Morning Cereal

Start your day with inspirational quotes, followed by a fun journey through nostalgic facts from this day in history. Then, we dive into Stephen R. Covey’s The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People 
In Part 3, Habit 3, we’ll explore Covey’s timeless advice on building authentic connections, the art of influence, and creating positive interactions in every area of life.
In This Episode:
  • Daily inspirational quotes to spark your motivation
  • Fun historical facts from this day in history
  • A dive into Part 3, Habit 3 of The 7 Habits of Highly Effective
Whether you're a leader, communicator, or just someone looking to improve your relationships, this episode is packed with actionable insights.
Tune in now and let’s grow together!
Resources:
Covey, S. R. (1989). The 7 habits of highly effective people: Powerful lessons in personal change. Free Press. 
 
All photo’s utilized in this video are licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported by Wikimedia Commons license and are free to copy, distribute and transmit.  No photos have been altered.

What is Morning Cereal?

Good morning, and welcome to Morning Cereal!
Pull up a stool, grab your favorite cereal, and let’s kick-start your day with a spoonful of inspiration, nostalgia and personal growth. Join your host, Shaen Inglis, as he highlights the music, movies, and moments that made the 80s, 90s, and 2000s unforgettable—kind of like digging for toy at the bottom of the cereal box. Each episode, Shaen also reviews a chapter or so from top wellness books, offering practical insights to help you set a positive tone for your day. Start your mornings right—no cartoons required!

Follow and subscribe to the Morning Cereal podcast and visit our Life Happens, Live Balanced channel and our website at shaeninglis.com to check out and follow our other podcasts. You can also follow Shaen @ShaenInglis on Instagram, YouTube, etc. Feel free to share the Morning Cereal with someone who could use a little fun and motivation to start their day right.

Good morning and

welcome to Morning Cereal.

Okay, good morning and welcome to Monday.

And also welcome to the gorgeous island

of Malta, which you can

see behind me right now

if you're watching this on YouTube.

Well, today we're coming to you from the

sun-drenched streets of Valletta, Malta.

This is Europe's smallest capital, but

it's one that's

bursting with cinematic charm,

with its honey-colored stone buildings,

the balconies that beg

for selfies, and again,

a harbor that looks like

this straight out of a movie.

Valletta is like history, beauty, and

sunshine all trying to outdo each other.

And yes, if you hear a few seagulls or

echoes of a passing boat,

that's just the sound of

the good old Mediterranean saying hi.

Well, if you're enjoying this view,

you'll enjoy this moment

of wisdom from footballer

Erling Holland, who said, "I always try

to enjoy what I'm doing.

That's the most important thing."

And Holland reminds us that joy shouldn't

be reserved for weekends or vacations.

It should be baked into the

process, not just the outcome.

Well, today's news, facts,

and birthdays are for July 21st.

We're going to start back in 1969.

That's when Neil Armstrong took his first

steps on the moon

during Apollo 11 mission.

In the movie Saving Private Ryan, well,

it premiered on this date in 1998.

Great movie.

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows

book, well, this was

released worldwide in 2007

on this date.

And the film UHF, starring Weird Al

Yankovic, well, it was released in 1989.

Did you see that movie?

Did you?

Well, happy birthday to you.

Today is your birthday.

You share a birthday with the Norwegian

soccer striker, Erling Holland.

He's just 24 today.

After from Black Hawk Down, Josh

Hartnett, he's 46 today.

And actress and former Miss USA, Allie

Landry, she's 51 today.

Actor and comedian John

Levitz, he's 67 today.

And British singer-songwriter, Kat

Stevens, he's 76 today.

And lastly, the late Robin Williams, who

was born on this day in 1951.

Well, the number one song on this date

back in 1989 was "Baby,

Don't Forget My Number"

by Millie Vanilli.

Now, Millie Vanilli actually had the very

first song highlight

on morning serial last

year with her hit "Blame It on the Rain."

However, "Baby, Don't Forget My Number"

gave this duo their

fifth consecutive number one

hit and it became a

certified triple platinum smash.

Obviously later

overshadowed by the controversy.

Nonetheless, the song itself is a

favorite of mine and it

still captures that late 80s

glossy pop energy.

Well, following that musical time warp,

let's go ahead and dig

into Habit 3 of the 7 Habits

of Highly Effective

People by Stephen R. Covey.

And we're looking into the

emotional bank account today.

And Covey introduces the concept of an

emotional savings

account in all relationships.

Each interaction, words or actions,

either deposits or

withdraws emotional capital.

Covey says, "Trusted deposits are felt

instantly and make a lasting difference."

You build trust with small, consistent

gestures, keeping promises,

showing kindness and using

empathy.

When withdrawals like insensitivity or

broken promises, when

they pile up, trust starts

to erode.

And Covey warns that, "Most people can't

see how their actions

may be positively or

negatively affecting the

emotional bank account of others."

But self-awareness lets you stop

unnecessary withdrawals and focus on the

meaningful deposits.

Sharper communication skills like active

listening and

appreciation are prime deposit

tools.

For example, acknowledging someone's

perspective is not a

withdrawal, it's an emotional deposit.

Transactional trust then becomes a

buffer, allowing for

learning or corrections when

mistakes happen.

And Covey further suggests tracking your

emotional bank account

like you do your finances.

Frequent small deposits outweigh

occasional withdrawals, keeping

relationships healthy.

This builds resilience through life's

stormier seasons, like

family crises, workplace stress,

or pandemic chaos because emotional

equity cushions the blow.

Okay, here's your takeaway.

Invest daily in your relationships, at

work, at home, or just with yourself.

Authenticity, kindness, and reliability

build trust over time.

When an emotional bank is full, even

tough conversations or

setbacks, they won't drain

you.

Habit 3 isn't just about doing.

It's about caring

deeply in how you do it.

Well, you've done it.

You've got your Monday off to a great

start, and it's a little

deposit that will sculpt

your week.

Hey, thanks for kicking off your morning

cereal with us here on

location in Valletta, Malta.

Come back tomorrow to see where we are

broadcasting from and another

round of nostalgia, insight,

and breakfast-worthy stories.

And as always, have a fantastic day.

Don't forget to follow and subscribe to

the Morning Cereal

podcast on the One Life Live

It channel.

You can find more episodes and videos by

visiting our YouTube

channel and the website at Sean

English and at seanenglish.com, where you

can also follow our

other podcasts, the Mr. and

Mrs. English podcast and

the Life Happens podcast.

In these other podcasts, we'll dive

deeper into everyday issues,

self-improvement and

well-being, business and finance, and we

welcome special guests too.

So join us.

It'll be a good time, I promise.

Thanks again for listening.

Have a fantastic day,

and we'll see you tomorrow.