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.