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

"The next wave of AI will be able to augment people to become superhuman. Solutions will be at the ready for nearly all problems facing humanity." ~Alex Bates Habits2Goals presents a powerful interview with Alex Bates, a phenomenal entrepreneur, inventor and bestselling author of Augmented Mind: AI Superhumans and the Next Economic Revolution. When Alex was growing up in Portland, battling for computer time with his siblings, he developed an obsession with the emerging Internet and artificial neural networks. Alex, fascinated by entrepreneurship, took his interest in AI and machine learning and in 2006 founded Mtelligence to harness the deluge of sensor data in the industrial IoT with the mission of creating a "world that doesn't break down." After spending a decade on the front lines of the AI revolution, Alex discovered the one key ingredient that was missing from mainstream AI research — humans!  His new book explains how augmenting humans, combining human intuition and artificial intelligence, will herald

"It takes the same energy to think small as it does to think big. So dream big and think bigger.” ~ Daymond John This Mind Bullet Monday was inspired by the awesome movie Bohemian Rhapsody, which is gaining accolades for its lead actor and compelling story of Freddy Mercury and Queen's rise to success.  There are a few nuggets of wisdom in this movie that we can all keep in mind while chasing our goals and dreams, overlaying some themes from the movie onto our own lives. The first "big idea" is to think BIGGER. At one point, Freddy prods his bandmates to see themselves as more than just a popular touring band and to actually record an album -- and aim to be legendary!  Where can you think big strategically?  The next big idea is to "synthesize." In the movie, Freddy indulges his creative instinct to blend opera with rock. Where can WE use this synthetic creativity in our lives? Listen in to for more personal development mind bullets from Bohemian Rhapsody and see how you can apply these lessons to your life.

“It's better to hang out with people better than you. Pick out associates whose behavior is better than yours and you'll drift in that direction.”. ~Warren Buffett What are Warren Buffett's criteria for hiring employees? Buffett is one of the wealthiest men in the world who possesses incredible insight into investing and business. What does it take to get hired by him? What he says ought to matter! First, a potential employee must be curious -- someone who is a perpetual student and constant learner. Knowledge is fluid and curiosity is so important because it allows us to connect the dots between disciplines. Trait number 2? Coachability! Learning isn't enough if you aren't coachable. Managers today are coaches more than anything, and the greatest coaches reinforce the good and positively redirect what needs tweaking. Trait number three: Character (ethics). The first two don't matter a whole lot with no ethics behind them! Listen in for a fun and fascinating look at one brilliant man's insight into what makes

"Self control is strength. Right thought is mastery. Calmness is power." ~James Allen, As a Man Thinketh On this doozy of a Wednesday Mind Bullet Habits2Goals episode, we meditate upon these James Allen words: "Self control is strength. Right thought is mastery. Calmness is power." Giving this great wisdom The Habit Factor spin, we take a look at the first idea, "Self control is strength." Discipline and self control are HABITS and can be developed. This is where strength originates, because if we can't control ourselves, we have nothing upon which to build our own strength. When we examine "Right thought is mastery," via the prism of Habit Factor and PARR, we see that challenging our thinking is essential to putting ourselves in a positive head space.  Can you kill the negative thought patterns and emotions that cripple you? Listen in for more insight into gaining true power and emotional poise -- and how HabitStrength puts us in control! Enjoy! *** New listeners: By texting the word "HABITS" to the mobile p

"Keep looking up. That's the secret of life." ~Snoopy It's a true Mind-Bullet Monday as we take on this little nugget of wisdom that came out of the blue: Look up! Look at the sky, the treetops, the clouds more often!  Our vision tends toward eye level at best, and ground level at worst. But looking up immediately changes your perspective. You get a more panoramic view — in more ways than one. When we're beaten down by life's challenges, our gaze tends to lower. But looking up gives us a new perspective, according to research, and triggers other parts of the brain as well as changing your thinking patterns and mood Are YOU looking up? You may be surprised by what happens next! Listen in for more on pausing, looking up, and changing your perspective -- and see how it affects your world! Enjoy the episode! *** New listeners: By texting the word "HABITS" to the mobile phone number "33444" you will instantly receive your "hack"/habit tracker/habit development template, or you can download it here: thehabitfactor.

“Sitting quietly, doing nothing, Spring comes, and the grass grows, by itself.” ~ Zen proverb "Don't just do something — sit there." As we settle into our brand-new 2019, this Frequently Asked Friday episode addresses what we gleaned from last year: What lessons have we learned from 2018?    Lesson number one: The FUNDAMENTALS. Take a look at the things we do every day. Are we doing them right? Never be afraid to backtrack and hone, strengthen and improve the fundamentals -- even breathing! MG's Lesson number two: MEDITATION. After years of trying to be expedient and efficient with meditation, a talk with Fred Gratzon, author of The Lazy Way to Success, brought new insight into the power of not trying so hard. Sometimes pulling back is the lesson. What gifts and lessons did 2018 bring to you? Listen in for more lessons from last year, and learn how living life like an experiment may bring the biggest rewards in 2019. Enjoy the episode! ***** New listeners: By texting the word "HABITS" to the mobile phone numb

“Always bear in mind that your own resolution to succeed is more important than any other.” ~Abraham Lincoln On this Wednesday Mind Bullet episode, we wish our listeners a Happy New Year and share five ways to make sure YOUR resolutions are successful! Whatever we RESOLVE to do (these are, after all, resolutions), it is our job to set our goals. No one else is going to set our goals for us! What does your heart desire? If we begin with the end in mind, as the late, great Dr. Stephen Covey advises in his 7 Habits of Highly Effective People, we can ask ourselves: If I were to die tomorrow, what experience would I most regret not having?  You may want to reduce debt, run with the bulls, lose weight — this exercise unveils your DESIRE.   What comes after DESIRE? Listen in for the rest of the key ingredients that will make your goals a reality--whether it takes one year or 10! Enjoy the episode! *** New listeners: By texting the word "HABITS" to the mobile phone number "33444" you will instantly receive your "hack

"The unexamined life is not worth living." ~Socrates Habits2Goals welcomes in the New Year with a look back at 2018. It's a time to reflect on a brilliant year, with thoughts, highlights and lessons learned.  As important as it is to look forward and set goals, it is just as crucial to reflect. And reflecting and assessing is, of course, part of PARR (Plan, Act, Record, Reassess) and habit building. MG looks back on his personal 2018 highlights and reflects on the importance of learning new skills and putting yourself out there -- reinforcing the idea that "life is an experiment, and the more experiments you make, the better." Are YOU viewing life as an experiment? Listen in for some inspiration to live YOUR best life in 2019 as you reflect back on your accomplishments of 2018. Enjoy the episode! *** New listeners: By texting the word "HABITS" to the mobile phone number "33444" you will instantly receive your "hack"/habit tracker/habit development template, or you can download it here: thehabitfactor.com/temp

“Our character is basically a composite of our habits. Because they are consistent, often unconscious patterns, they constantly, daily, express our character.” ~ Stephen Covey For this Frequently Asked Friday Habits2Goals episode, we ask a burning question that speaks to the core of goal achievement: What are foundational habits?    Sometimes referred as keystone habits, these are the habits that, over the course of a lifetime, will have the greatest compounding effect. Think about the habits we perform every day — eating, breathing, how we sleep, drinking water. Since they are performed every day, they have the greatest impact on our life AND our other habits. The compounding effect is powerful!  These habits influence — and infiltrate — all the other habits of our day. Knowing this, when we set out to design our lives, and achieve our goals, we must first look to these foundational habits. Join us for a reminder of how these keystone habits must be in alignment with our goals and how leveraging them can giv

"You were designed for accomplishment, engineered for success, and endowed with the seeds of greatness.”  “You cannot make it as a wandering generality, you must become a meaningful specific.” ~ Zig Ziglar This special Wednesday Mind Bullet episode has us pondering our goal achievement via an analogy: You are a heat-seeking missile. Goals are not optional -- we were designed for accomplishment! Climbers don't end up on the top of Mount Everest by accident. Authors don't write a book by accident. You don't complete a marathon by accident. Goal achievers go out and complete that goal -- once they know what their target is. A heat-seeking missile must have a target to go after -- even a moving target. The missile corrects when necessary, never wavering. It is self-correcting because it knows where it is trying to go!  It's hard to hit a target you can't see, and as goal-seekers, we need to figure out where we're trying to go and how to get there.  Listen in to be inspired by our unique predilection for goal achi

"Everything will be OK in the end, and if it's not OK, it is not the end." ~John Lennon This Christmas Eve Mind-Bullet Monday episode ponders a sobering and seemingly heavy topic: The end.  Every morning for the last 13 years, MG takes his dog out for a frisbee session on the beach, complete with audience and aerials. But on a chilly recent morning, when Roxy the dog pulled up a little cramped and lame, the thought occurred: The end is coming. Not today, not tomorrow, but the beginning of the end is here. The end is all around us and it's happening all the time -- bittersweet, but an integral part of the dynamism of life. The one great constant in life is change, so the end is often just a transformation -- a metamorphosis.  Listen in for an inspiring conversation about embracing the sometimes bittersweet metamorphosis of life. Enjoy! *** New listeners: By texting the word "HABITS" to the mobile phone number "33444" you will instantly receive your "hack"/habit tracker/habit development template, or you can do

"Be kind whenever possible. It is always possible." ~ Dalai Lama On this Fantastic Frequently Asked Friday episode, we ponder a question that applies to family, business, goal-setting and all other aspects of life: What are the three rules?  Rule number one: Be Responsible. Own it. Take responsibility. No blaming or shaming. Rule number two: Be Grateful. Change your expectations for appreciation. Rule number three: Be Kind.  These rules serve as a simplified winning formula to make each day your masterpiece! Listen in for a reminder of some simple ways to find happiness and calm as we take our place in this world -- and how PARR can play a role. Enjoy the episode! ***** New listeners: By texting the word "HABITS" to the mobile phone number "33444" you will instantly receive your "hack"/habit tracker/habit development template, or you can download it here: thehabitfactor.com/templates. Feel free to share the episode and leave a review on iTunes!  ***** Subscribe iTunes here! Subscribe: Android | RSS ***** RES

"Before enlightenment, chop wood, carry water. After enlightenment, chop wood, carry water.” ~ Zen quote On a special Wednesday Habits2Goals Mind Bullet, we ponder a topic we somehow haven't gotten to in five seasons: Enlightenment. The perplexing quote above shares with us that once we reach enlightenment, the work "out there" doesn't change. What changes is the "in here" -- what goes on within us. We go about our day, but we see things differently. So what is enlightenment? Is it oneness? An understanding of universal principles? Unity, love, kindness? Unifying principles that create a lens through which you see life? Or, does enlightenment mean something else altogether? Listen in for a fascinating discussion about a literal translation of enlightenment -- a "lightening of the load" when negativity is cast away. Enjoy! *** New listeners: By texting the word "HABITS" to the mobile phone number "33444" you will instantly receive your "hack"/habit tracker/habit development template, or you can download it her

"We always overestimate the change that will occur in the next two years and underestimate the change that will occur in the next 10. Don't let yourself be lulled into inaction." ~ Bill Gates Why are we overly ambitious in the short term but woefully shortsighted as we envision our long-term future?  In the goal-setting arena, we impatiently set our sights on short-term success. Who has time for 10 years of planning and hard work? We want success THIS year! But when we view the idea of reaching our goals as a process, we see that daily efforts compound over time and our ultimate success is greater than we could have imagined -- if we stick to the process. Listen in for a fascinating discussion of patience and persistence, and reaping the rewards of taking the slow road.. Enjoy! *** New listeners: By texting the word "HABITS" to the mobile phone number "33444" you will instantly receive your "hack"/habit tracker/habit development template, or you can download it here: thehabitfactor.com/templates. Feel free to

"Ask a Garbage In question, you get a Garbage Out response."  This Frequently Asked Friday was inspired by a Google search gone awry. When typing, "Why do I . . . " the search engine autofilled a tragic question: "Why do I suck?   The quality of our questions directs our focus, attention and energy. So if we're asking "Why do I suck...at life...at relationships," etc., this is not a quality question. Our energy is clearly in the wrong place. Asking a better question is a good place to start. Ask positive questions. Remember, where your attention goes, your energy flows! Begin with the end in mind: How do you create a quality question when you know what your goal is? Listen in for a fascinating look at reframing your questions to create momentum and energy, looked at through the filter of Covey's great book, 7 Habits of Highly Effective People. Enjoy the episode! ***** New listeners: By texting the word "HABITS" to the mobile phone number "33444" you will instantly receive your "hack"/habit tracker/habit devel

"What you resist not only persists, but will grow in size.”  ~ Carl Jung Is frustration and futility really worth it? Too often we get caught up in frustration and cling to what should be happening — we resist — instead of accepting what is and finding a solution. What are you resisting? Resisting can make things worse and often complicates your true end goal. Whether it's something as significant as hearing impairment or insignificant as a NEW pen that doesn't work, if we respond positively to what we perceive as a negative experience, the frustration dissipates.  Listen in for some revelations about how to positively respond to a bad situation, accept the circumstances, and go about finding a solution -- bringing light (acceptance) to a dark (negative) situation. Enjoy! *** New listeners: By texting the word "HABITS" to the mobile phone number "33444" you will instantly receive your "hack"/habit tracker/habit development template, or you can download it here: thehabitfactor.com/templates. Feel free to shar

"The successful man is the average man, with laser-like focus." ~Bruce Lee  "Obstacles are those frightful things you see when you take your eyes off your goal." - Henry Ford Today's Mind Bullet Monday brings us back to the fundamentals: the benefits of being simple-minded.  It's not what you may think. A "simple mind" refers to a calm mind, full of concentration. Simplification is often the key to success. Too many brilliant, talented people are getting so caught up in overthinking — what might happen, what could happen — that nothing gets accomplished. That's energy and attention wasted! Listen in to hear about keeping it simple and focused, and how the Habit Factor works because it "dummies down" the process of habit development and goal achievement. Enjoy! *** New listeners: By texting the word "HABITS" to the mobile phone number "33444" you will instantly receive your "hack"/habit tracker/habit development template, or you can download it here: thehabitfactor.com/templates. Feel free to share the episod

"All men's miseries derive from not being able to sit in a quiet room alone." ~Blaise Pascal This Fantastic Frequently Asked Friday episode is a topic near and dear to MG's heart — especially these days: What is the best way to meditate?  The answer isn't cut-and-dried, but the first step is to BEGIN. Just do it! Meditation is a practice, so don't forget to track it. Secondly, experiment! There's no one right way to meditate. Don't get caught up in form and function, how to sit, etc. Maybe you stretch. Maybe you don't want to close your eyes. Who cares? Just experiment and track it! Listen in to hear about common meditation mistakes (don't try to be efficient), and how to experiment with your surroundings, hit your meditation stride, and find the tools to bring stillness and clarity to your life. Enjoy the episode! ***** New listeners: By texting the word "HABITS" to the mobile phone number "33444" you will instantly receive your "hack"/habit tracker/habit development template, or you can download it here: th

"To think is easy. To act is hard. But the hardest thing in the world is to act in accordance with your thinking” ~ Johann Wolfgang von Goethe On this special Wednesday Mind Bullet episode, we explore a topic rooted in the great quote above by Johann Wolfgang von Goethe. To paraphrase: Thinking is easy. Acting is hard. But to act as you think is the most difficult of all! Taking action is a common theme here at Habits2Goals. Recall Napoleon Hill's words: "Action is the real measure of intelligence."  How often do we "think" we should eat a certain way. Do we always act that way? We think we should save money. Do we? Acting as we think is difficult! But this is more than discipline or willpower: Are we acting in coherence with our thinking? The beginning of acting as we think is the (drumroll) . . . establishment of a habit! Listen in for a discussion of why goal-setting sometimes crumbles and how self-efficacy -- the ability to produce a desired result -- is the direct product of PARR.  Enjoy! *** New listene

"It is the height of stupidity to believe that in the course of your short life, your few decades of consciousness, you can somehow rewire the configurations of your brain... time will mercilessly expose your weakness and impatience." ~Robert Greene On this Mind Bullet Monday we revisit a topic that can't be addressed enough: Impatience. In short, there are no shortcuts to greatness. Robert Greene's fascinating work, Mastery, offers a brutal take on the subject: Essentially, he says, it's the "height of stupidity" to be impatient -- to think you can rest on your laurels and not actively pursue mastery. We're all a little bit impatient — it's ingrained in us to some extent. We of the microwave generations have become wired for instant gratification. But we cannot translate this impatience and reliance on any shortcuts to reach true mastery -- success. Listen in to hear a fascinating angle on impatience, and how to actually embrace the process of reaching true mastery and following the process -- for as long as