1 01:00:01,250 --> 01:00:02,000 Good morning. 2 01:00:03,958 --> 01:00:06,041 And welcome to morning cereal 3 01:00:12,291 --> 01:00:13,166 Okay, good morning 4 01:00:13,166 --> 01:00:14,583 and welcome to Tuesday. 5 01:00:15,208 --> 01:00:16,333 Well, Tuesday is a 6 01:00:16,333 --> 01:00:17,875 smorgasbord of celebrations. 7 01:00:18,708 --> 01:00:21,208 It's National Apple Pie Day, National 8 01:00:21,208 --> 01:00:24,208 Crouton Day, and World Cocktail Day. 9 01:00:24,666 --> 01:00:26,708 So whether you're indulging in a slice of 10 01:00:26,708 --> 01:00:28,166 Americana, tossing some 11 01:00:28,166 --> 01:00:29,208 crunch into your salad, 12 01:00:29,916 --> 01:00:32,000 or just mixing up a midweek mojito, 13 01:00:32,500 --> 01:00:34,125 there's something for you to savor. 14 01:00:34,666 --> 01:00:36,500 And for those of you that feel the need 15 01:00:36,500 --> 01:00:37,291 for a little bit of 16 01:00:37,291 --> 01:00:40,583 speed, it's also Top Gun Day. 17 01:00:41,125 --> 01:00:42,333 And by the way, that's one of 18 01:00:42,333 --> 01:00:43,416 the best movies of all time. 19 01:00:43,833 --> 01:00:46,750 So time to dust off those aviators and 20 01:00:46,750 --> 01:00:48,458 channel your inner maverick. 21 01:00:49,083 --> 01:00:50,583 And we're going to stick with that Top 22 01:00:50,583 --> 01:00:52,708 Gun theme for our quote this morning. 23 01:00:52,958 --> 01:00:54,625 There's so many great quotes from this 24 01:00:54,625 --> 01:00:55,833 movie, but we're going 25 01:00:55,833 --> 01:00:57,083 to use a couple to get us 26 01:00:57,166 --> 01:00:58,833 started on the right foot today. 27 01:00:59,250 --> 01:01:00,958 We'll start with a quote from Goose and 28 01:01:00,958 --> 01:01:02,625 it goes, "No matter what 29 01:01:02,625 --> 01:01:04,166 happens, I'm with you." 30 01:01:05,208 --> 01:01:07,291 And that line from Goose, though brief, 31 01:01:07,625 --> 01:01:08,916 is a powerful reminder 32 01:01:08,916 --> 01:01:10,166 of loyalty, trust, and 33 01:01:10,208 --> 01:01:11,375 standing by your people, 34 01:01:11,750 --> 01:01:13,083 even when things get turbulent. 35 01:01:13,833 --> 01:01:16,708 Okay, and we cannot forget the legendary 36 01:01:16,708 --> 01:01:17,916 quote from Maverick. 37 01:01:18,500 --> 01:01:20,916 "I feel the need, the need for speed." 38 01:01:21,208 --> 01:01:21,583 End quote. 39 01:01:22,208 --> 01:01:24,125 Now this line is iconic for its 40 01:01:24,125 --> 01:01:25,291 adrenaline and its 41 01:01:25,291 --> 01:01:27,791 swagger, but it also captures the 42 01:01:27,791 --> 01:01:30,125 spirit of ambition and momentum. 43 01:01:30,500 --> 01:01:33,208 It's a reminder to lean into life with 44 01:01:33,208 --> 01:01:35,208 energy, with passion, and 45 01:01:35,208 --> 01:01:36,375 with a willingness to take 46 01:01:36,416 --> 01:01:38,416 bold action, even if 47 01:01:38,416 --> 01:01:39,666 you're flying into the unknown. 48 01:01:40,750 --> 01:01:43,458 Well, what is known is today's historical 49 01:01:43,458 --> 01:01:44,708 news facts and the 50 01:01:44,708 --> 01:01:47,083 birthdays for May 13th. 51 01:01:47,083 --> 01:01:48,875 We're going to start back in 1846 and 52 01:01:48,875 --> 01:01:50,500 that's when on this date, the US 53 01:01:50,500 --> 01:01:52,250 Congress, they declared 54 01:01:52,291 --> 01:01:54,125 war on Mexico, igniting 55 01:01:54,125 --> 01:01:55,583 the Mexican American war. 56 01:01:56,375 --> 01:01:59,125 Then on this day in 1981, Pope John Paul 57 01:01:59,125 --> 01:02:01,083 II, he survived an 58 01:02:01,083 --> 01:02:02,791 assassination attempt in St. 59 01:02:03,125 --> 01:02:03,458 Peter's Square. 60 01:02:04,750 --> 01:02:07,666 Then in 1989, thousands of students, you 61 01:02:07,666 --> 01:02:08,375 guys might remember 62 01:02:08,375 --> 01:02:09,916 this, they began a hunger 63 01:02:09,916 --> 01:02:11,625 strike in Tiananmen Square. 64 01:02:11,875 --> 01:02:13,750 It was a pivotal moment in China's 65 01:02:13,750 --> 01:02:15,333 pro-democracy movement. 66 01:02:16,208 --> 01:02:19,208 And then finally in 2004, the final 67 01:02:19,208 --> 01:02:21,041 episode of "Frasier" on 68 01:02:21,041 --> 01:02:23,916 NBC, it was watched by 33 69 01:02:24,125 --> 01:02:24,833 million people. 70 01:02:25,666 --> 01:02:26,916 Well, happy birthday to you 71 01:02:26,916 --> 01:02:28,375 if today is your birthday. 72 01:02:28,375 --> 01:02:30,250 You share a birthday with one of my 73 01:02:30,250 --> 01:02:31,208 favorite country singers 74 01:02:31,208 --> 01:02:33,083 right now, Morgan Wallin. 75 01:02:33,375 --> 01:02:34,625 He's only 32. 76 01:02:35,541 --> 01:02:38,166 Then actor Robert Pattinson, he's known 77 01:02:38,166 --> 01:02:39,916 for "Twilight" and "The Batman." 78 01:02:40,333 --> 01:02:41,750 He's only 39 today. 79 01:02:42,375 --> 01:02:44,166 Then Stephen Colbert, one of my favorite 80 01:02:44,166 --> 01:02:45,791 comedians and the host of 81 01:02:45,791 --> 01:02:46,750 the late show with Stephen 82 01:02:46,750 --> 01:02:47,125 Colbert. 83 01:02:47,791 --> 01:02:48,916 Well, Stephen celebrates 84 01:02:48,916 --> 01:02:50,833 his 61st birthday tonight. 85 01:02:51,625 --> 01:02:52,833 Former bad boy and Michael Jordan 86 01:02:52,833 --> 01:02:55,291 teammate, Dennis Rodman, he's 64 today. 87 01:02:56,000 --> 01:02:58,625 And lastly, Stevie Wonder, legendary 88 01:02:58,625 --> 01:03:01,375 musician and 25-time Grammy winner. 89 01:03:01,875 --> 01:03:03,541 He turned 75 today. 90 01:03:04,625 --> 01:03:06,500 Well, the number one song on this date in 91 01:03:06,500 --> 01:03:09,375 1996 was "Always Be My 92 01:03:09,375 --> 01:03:10,875 Baby" by Mariah Carey. 93 01:03:11,541 --> 01:03:14,291 Now, this R&B pop ballad became one of 94 01:03:14,291 --> 01:03:16,625 Carey's most beloved singles. 95 01:03:16,625 --> 01:03:18,708 It was her 11th number one 96 01:03:18,708 --> 01:03:19,958 on the Billboard Hot 100. 97 01:03:20,500 --> 01:03:22,583 And the track is also known for its kind 98 01:03:22,583 --> 01:03:25,000 of breezy, lullaby-like hook. 99 01:03:25,250 --> 01:03:27,041 And it became an anthem of romantic 100 01:03:27,041 --> 01:03:28,833 nostalgia for a generation. 101 01:03:29,208 --> 01:03:30,541 My generation to be specific. 102 01:03:31,375 --> 01:03:32,583 Well, here's a neat fact. 103 01:03:33,000 --> 01:03:34,916 The song was actually recorded at the 104 01:03:34,916 --> 01:03:36,333 legendary camp Mariah. 105 01:03:36,541 --> 01:03:38,458 That's a summer retreat for inner city 106 01:03:38,458 --> 01:03:39,791 youth that was founded 107 01:03:39,791 --> 01:03:41,333 by Mariah's foundation. 108 01:03:42,500 --> 01:03:44,708 Well, another neat fact is that our book 109 01:03:44,708 --> 01:03:45,791 review this morning was 110 01:03:45,791 --> 01:03:47,458 recorded at the legendary 111 01:03:47,500 --> 01:03:49,958 Morning Serial Studios in DFW. 112 01:03:50,791 --> 01:03:53,083 And we're continuing our journey through 113 01:03:53,083 --> 01:03:54,333 "The Seven Habits of 114 01:03:54,333 --> 01:03:55,333 Highly Effective People" 115 01:03:55,333 --> 01:03:56,666 by Stephen R. Covey. 116 01:03:57,333 --> 01:03:59,625 And today, we're focusing on one of the 117 01:03:59,625 --> 01:04:01,166 most visually striking 118 01:04:01,166 --> 01:04:03,250 and mentally clarifying 119 01:04:03,250 --> 01:04:04,666 concepts in the book. 120 01:04:05,208 --> 01:04:07,958 It's called "The Circle of Concern" and 121 01:04:07,958 --> 01:04:09,333 "The Circle of Influence." 122 01:04:10,333 --> 01:04:11,083 And this is found in 123 01:04:11,083 --> 01:04:12,375 part two, chapter one. 124 01:04:13,000 --> 01:04:16,208 And Covey asks us to picture two circles. 125 01:04:16,791 --> 01:04:18,125 There's an outer one, and 126 01:04:18,125 --> 01:04:20,083 that's the circle of concern. 127 01:04:20,250 --> 01:04:22,625 That's everything you care about, okay? 128 01:04:23,541 --> 01:04:24,500 That includes what? 129 01:04:24,791 --> 01:04:26,708 Global warming, your company's financial 130 01:04:26,708 --> 01:04:28,916 strategy, your cousin's 131 01:04:28,916 --> 01:04:30,791 questionable life choices, the 132 01:04:30,833 --> 01:04:32,958 national debt, and whether your favorite 133 01:04:32,958 --> 01:04:34,625 show is getting canceled, okay? 134 01:04:35,208 --> 01:04:35,708 It's big. 135 01:04:35,708 --> 01:04:36,791 It entails a lot. 136 01:04:37,166 --> 01:04:38,416 It can be overwhelming. 137 01:04:39,125 --> 01:04:40,916 And often, it's mostly 138 01:04:40,916 --> 01:04:42,958 out of our hands, okay? 139 01:04:43,500 --> 01:04:45,583 Now zoom in to the inner circle. 140 01:04:45,583 --> 01:04:47,208 It's inside that larger circle. 141 01:04:47,750 --> 01:04:49,666 The inner circle of influence. 142 01:04:50,500 --> 01:04:52,541 This inner circle represents the things 143 01:04:52,541 --> 01:04:53,708 that you can actually 144 01:04:53,708 --> 01:04:55,833 affect, like your attitude, 145 01:04:56,416 --> 01:04:58,416 your choices, your words, your 146 01:04:58,416 --> 01:04:59,333 relationships, your 147 01:04:59,333 --> 01:05:02,125 productivity, and how you respond to 148 01:05:02,166 --> 01:05:02,708 challenges. 149 01:05:04,000 --> 01:05:06,791 Covey's central insight here is highly 150 01:05:06,791 --> 01:05:08,166 effective people focus 151 01:05:08,166 --> 01:05:10,125 their time and their energy on 152 01:05:10,125 --> 01:05:11,750 the inner circle, the 153 01:05:11,750 --> 01:05:13,083 circle of influence. 154 01:05:13,958 --> 01:05:15,583 And as a result, that 155 01:05:15,583 --> 01:05:17,125 circle tends to grow. 156 01:05:17,750 --> 01:05:19,208 They become more trusted, 157 01:05:19,208 --> 01:05:21,500 more competent, more in control. 158 01:05:22,250 --> 01:05:24,583 Whereas reactive people, on the other 159 01:05:24,583 --> 01:05:26,916 hand, they focus most 160 01:05:26,916 --> 01:05:28,208 of their attention on the 161 01:05:28,208 --> 01:05:29,583 larger, the more 162 01:05:29,583 --> 01:05:32,000 uncontrollable circle of concern. 163 01:05:32,958 --> 01:05:35,375 And the irony here is that doing so 164 01:05:35,375 --> 01:05:37,791 shrinks their influence over time. 165 01:05:38,500 --> 01:05:41,000 And as Covey puts it, "Proactive people 166 01:05:41,000 --> 01:05:42,958 focus their efforts in 167 01:05:42,958 --> 01:05:44,083 the circle of influence. 168 01:05:44,791 --> 01:05:45,875 They work on things they 169 01:05:45,875 --> 01:05:47,125 can do something about." 170 01:05:48,166 --> 01:05:50,750 At this point in the book, Covey breaks 171 01:05:50,750 --> 01:05:52,166 problems down into 172 01:05:52,166 --> 01:05:53,625 three different categories. 173 01:05:54,208 --> 01:05:56,750 The first category is direct control. 174 01:05:57,250 --> 01:05:58,500 Those are things involving 175 01:05:58,500 --> 01:06:00,375 your own behavior, right? 176 01:06:00,708 --> 01:06:02,166 You can change this through habit. 177 01:06:02,875 --> 01:06:05,833 The second category is indirect control. 178 01:06:05,833 --> 01:06:06,875 These are things involving 179 01:06:06,875 --> 01:06:08,458 others' behaviors, right? 180 01:06:08,833 --> 01:06:10,166 We change that through 181 01:06:10,166 --> 01:06:11,416 our influence on others. 182 01:06:12,125 --> 01:06:14,458 And the number three is things we have no 183 01:06:14,458 --> 01:06:15,916 control over, things 184 01:06:15,916 --> 01:06:17,166 we just simply cannot 185 01:06:17,208 --> 01:06:17,833 change. 186 01:06:18,416 --> 01:06:20,333 And the way our attitudes change towards 187 01:06:20,333 --> 01:06:22,416 these are through acceptance. 188 01:06:23,333 --> 01:06:26,083 Now, this framework is deceptively 189 01:06:26,083 --> 01:06:29,125 simple, but it's profoundly empowering. 190 01:06:29,666 --> 01:06:31,875 It gives you a game plan for stress, for 191 01:06:31,875 --> 01:06:33,333 frustration, even helplessness. 192 01:06:33,791 --> 01:06:35,708 If you've ever felt consumed by things 193 01:06:35,708 --> 01:06:36,916 outside of your control, 194 01:06:36,916 --> 01:06:37,833 like the news headlines, 195 01:06:38,458 --> 01:06:40,000 corporate policies, rush hour traffic, 196 01:06:40,458 --> 01:06:42,291 this chapter is your antidote. 197 01:06:43,166 --> 01:06:45,500 So the challenge today is this. 198 01:06:46,250 --> 01:06:47,958 Notice where your energy is going. 199 01:06:48,333 --> 01:06:50,583 Are you spending your day worrying about 200 01:06:50,583 --> 01:06:52,333 things you can't influence? 201 01:06:53,583 --> 01:06:56,541 Or are you investing it in actions that 202 01:06:56,541 --> 01:06:58,416 can actually move the needle? 203 01:06:59,458 --> 01:07:00,916 Your influence isn't fixed. 204 01:07:01,416 --> 01:07:03,541 It expands when you choose 205 01:07:03,541 --> 01:07:05,875 to act rather than react. 206 01:07:06,833 --> 01:07:08,125 And it all starts with 207 01:07:08,125 --> 01:07:09,625 where you aim your focus. 208 01:07:10,750 --> 01:07:11,041 All right. 209 01:07:11,416 --> 01:07:12,625 Well, that wraps up today's 210 01:07:12,625 --> 01:07:14,250 full poll of morning cereal. 211 01:07:14,833 --> 01:07:16,083 Now, remember, whether you're out 212 01:07:16,083 --> 01:07:17,416 navigating your circle of 213 01:07:17,416 --> 01:07:18,458 influence or you're just trying 214 01:07:18,458 --> 01:07:20,000 to keep your croutons crunchy, right? 215 01:07:21,125 --> 01:07:22,458 Focus on what you can 216 01:07:22,458 --> 01:07:24,583 control and let the rest of it go. 217 01:07:25,291 --> 01:07:25,583 All right. 218 01:07:26,166 --> 01:07:27,583 Thanks for tuning in again today. 219 01:07:27,750 --> 01:07:29,125 We'll be back here tomorrow with more 220 01:07:29,125 --> 01:07:30,541 insights, history, and a bit of fun. 221 01:07:31,125 --> 01:07:33,958 And until then, have a fantastic day. 222 01:07:36,500 --> 01:07:38,250 Don't forget to follow and subscribe to 223 01:07:38,250 --> 01:07:38,875 the Morning Serial 224 01:07:38,875 --> 01:07:40,500 podcast on the One Life 225 01:07:40,666 --> 01:07:41,500 Live It channel. 226 01:07:42,041 --> 01:07:43,958 You can find more episodes and videos by 227 01:07:43,958 --> 01:07:45,625 visiting our YouTube channel and the 228 01:07:45,625 --> 01:07:47,250 website at seaningless 229 01:07:47,583 --> 01:07:49,750 and at seaningless.com, where you can 230 01:07:49,750 --> 01:07:51,083 also follow our other 231 01:07:51,083 --> 01:07:52,625 podcast, the Mr. and Mrs. 232 01:07:52,625 --> 01:07:53,791 Inglis podcast and the 233 01:07:53,791 --> 01:07:54,791 Life Happens podcast. 234 01:07:55,625 --> 01:07:57,291 In these other podcasts, we'll dive 235 01:07:57,291 --> 01:07:58,666 deeper into everyday issues, 236 01:07:58,958 --> 01:07:59,708 self-improvement and 237 01:07:59,708 --> 01:08:02,208 well-being, business and finance, and we 238 01:08:02,208 --> 01:08:03,458 welcome special guests too. 239 01:08:03,958 --> 01:08:04,708 So join us. 240 01:08:04,708 --> 01:08:06,041 It'll be a good time, I promise. 241 01:08:06,750 --> 01:08:07,625 Thanks again for listening. 242 01:08:07,833 --> 01:08:09,375 Have a fantastic day and 243 01:08:09,375 --> 01:08:10,000 we'll see you tomorrow.