, but with each action, those choices develop into big changes.

To develop discipline, follow the P.A.R.R. method.

Plan, Act, Record, Reassess. This framework, developed by The Habit Factor®, helps you build discipline along with any habit you choose to develop.

PLAN

ACT

RECORD

REASSESS

The magic of PARR lies in its feedback loop.

Habit-tracking fosters powerful self-awareness. You see your wins, acknowledge your slips, and course-correct with renewed momentum. It’s a cycle of reinforcement that fuels continued growth.

The beauty of this approach is its universality. Want to write a novel? Track your daily word or page count. Craving a clutter-free home? Schedule decluttering sessions and measure your progress.

Each tracked habit becomes a stepping stone on the path to a more disciplined you.

Remember, becoming “disciplined” isn't about perfection. It's about showing up, especially when it's hard.

It's about taking those small, consistent steps, knowing that each one fosters more strength for the next habit you decide to track.

Embrace the challenge, celebrate the victories (big and small), follow the PARR habit-building method (see template below) and track your way to a more empowered and disciplined you.

Enjoy the show!

~mg

***Get the inspiring, free and world’s first HABITS to GOALS tracking template here: → https://thehabitfactor.com/templates

BACKGROUND:

The Grunburg Behavior Model introduced a groundbreaking perspective on behavior change with its concept of the “Three Circles of Behavior Echo-System.” Unlike traditional models that portray human behavior as a linear chain of cause and effect (see CBT or TTM), this holistic and dynamic model unveils the intricate interplay of forces shaping our actions, thoughts, feelings, and the environment and how each perpetually reverberates to influence the other.

By illustrating human behavior within a personal 'echo-system,' the model highlights the continuous vibrational influence of thoughts (stories), emotions/feelings, and behaviors/habits/skills and our environment, creating a ripple effect that influences every aspect of our lives. The innovative and simple behavior model reveals a precise road map for anyone seeking lasting personal transformation and goal achievement. The model adds a layer of realism to our understanding of how we interact with the world around us while at the same time, challenging conventional models and wisdom.

The Grunburg Behavior Model simplistically articulates the essence of behavior, capturing its fluid and interconnected nature while paving the way for a more comprehensive and impactful understanding of human dynamics.Background here.

If you’d like to understand human behavior at an even deeper level, learn more about the “Three Circles of Behavior Echo-System,” it is featured in my latest book, “EVERYTHING!”

Check out the latest cohort offering; the waitlist is now open: The 28-Day Breakthrough!

I teach and coach organizations and individuals worldwide how to best utilize and leverage “The Three Circles of Behavior Echo-System” (below) and the P.A.R.R. [Plan, Act, Record & Reassess] scientifically-backed methodology for individual and organizational behavior design.

*Recently Awarded: “Finalist: Self-help, Motivation”International Book Awards: EVERYTHING is a F*cking STORY.

Visit https://thehabitfactor.com/templates

To learn more about P.A.R.R., just Google “P.A.R.R. and The Habit Factor.”

Get The Habit Factor® FREE with your audible trial! https://audibletrial.com/habits2goals

Feedspot’s “Top 10 Habit Podcasts You Must Follow in 2021”

New listeners, grab your free habits 2 goals tracking template here: https://thehabitfactor.com/templates

FREE copy of As a Man Thinketh (PDF) right here: As a Man Thinketh

Subscribe iTunes here! Subscribe: Android

“To develop foresight, you need to practice hindsight.” ~ J. McGonigal

This Habits 2 Goals episode is FREE for ALL subscribers.

Arrive at Tomorrow's Goals Faster by Reversing Time

When it comes to nailing your next big goal or New Year resolution, forget the “To-Do List” and “next steps”.

After all, how many “steps” are there going to be?

The answer is a lot.

It often paralyzes the most ambitious and prevents them from starting.

Try this instead: Imagine you’ve already attained the goal. CONGRATULATIONS! 🙌

You nailed it!

Now, look back – assess the path you took and ask one simple question:

“What were the habits, skills, and traits that brought me here?”

A promotion, a published novel, or developing a captivating stage presence?

Rewind the tape.

The promotion…

You notice years of dedication to learning and mastering new skills, including the courage to voice your ideas.

The captivating public speaker…

You hired a coach, devoted yourself to tireless rehearsals and refined your delivery.

Once you’ve identified the core, related habits, skills and traits it’s time to begin tracking them.

This is the beauty of working backward.

It unveils the “how” – the essential habits – that will provide the transformation from dream and “I hope” into "I am.”

It unveils a simpler path.

By following P.A.R.R. anyone can develop habits, skills and traits “on demand.”

* Plan: Identify 3-5 key habits to cultivate – habits that will become the building blocks of your desired traits and skills. Maybe it's writing daily for that novel, practicing presentations for stage prowess, or taking online courses for that promotion.

* Act: Practice the behavior as planned.

* Record: Track your progress and write notes daily about each planned practice session.

* Reassess: Analyze your progress after each 28-day tracking period (four weeks). Adjust your approach as needed, and celebrate course corrections.

* For step-by-step instructions on PARR and a free “habits-to-goals” tracking sheet, visit: https://thehabitfactor.com/templates

The P.A.R.R. methodology for on-demand habit, skill and trait development is about incremental progress in developing the essential habits, skills and traits that will propel your goal’s attainment.

So, rewind from your ideal future. Start PARR-ing your way toward your most important goals and ideals.

Often, the most scenic route is worth envisioning multiple times.

Enjoy the show!

~mg

P.S.: From the world of statistics: All models are flawed, but some are useful.

With this in mind, we asked Google’s AI experiment Bard to “break” the “Three Circles of Behavior System” model (perhaps a future post).

The short story (no pun intended) is he/she/IT could not.

The best Bard offered: “What about people who aren’t aware of their unconscious stories/thinking?

It’s a good question and a nice attempt. However, an unconscious story is still a story (represented within the model), and that is the point of the latest book, EVERYTHING is a F*cking STORY where the latest version of the model was revealed.

BTW: YOU are invited to try and “break” the “Three Circles of Behavior Echo-System” model as well.

If you think you can, please email or leave comments here.

*Note: ChatGPT’s has no knowledge of the model yet, which was officially published in October of 2022. GPT’s latest update is from January 2022.

***Get the inspiring, free and world’s first HABITS to GOALS tracking template here: → https://thehabitfactor.com/templates

“The Three Circles of Behavior Echo-System” / The Grunburg Behavior Model is a holistic, fluid, and dynamic behavior-change model. It’s the first behavior-change model to demonstrate how our thoughts, feelings, behaviors, and even our environment vibrate (echo and reverberate) to influence each other.

Hence, the “Echo-System.” Other behavior models represent human behavior in a linear-flow type diagram.Background here.

If you’d like to understand human behavior at an even deeper level, learn more about the “Three Circles of Behavior Echo-System” which is featured in the book, “EVERYTHING!”

I teach and coach organizations and individuals worldwide how to best utilize and leverage “The Three Circles of Behavior Echo-System” (below) and the P.A.R.R. [Plan, Act, Record & Reassess] scientifically-backed methodology for individual and organizational behavior design.

Check out the latest cohort offering; the waitlist is now open: The 28-Day Breakthrough!

*Recently Awarded: “Finalist: Self-help, Motivation”International Book Awards: EVERYTHING is a F*cking STORY.

Visit https://thehabitfactor.com/templates

To learn more about P.A.R.R., just Google “P.A.R.R. and The Habit Factor.”

Get The Habit Factor® FREE with your audible trial! https://audibletrial.com/habits2goals

Feedspot’s “Top 10 Habit Podcasts You Must Follow in 2021”

New listeners, grab your free habits 2 goals tracking template here: https://thehabitfactor.com/templates

FREE copy of As a Man Thinketh (PDF) right here: As a Man Thinketh

Subscribe iTunes here! Subscribe: Android

This Habits 2 Goals episode is FREE for ALL subscribers.

Be, Do, Have: Cliché or Cornerstone?

The personal development mantra '“Be, Do, Have” often gets dismissed as a tired cliché.

Enter the “3 Circles of Behavior Echo-System,”/Grunburg Behavior Model. The model reveals a striking parallel, it underscores “Be, Do, Have” and, reinforces the dynamic interplay of the essential components; thoughts (stories), feelings/emotions, behaviors/habits/skills, and one’s environment required for goal achievement and personal transformation.

The Grunburg Model showcases three concentric circles: At the epicenter: Thoughts/Stories, the Middle concentric circle: Behaviors/Habits/Skills, and the Outermost concentric circle: Environment.

Everyone resides/exists within their own “Behavior Echo-System.” It’s important to recognize that one’s emotions and feelings are the fundamental conduits between each of the ‘major’ components.

The innermost circle, Thoughts/Stories, comprises the vast array of one’s narratives. These are the stories about oneself, entailing who we are, who we can become, and what we’re capable of achieving.

Our identities form as a construct of these elements, shaping our self-image and reverberating back to influence our thoughts, emotions, and behaviors.

For example, a confident and optimistic story (“Be” a world-changer) can fuel the motivation to develop empowering habits and pursue ambitious goals.

Conversely, a limiting or negative story can hold us back and prevent us from reaching our full potential.

[Key point: Run any real-life scenario through this behavior model and notice how each element reverberates to influence the others.]

The power of one’s “BE” ing (identity) lies in one's ability to reassess one’s personal narratives to understand the conscious and unconscious stories that may influence the very foundation of their behavior echo system.

The middle circle, Behaviors/Habits/Skills, represents the “Do” ing.

Hence, we put our stories about ourselves and our capability (beliefs) into practice, and these practices (habits) begin to shape our external world (Environment) through our choices and actions.

The “Environment” as represented in this model is both one’s sensory inputs – the ‘things’ that happen to us, and the things we can influence and change – our results.

Finally, the Environment includes everything that is not identified in the model itself, including physical surroundings, social connections, life situations, etc.

It’s a bit of a mind-bender, but since we can influence and change our body, and our body influences and changes our feelings/emotions, behaviors and thinking/stories – one’s body is part of their environment in this model.

Consider how one’s body alters one's emotions/feelings, behaviors/habits/skills and the stories and vice-versa. (See Nature vs. Nurture)

The “Thee Circles behavior model” underscores precisely how “Be, Do, Have” works. And, importantly, it’s not in a linear-type progression as all other previous behavior models depict (see TTM, CBT).

It’s the dynamic interplay (reverberation) of elemental behavioral forces that represents the essence of the Grunburg Behavior model.

It’s clear that “Be, Do, Have” is far more than clichéd personal development advice.

Enjoy the show!

~mg

P.S.: From the world of statistics: All models are flawed, but some are useful.

With this in mind, we asked Google’s AI experiment Bard to “break” the “Three Circles of Behavior System Model” (perhaps a future post).

The short story (no pun intended) is he/she/IT could not.

The best Bard could offer is, “What about people who aren’t aware of their unconscious stories/thinking? It’s a good try, but unconscious stories are still stories (represented within the model), and that is the point of the latest book, EVERYTHING is a F*cking STORY.

BTW: If you’re invited to try to “break” the model as well. If you think you can, please email or leave comments here.

*Note: ChatGPT’s has no knowledge of the model yet, which was officially published in October of 2022. GPT’s latest update is from January 2022.

***Get the inspiring, free and world’s first HABITS to GOALS tracking template here: → https://thehabitfactor.com/templates

“The Three Circles of Behavior Echo-System” / The Grunburg Behavior Model is a holistic, fluid, and dynamic behavior-change model. It’s the first behavior-change model to demonstrate how our thoughts, feelings, behaviors, and even our environment vibrate (echo and reverberate) to influence each other.

Hence, the “Echo-System.” Other behavior models represent human behavior in a linear-flow type diagram.Background here.

If you’d like to understand human behavior at an even deeper level, learn more about the “Three Circles of Behavior Echo-System” which is featured in the book, “EVERYTHING!”

I teach and coach organizations and individuals worldwide how to best utilize and leverage “The Three Circles of Behavior Echo-System” (below) and the P.A.R.R. [Plan, Act, Record & Reassess] scientifically-backed methodology for individual and organizational behavior design.

Check out the latest cohort offering; the waitlist is now open: The 28-Day Breakthrough!

*Recently Awarded: “Finalist: Self-help, Motivation”International Book Awards: EVERYTHING is a F*cking STORY.

Visit https://thehabitfactor.com/templates

To learn more about P.A.R.R., just Google “P.A.R.R. and The Habit Factor.”

Get The Habit Factor® FREE with your audible trial! https://audibletrial.com/habits2goals

Feedspot’s “Top 10 Habit Podcasts You Must Follow in 2021”

New listeners, grab your free habits 2 goals tracking template here: https://thehabitfactor.com/templates

FREE copy of As a Man Thinketh (PDF) right here: As a Man Thinketh

Subscribe iTunes here! Subscribe: Android

This Habits 2 Goals episode is FREE for ALL subscribers.

Refining Thought & Character Habits

Frequently Asked Friday: PARR (PLAN, ACT, RECORD & REASSESS) is great for developing ‘planned’ habits. How can I develop thought and character habits such as being more assertive? Especially since I don’t know when those opportunities will arise.

P.A.R.R. Lite: One Savored Moment at a Time

While PARR excels at shaping physical habits, its latest sibling, PARR Lite (soon to be released in the app), empowers you to refine your inner diamond – your character– via thought and behavior habits.

Take assertiveness, a potential virtue often hidden beneath layers of self-doubt. One app user asked the very question above.

PARR Lite, soon to be released, will help strengthen these with each mindful moment.

Imagine setting a daily threshold of “3 assertive actions.”

Upon waking, PARR Lite whispers, “Be mindful of opportunities to speak up.”

At work, you hesitate to say something in a meeting, but the “instance” counter on your Applewatch (iPhone or Android phone), urges you to act.

You raise your hand, voice your opinion, and record an instance of “1”.

Each assertive act, from voicing your needs to setting boundaries, leaves a mark, a tiny victory as self-confidence is gained and the practice of assertiveness is reinforced.

PARR Lite’s magic lies beyond mere counting. It's about mindfulness.

The beauty of PARR Lite is its flexibility. It doesn’t require pre-planned scenarios. It simply nudges you to be more present, to recognize opportunities for the “instances” - thought or character trait habit you are tracking.

A practice that, in many ways, mirrors how Benjamin Franklin meticulously recorded and tracked his 13 virtues.

PARR Lite offers a modern twist on this time-tested approach, making character-building as accessible as tracking your steps.

The science is clear: intentional habit formation works.

By nurturing the thought and/or character trait habits you intend to cultivate, you'll find that sculpting these character and thought habits isn’t much different than sculpting your body.

Enjoy the show!

~mg

***Get the inspiring, free and world’s first HABITS to GOALS tracking template here: → https://thehabitfactor.com/templates

BACKGROUND:

The Grunburg Behavior Model introduced a groundbreaking perspective on behavior change with its concept of the “Three Circles of Behavior Echo-System.” Unlike traditional models that portray human behavior as a linear chain of cause and effect (see CBT or TTM), this holistic and dynamic model unveils the intricate interplay of forces shaping our actions, thoughts, feelings, and the environment and how each perpetually reverberates to influence the other.

By illustrating human behavior within a personal 'echo-system,' the model highlights the continuous vibrational influence of thoughts (stories), emotions/feelings, and behaviors/habits/skills and our environment, creating a ripple effect that influences every aspect of our lives. The innovative and simple behavior model reveals a precise road map for anyone seeking lasting personal transformation and goal achievement. The model adds a layer of realism to our understanding of how we interact with the world around us while at the same time, challenging conventional models and wisdom.

The Grunburg Behavior Model simplistically articulates the essence of behavior, capturing its fluid and interconnected nature while paving the way for a more comprehensive and impactful understanding of human dynamics.Background here.

If you’d like to understand human behavior at an even deeper level, learn more about the “Three Circles of Behavior Echo-System,” it is featured in my latest book, “EVERYTHING!”

Check out the latest cohort offering; the waitlist is now open: The 28-Day Breakthrough!

I teach and coach organizations and individuals worldwide how to best utilize and leverage “The Three Circles of Behavior Echo-System” (below) and the P.A.R.R. [Plan, Act, Record & Reassess] scientifically-backed methodology for individual and organizational behavior design.

*Recently Awarded: “Finalist: Self-help, Motivation”International Book Awards: EVERYTHING is a F*cking STORY.

Visit https://thehabitfactor.com/templates

To learn more about P.A.R.R., just Google “P.A.R.R. and The Habit Factor.”

Get The Habit Factor® FREE with your audible trial! https://audibletrial.com/habits2goals

Feedspot’s “Top 10 Habit Podcasts You Must Follow in 2021”

New listeners, grab your free habits 2 goals tracking template here: https://thehabitfactor.com/templates

FREE copy of As a Man Thinketh (PDF) right here: As a Man Thinketh

Subscribe iTunes here! Subscribe: Android

This Habits 2 Goals episode is FREE for ALL subscribers.

Habits and Skills: The Fraternal Twins of Personal Development

We’re bringing back Frequently Asked Friday (w/ Season 12) – on a Monday!

Frequently Asked Friday: Why do Habits and skills share the same space in the “3 Circles of Behavior Echo-System” / Grunburg Behavior Model?

Upon further review, habits and skills share remarkable similarities, making them more like fraternal twins than distant cousins.

Where Habits & Skills Reside:

Both habits and skills, once fully formed, reside deep within the limbic system, specifically in the basal ganglia.

Once a habit or skill is ingrained in the basal ganglia, it becomes seemingly “automatic.”

The Four Stages of Learning or Competence:

When it comes to developing good habits intentionally, it helps to reflect upon the four stages of learning and to think about how you would practice any skill you’re trying to cultivate.

* Unconsciously Incompetent: This stage is characterized by a lack of awareness of both the skill or habit and its potential benefits.

* Consciously Incompetent: In this stage, we become aware of the skill or habit, but lack the knowledge or ability to perform it effectively.

* Consciously Competent: Through intentional and repeated practice, we gain the ability to perform the skill or habit, but it still requires considerable conscious effort and attention.

* Unconsciously Competent: With months and often years of practice, the skill and/or habit becomes automatic and is performed with little conscious thought.

The Formation of Bad Habits

Bad habits rarely require planning or tracking to be formed: Eating or drinking too much, sleeping late, and watching too much TV or, consuming too much social media – these unhealthy habits tend to form all by themselves.

It’s the good, positive habits that tend to require a plan, along with tracking, that facilitates their cultivation.

Enter: The P.A.R.R. Method for Good Habit Development

The PARR method is an acronym for Plan, Act, Record, and Reassess. It offers a powerful framework for cultivating positive habits.

By planning your desired behavior, taking action, recording your progress, and reassessing your approach (after 28 Days – 4 weeks), you can conscientiously shape habits that are aligned with your goals.

More info here: https://thehabitfactor.com/templates

Good habits happen when planned; bad habits happen on their own

Good habits and skills are both essential, related aspects of personal development and, not coincidentally, share a similar path to development.

Enjoy the show!

~mg

***Get the inspiring, free and world’s first HABITS to GOALS tracking template here: → https://thehabitfactor.com/templates

“The Three Circles of Behavior Echo-System” / The Grunburg Behavior Model is a holistic, fluid, and dynamic behavior-change model. It’s the first behavior-change model to demonstrate how our thoughts, feelings, behaviors, and even our environment vibrate (echo and reverberate) to influence each other. Hence, the “Echo-System.” Background here.

If you’d like to understand human behavior at an even deeper level, learn more about the “Three Circles of Behavior Echo-System” which is featured in the book, “EVERYTHING!”

I teach and coach organizations and individuals worldwide how to best utilize and leverage “The Three Circles of Behavior Echo-System” (below) and the P.A.R.R. [Plan, Act, Record & Reassess] scientifically-backed methodology for individual and organizational behavior design.

Check out the latest cohort offering; the waitlist is now open: The 28-Day Breakthrough!

*Recently Awarded: “Finalist: Self-help, Motivation”International Book Awards: EVERYTHING is a F*cking STORY.

Visit https://thehabitfactor.com/templates

To learn more about P.A.R.R., just Google “P.A.R.R. and The Habit Factor.”

Get The Habit Factor® FREE with your audible trial! https://audibletrial.com/habits2goals

Feedspot’s “Top 10 Habit Podcasts You Must Follow in 2021”

New listeners, grab your free habits 2 goals tracking template here: https://thehabitfactor.com/templates

FREE copy of As a Man Thinketh (PDF) right here: As a Man Thinketh

Subscribe iTunes here! Subscribe: Android

This Habits 2 Goals episode is FREE for ALL subscribers.

Life’s Balancing Act: Tragedy & Comedy

What feels like a world-ending personal disaster today may just become a hilarious anecdote tomorrow.

Just a few years ago, everyone was panicking about the COVID-19 pandemic.

It was the end of the world. It was a scary time, filled with uncertainty and fear.

Today, the epoch provides comedians worldwide (just check Netflix and social media) with endless material for jokes.

To be clear, nobody is laughing about the millions of fatalities.

Having said that, they are laughing at the ridiculous things people did, particularly in the early days: hoarding toilet paper, wearing masks made of scarves, and Zoom meetings with our pets dressed up as co-workers.

Consider another quote, or rather a formula, this time from Woody Allen:

Tragedy + Time = Comedy.

For example, imagine the grief and shock surrounding the assassination of President Lincoln in 1865.

No one was making jokes about John Wilkes Booth at the time.

Today, countless jokes and even historical memes circulate about the incident.

It’s hardly funny, yet, people find a way to laugh about it.

Does this mean Chaplin’s or Allen’s quote applies to every tragedy? Not exactly.

While time may soften the blow of some tragedies, others leave permanent scars.

The death of a loved one, the loss of a dream, or the experience of war can leave wounds that never fully heal.

So, where does that leave us?

Humor is a powerful tool that helps us cope in difficult times, offers perspective, and can even build resilience.

It’s also a powerful reminder that even in the darkest of challenges, our perspective will likely shift with some additional time.

Think about that teenage relationship you had and lost. It was the end of the world.

Up close, it was a tragedy. Now, it’s a comedy,

The same might be said for any/all of the latest political crises.

The beauty in the observation is this:

Take life itself and each crisis at hand a bit less seriously, knowing it may just turn out like 98% of the prior crises, which somehow morphed into comedies.

* Embrace the absurd: Life is full of ridiculous situations and unexpected turns. Learn to laugh at the absurdity of it all, even if it feels uncomfortable at first.

* Connect with others: Sharing our stories and experiences with others can help us feel less alone and more connected. Laughter is often contagious, so surround yourself with people who make you smile.

* Seek out humor: Watch funny movies, read humorous books, or listen to stand-up comedy. Exposing yourself to humor can help boost your mood and put things in perspective.

* Be patient: Healing takes time. Don't pressure yourself to feel happy or funny all the time. Allow yourself to feel your emotions and know that laughter will eventually return.

Remember, life’s a perpetual and emotional ying and yang.

During your next crisis, take a deep breath, recall Chaplin’s and Allen’s words'; recognize the possibility that just maybe you’ll be laughing about it in the future.

Enjoy the show!

~mg

***Get the inspiring, free and world’s first HABITS to GOALS tracking template here: → https://thehabitfactor.com/templates

“The Three Circles of Behavior Echo-System” / The Grunburg Behavior Model is a holistic, fluid, and dynamic behavior-change model. It’s the first behavior-change model to demonstrate how our thoughts, feelings, behaviors, and even our environment vibrate (echo and reverberate) to influence each other. Hence, the “Echo-System.” Background here.

If you’d like to understand human behavior at an even deeper level, learn more about the “Three Circles of Behavior Echo-System” which is featured in the book, “EVERYTHING!”

I teach and coach organizations and individuals worldwide how to best utilize and leverage “The Three Circles of Behavior Echo-System” (below) and the P.A.R.R. [Plan, Act, Record & Reassess] scientifically-backed methodology for individual and organizational behavior design.

Check out the latest cohort offering; the waitlist is now open: The 28-Day Breakthrough!

*Recently Awarded: “Finalist: Self-help, Motivation”International Book Awards: EVERYTHING is a F*cking STORY.

Visit https://thehabitfactor.com/templates

To learn more about P.A.R.R., just Google “P.A.R.R. and The Habit Factor.”

Get The Habit Factor® FREE with your audible trial! https://audibletrial.com/habits2goals

Feedspot’s “Top 10 Habit Podcasts You Must Follow in 2021”

New listeners, grab your free habits 2 goals tracking template here: https://thehabitfactor.com/templates

FREE copy of As a Man Thinketh (PDF) right here: As a Man Thinketh

Subscribe iTunes here! Subscribe: Android

This Habits 2 Goals episode is FREE for ALL subscribers.

What’s the first clue that the latest habits “Gooroo” knows little about habit development?

They teach the idea that doing a behavior for a month or thirty days – is the key to habit development.

Performing a behavior for thirty days is helpful, but it misses a core, fundamental precept of habit development:

RHYTHM

“Everything in the universe has a rhythm, everything dances.” ~ Maya Angelou

When I set out to write The Habit Factor®, the first question I pondered, researched and even queried Google was, “Why do habits exist?”

Google served up a grand total of ZERO answers – nothing. (See the book for a screenshot)

After weeks of contemplating that question, the answer revealed itself.

It was elemental: All life is energy.

Energy has a predisposition for pattern and rhythm; consider sound waves, ocean waves, the rhythm of the seasons, high tide, low tide, universal planetary rhythms, etc.

By understanding this basic idea, anyone can intentionally leverage the rhythm of the week – using four-week increments – to track and reassess the habits they’d like to cultivate.

ENTER: Bodybuilding

The world of bodybuilding is often associated with sculpted physiques and unwavering dedication.

Beyond the physical transformations, there lies a treasure trove of insights into habit formation and the art of self-discipline.

Bodybuilders, through their rigorous training routines and meticulous tracking, offer valuable lessons that can be applied to building positive habits.

The Rhythm of the Week

Just as bodybuilders structure their workout schedules around specific muscle groups each day of the week, we can adopt a similar approach to habit formation.

By dedicating specific times or days to certain habits, we create a rhythm that becomes ingrained in our daily routine.

P.A.R.R.: A Habit-Building Methodology

The P.A.R.R. methodology, which stands for Plan, Act, Record, and Reassess, perfectly aligns with the habit-building strategies employed by bodybuilders.

* Plan: Clearly define the habit you want to establish and establish both the “Target Days” and the “Minimum Success Criteria.” (More info here)

* Act: By following your plan, you act on your “Target Days”, meeting your “Minimum Success Criteria.” (What happens if you don’t? See above link)

* Record: Track your actions against your plan and add comments. Comments are essential and help to reinforce your intention (plan).

* Reassess: Reassessment is crucial. Evaluate your habit-tracking effort after four weeks. If you are 85% or better against your targets, you should “raise the bar.” (See above link).

HabitStrength™: Building Momentum

Just as bodybuilders gradually increase the weight they lift to build muscle strength, we can apply the concept of HabitStrength™ to habit formation.

By gradually increasing the “Frequency per week” and/or the “Minimum Success Criteria” (duration), we strengthen the habit’s strength and its automaticity.

Leg Day: A Metaphor for Habit Building

The term "Leg Day" represents a plan put into action by following the rhythm of the week

We can approach habit formation with the same level of intention and understanding.

Enjoy the show!

~mg

***Get the inspiring, free and world’s first HABITS to GOALS tracking template here: → https://thehabitfactor.com/templates

“The Three Circles of Behavior Echo-System” / The Grunburg Behavior Model is a holistic, fluid, and dynamic behavior-change model. It’s the first behavior-change model to demonstrate how our thoughts, feelings, behaviors, and even our environment vibrate (echo and reverberate) to influence each other. Hence, the “Echo-System.” Background here.

If you’d like to understand human behavior at an even deeper level, learn more about the “Three Circles of Behavior Echo-System” which is featured in the book, “EVERYTHING!”

I teach and coach organizations and individuals worldwide how to best utilize and leverage “The Three Circles of Behavior Echo-System” (below) and the P.A.R.R. [Plan, Act, Record & Reassess] scientifically-backed methodology for individual and organizational behavior design.

Check out the latest cohort offering; the waitlist is now open: The 28-Day Breakthrough!

*Recently Awarded: “Finalist: Self-help, Motivation”International Book Awards: EVERYTHING is a F*cking STORY.

Visit https://thehabitfactor.com/templates

To learn more about P.A.R.R., just Google “P.A.R.R. and The Habit Factor.”

Get The Habit Factor® FREE with your audible trial! https://audibletrial.com/habits2goals

Feedspot’s “Top 10 Habit Podcasts You Must Follow in 2021”

New listeners, grab your free habits 2 goals tracking template here: https://thehabitfactor.com/templates

FREE copy of As a Man Thinketh (PDF) right here: As a Man Thinketh

Subscribe iTunes here! Subscribe: Android

This Habits 2 Goals episode is FREE for ALL subscribers.

Amidst the hustle and bustle of daily life, it's easy to get caught up in the pursuit of worldly goals, the accumulation of possessions, and fleeting pleasures.

Yet, at the end of the proverbial day, the true measure of your life will not lie in material wealth or even accolades.

Instead, it will be determined by the impact that was made – the lives you touched – the GOOD that you did.

“The true worth of a man is to be measured by his deeds and not by his words.” ~ Seneca

In the realm of spirituality, a multitude of religions posit that we exist for a reason – to serve others – to do GOOD.

It is not the length of our lives but the depth of our impact that matters.

While the religions vary, the core message is the same: we are called to make a positive difference in the world, to use our gifts and talents to serve others and to make the world a better place.

Our lives have the power to leave an indelible mark on the hearts and souls of those we encounter.

We can be agents of kindness, compassion, and understanding anytime we choose. Or we can let our actions be guided by apathy, indifference, and negativity.

The choice is yours.

Ultimately, there is just one question that will really matter at the end of your life:

“What good did you do?”

You have one job: Leave the world a better place than you found it.

Start sweeping.

Enjoy the show!

~mg

***Get the inspiring, free and world’s first HABITS to GOALS tracking template here: → https://thehabitfactor.com/templates

“The Three Circles of Behavior Echo-System” / The Grunburg Behavior Model is a holistic, fluid, and dynamic behavior-change model. It’s the first behavior-change model to demonstrate how our thoughts, feelings, behaviors, and even our environment vibrate (echo and reverberate) to influence each other. Hence, the “Echo-System.” Background here.

If you’d like to understand human behavior at an even deeper level, learn more about the “Three Circles of Behavior Echo-System” which is featured in the book, “EVERYTHING!”

I teach and coach organizations and individuals worldwide how to best utilize and leverage “The Three Circles of Behavior Echo-System” (below) and the P.A.R.R. [Plan, Act, Record & Reassess] scientifically-backed methodology for individual and organizational behavior design.

Check out the latest cohort offering; the waitlist is now open: The 28-Day Breakthrough!

*Recently Awarded: “Finalist: Self-help, Motivation”International Book Awards: EVERYTHING is a F*cking STORY.

Visit https://thehabitfactor.com/templates

To learn more about P.A.R.R., just Google “P.A.R.R. and The Habit Factor.”

Get The Habit Factor® FREE with your audible trial! https://audibletrial.com/habits2goals

Feedspot’s “Top 10 Habit Podcasts You Must Follow in 2021”

New listeners, grab your free habits 2 goals tracking template here: https://thehabitfactor.com/templates

FREE copy of As a Man Thinketh (PDF) right here: As a Man Thinketh

Subscribe iTunes here! Subscribe: Android

This Habits 2 Goals episode is FREE for ALL subscribers.

In the vast expanse of time and space, our individual existence might seem like a fleeting flicker, a mere ripple in the cosmic ocean.

A thousand years from now, our names will likely fade into obscurity, our actions lost to the annals of history.

Despite this inherent insignificance, we also possess the power to leave an indelible mark on the world, to create a ripple effect that echoes through generations.

Life is a paradox, simultaneously insignificant and immensely significant.

On one hand, our individual lives are finite, destined to be consumed by the relentless march of time.

Our achievements, no matter how grand, will fade into the background of the universe’s vastness.

On the other hand, we are capable of extraordinary acts of love, compassion, and creativity. We have the power to inspire, teach, uplift, and heal.

Our actions can have a profound impact on the lives of others, the well-being of creatures and even the planet itself.

Our service and impact can create a ripple effect that extends well beyond our lifetime.

The Starfish Parable

While walking on the beach, a man noticed a boy throwing a starfish back into the ocean.

“You’re wasting your time, young man; there are too many starfish to save! You cannot help them all. Your efforts do not make any difference.”

The boy tossed another starfish into the ocean, turned and said, “I just made a difference for that one!”

“We are a part of something greater than ourselves, something that will endure long after we are gone.” ~ Carl Sagan

This paradox of existence should be a call to action, not a source of despair.

It reminds us that while our individual lives may be fleeting, the impact we make on others can endure.

It urges us to embrace our insignificance and use it as fuel to be significant.

To live a meaningful life is not to seek immortality or to strive for everlasting fame. It’s to live with purpose, to love wholeheartedly – to leave a positive mark on the world, however small it may seem.

It is also to recognize that our individual actions, though seemingly insignificant, can contribute to something greater.

Embrace the paradox that is your life.

Acknowledge your insignificance while simultaneously celebrating your extraordinary capacity to love, serve, be compassionate, and create.

Enjoy the show!

~mg

***Get the inspiring, free and world’s first HABITS to GOALS tracking template here: → https://thehabitfactor.com/templates

“The Three Circles of Behavior Echo-System” / The Grunburg Behavior Model is a holistic, fluid, and dynamic behavior-change model. It’s the first behavior-change model to demonstrate how our thoughts, feelings, behaviors, and even our environment vibrate (echo and reverberate) to influence each other. Hence, the “Echo-System.” Background here.

If you’d like to understand human behavior at an even deeper level, learn more about the “Three Circles of Behavior Echo-System” which is featured in the book, “EVERYTHING!”

I teach and coach organizations and individuals worldwide how to best utilize and leverage “The Three Circles of Behavior Echo-System” (below) and the P.A.R.R. [Plan, Act, Record & Reassess] scientifically-backed methodology for individual and organizational behavior design.

Check out the latest cohort offering; the waitlist is now open: The 28-Day Breakthrough!

*Recently Awarded: “Finalist: Self-help, Motivation”International Book Awards: EVERYTHING is a F*cking STORY.

Visit https://thehabitfactor.com/templates

To learn more about P.A.R.R., just Google “P.A.R.R. and The Habit Factor.”

Get The Habit Factor® FREE with your audible trial! https://audibletrial.com/habits2goals

Feedspot’s “Top 10 Habit Podcasts You Must Follow in 2021”

New listeners, grab your free habits 2 goals tracking template here: https://thehabitfactor.com/templates

FREE copy of As a Man Thinketh (PDF) right here: As a Man Thinketh

Subscribe iTunes here! Subscribe: Android

This Habits 2 Goals episode is FREE for ALL subscribers.

The other day, a good friend (former professor and a professional writer) – a man whose top value is a “learning mindset” – said something that caught my attention.

“I’ve realized the importance of ‘dumb stuff.’ It’s the dumb stuff that supports the smart stuff.”

“The dumb stuff supports the smart stuff.”

It’s brilliant!

I loved the idea and sentiment.

Running doesn’t require much intelligence yet; after he runs, he’s a better writer.

Sleep doesn’t require much or any intelligence yet; after he rests, he’s a better writer.

After a few days of contemplating the comment, it occurred to me that this “stuff” is only “dumb” in the context of ‘intelligence.’

In other words, how hard is your brain working while you’re running or sleeping?

Chances are, not very hard.

What if we viewed these behaviors not through an intelligence lens but through a wellness and health one?

Eating right, exercising and getting enough sleep become fundamentals for a well-balanced life.

A larger theme emerged…

Change the lens - the filter - and answers or even behaviors and tools tend to change.

While the episode is called “Dumb Stuff” (like so many episodes on H2G), it’s really about paradigms.

Paradigm defined:

a typical example or pattern of something; a model.* (see behavior model below)

a worldview underlying the theories and methodology of a particular scientific subject.

Abraham Maslow, the famed American psychologist, called the inclination – the tendency to use the same tool for different problems – the ‘Law of the Instrument.’

It refers to an over-reliance on a favorite or familiar tool.

Here’s the key point: Before anyone grabs any tool, they have a perception or view of the problem.

It’s less about the tool, at first, and more about the paradigm.

Before any problem is solved, it must be addressed.

How we view challenges, determines not only how we think about them, but how we approach them (our behaviors), and which tools we use.

Maslow’s ‘Law of the Instrument’ tells us that an over-reliance on any particular view and/or tool can result in negative results rather than helpful ones.

Different challenges that are addressed with the same worldview, behaviors and/or tool often equates to non-serving results.

It’s essential to first ask, what paradigm am I addressing this challenge with?

Approaching challenges with an open mind clears the path for new paradigms – new ways of thinking.

It’s new ways of thinking that tend to result in new behaviors, habits and skills; even the use of new tools. (see behavior model below)

Our paradigms lie at the heart of our behavior. These paradigms are fundamental to our problem-solving, psychology and our behaviors.

Enjoy the show!

~mg

***Get the inspiring, free and world’s first HABITS to GOALS tracking template here: → https://thehabitfactor.com/templates