1 01:00:01,250 --> 01:00:04,125 Good morning and 2 01:00:04,125 --> 01:00:06,583 welcome to Morning Cereal. 3 01:00:08,833 --> 01:00:13,875 Okay, good morning and welcome to Monday. 4 01:00:14,375 --> 01:00:16,208 It's a necessary evil, I know, but it's 5 01:00:16,208 --> 01:00:18,333 the gateway drug to the rest of the week. 6 01:00:18,916 --> 01:00:21,125 And today we're diving head first into a 7 01:00:21,125 --> 01:00:22,250 fresh bowl of ambition 8 01:00:22,250 --> 01:00:23,833 with a side of randomness. 9 01:00:24,125 --> 01:00:25,166 Or maybe veggies, 10 01:00:25,458 --> 01:00:27,500 because it's fresh veggies day. 11 01:00:28,208 --> 01:00:30,500 Maybe a salad for lunch, or how about 12 01:00:30,500 --> 01:00:33,166 those carrots with real ranch dressing? 13 01:00:33,416 --> 01:00:34,250 That's the best. 14 01:00:34,875 --> 01:00:36,625 Well, today is also International 15 01:00:36,625 --> 01:00:38,458 Waterfall Day, so cue the 16 01:00:38,458 --> 01:00:39,958 slow motion hiking reels here. 17 01:00:40,500 --> 01:00:41,916 Well, I've been to quite a few 18 01:00:41,916 --> 01:00:43,125 waterfalls, and I have to 19 01:00:43,125 --> 01:00:45,500 say, Nayaka Waterfalls in Costa 20 01:00:45,625 --> 01:00:47,708 Rica, it may just take the cake. 21 01:00:47,708 --> 01:00:48,625 I don't know who I had 22 01:00:48,625 --> 01:00:49,916 some incredible falls as well. 23 01:00:50,541 --> 01:00:52,791 Well, here's another national day just 24 01:00:52,791 --> 01:00:54,416 for the cat people out there. 25 01:00:54,416 --> 01:00:55,250 And there seems to be a 26 01:00:55,250 --> 01:00:56,333 lot of these for some reason. 27 01:00:56,875 --> 01:00:58,416 Either way, today is 28 01:00:58,416 --> 01:01:00,166 Take Your Cat to Work Day. 29 01:01:00,416 --> 01:01:02,250 And I'm sure your coworkers are going to 30 01:01:02,250 --> 01:01:03,291 just love having 31 01:01:03,291 --> 01:01:04,291 fluffy around the office. 32 01:01:05,125 --> 01:01:06,291 All right, well, let's get this Monday 33 01:01:06,291 --> 01:01:07,291 going and get ourselves 34 01:01:07,291 --> 01:01:08,583 into the right mindset with 35 01:01:08,583 --> 01:01:09,291 the quote of the day. 36 01:01:10,041 --> 01:01:11,708 Today's quote is from Tupac Shakur, who 37 01:01:11,708 --> 01:01:13,083 said, "During your 38 01:01:13,083 --> 01:01:14,666 life, never stop dreaming. 39 01:01:15,083 --> 01:01:16,458 No one can take away your dreams." 40 01:01:17,291 --> 01:01:19,041 And Tupac, who's one of my favorite 41 01:01:19,041 --> 01:01:20,541 rappers, well, he had a 42 01:01:20,541 --> 01:01:21,875 lot of lyrics that spoke of 43 01:01:21,916 --> 01:01:24,916 hope and holding onto aspirations, no 44 01:01:24,916 --> 01:01:26,541 matter what the setbacks might be. 45 01:01:27,000 --> 01:01:27,916 Rest in peace, Pac. 46 01:01:28,625 --> 01:01:30,375 All right, well, today's news, facts, and 47 01:01:30,375 --> 01:01:32,458 birthdays are for June 16th. 48 01:01:32,458 --> 01:01:33,833 And we're going to start back in 1903. 49 01:01:34,125 --> 01:01:35,333 That's when Ford Motor 50 01:01:35,333 --> 01:01:36,458 Company was incorporated. 51 01:01:37,250 --> 01:01:40,291 Then in 1963, Valentina Terezkova, she 52 01:01:40,291 --> 01:01:41,791 became the first woman in space. 53 01:01:42,416 --> 01:01:44,208 I was going to say girl power here, but I 54 01:01:44,208 --> 01:01:45,750 think she's pretty serious. 55 01:01:46,458 --> 01:01:49,708 Anyways, moving up to 1978, on this date, 56 01:01:49,708 --> 01:01:51,750 that's when the movie Grease premiered in 57 01:01:51,791 --> 01:01:52,791 U.S. theaters. 58 01:01:53,500 --> 01:01:55,250 Well, speaking of great movies, in 1989, 59 01:01:55,625 --> 01:01:56,125 on this date, 60 01:01:56,666 --> 01:01:58,000 Ghostbusters II hit theaters 61 01:01:58,375 --> 01:01:59,875 and slime was in again. 62 01:02:00,541 --> 01:02:02,291 Then moving up to 1994, and you guys 63 01:02:02,291 --> 01:02:03,208 might remember this, 64 01:02:03,208 --> 01:02:04,625 watching it on the news, this 65 01:02:04,625 --> 01:02:05,541 is the day O.J. 66 01:02:05,916 --> 01:02:06,958 Simpson's white Bronco 67 01:02:06,958 --> 01:02:08,750 chase unfolded on live TV. 68 01:02:09,375 --> 01:02:11,250 And we all skipped dinner to see what was 69 01:02:11,250 --> 01:02:12,250 going on, because 70 01:02:12,250 --> 01:02:13,291 innocent people run from 71 01:02:13,291 --> 01:02:13,916 the police, right? 72 01:02:14,958 --> 01:02:16,166 All right, well, happy 73 01:02:16,166 --> 01:02:17,833 birthday if today is your birthday. 74 01:02:17,833 --> 01:02:18,666 You share a birthday 75 01:02:18,666 --> 01:02:20,750 with actress Missy Peregrin. 76 01:02:21,000 --> 01:02:22,000 He's 42 today. 77 01:02:22,500 --> 01:02:25,166 Pro golfer Phil Mickelson, he's 54 today. 78 01:02:26,166 --> 01:02:28,458 Actor John Cho, he's 52 today. 79 01:02:28,958 --> 01:02:30,416 And Tupac Shakur, he 80 01:02:30,416 --> 01:02:32,041 would have been 53 today. 81 01:02:32,666 --> 01:02:34,833 All right, well, the number one song on 82 01:02:34,833 --> 01:02:36,375 this date back in 1990 83 01:02:36,375 --> 01:02:38,041 was "It Must Have Been 84 01:02:38,041 --> 01:02:39,166 Love" by Roxette. 85 01:02:39,750 --> 01:02:42,083 Now, this song was originally released in 86 01:02:42,083 --> 01:02:44,125 1987, but it soared on 87 01:02:44,125 --> 01:02:45,125 the charts after being 88 01:02:45,125 --> 01:02:46,750 featured on the Pretty Woman soundtrack. 89 01:02:47,708 --> 01:02:49,708 And it became the Swedish duo's third 90 01:02:49,708 --> 01:02:50,791 U.S. number one hit, 91 01:02:51,083 --> 01:02:52,958 proving that heartbreak paired 92 01:02:52,958 --> 01:02:54,166 with Julia Roberts is 93 01:02:54,166 --> 01:02:55,541 definitely a winning combo. 94 01:02:56,500 --> 01:02:57,208 And you ask yourself, 95 01:02:57,208 --> 01:02:58,333 what's another winning combo? 96 01:02:58,625 --> 01:03:01,000 A book review in Stephen R. Covey's "The 97 01:03:01,000 --> 01:03:02,625 7 Habits of Highly Effective People." 98 01:03:03,041 --> 01:03:05,458 And we are just starting habit three, put 99 01:03:05,458 --> 01:03:06,583 first things first, 100 01:03:07,041 --> 01:03:08,791 which shifts us from planning 101 01:03:09,000 --> 01:03:09,625 to action. 102 01:03:10,083 --> 01:03:11,750 And within this habit, this is a crucial 103 01:03:11,750 --> 01:03:12,958 sub-chapter, the 104 01:03:12,958 --> 01:03:14,583 power of independent will. 105 01:03:15,333 --> 01:03:17,541 And Covey describes independent will as, 106 01:03:17,833 --> 01:03:20,000 quote, "the ability to make decisions and 107 01:03:20,000 --> 01:03:21,458 choices and act in 108 01:03:21,458 --> 01:03:22,958 accordance with them," end quote. 109 01:03:23,500 --> 01:03:25,708 Now, this is the executive function of 110 01:03:25,708 --> 01:03:27,250 our lives, the bridge 111 01:03:27,250 --> 01:03:29,000 between vision and discipline. 112 01:03:29,916 --> 01:03:31,875 Covey's point is not just about willpower 113 01:03:31,875 --> 01:03:33,208 in the typical sense. 114 01:03:33,708 --> 01:03:35,916 It's about aligning our actions with our 115 01:03:35,916 --> 01:03:36,916 personal mission 116 01:03:36,916 --> 01:03:38,500 statement, developed in habit 117 01:03:38,500 --> 01:03:38,791 too. 118 01:03:39,416 --> 01:03:41,833 Now, we have the freedom to choose, but 119 01:03:41,833 --> 01:03:43,083 the power of independent 120 01:03:43,083 --> 01:03:45,250 will ensures that these 121 01:03:45,291 --> 01:03:48,416 choices we're making are consistent with 122 01:03:48,416 --> 01:03:49,583 our deepest values 123 01:03:49,583 --> 01:03:50,833 rather than just fleeting 124 01:03:50,875 --> 01:03:53,000 emotions or external pressures. 125 01:03:53,583 --> 01:03:55,458 Covey says, quote, "Independent will 126 01:03:55,458 --> 01:03:57,958 makes effective self-management possible. 127 01:03:58,583 --> 01:04:00,916 It is the ability to act based on 128 01:04:00,916 --> 01:04:03,750 self-awareness, free will, conscience, 129 01:04:04,500 --> 01:04:05,791 and creative imagination," 130 01:04:06,083 --> 01:04:06,458 end quote. 131 01:04:07,000 --> 01:04:09,125 So the sub-chapter outlines how many 132 01:04:09,125 --> 01:04:11,208 people fall into reactive patterns. 133 01:04:11,791 --> 01:04:13,833 They may have clear goals, but they lack 134 01:04:13,833 --> 01:04:14,666 the strength to 135 01:04:14,666 --> 01:04:16,666 follow through when urgency 136 01:04:16,666 --> 01:04:18,125 and distractions arise. 137 01:04:18,916 --> 01:04:20,916 So Covey shares the concept of, quote, 138 01:04:21,416 --> 01:04:22,125 "integrity in the 139 01:04:22,125 --> 01:04:23,625 moment of choice," end quote. 140 01:04:24,083 --> 01:04:26,458 And that's a phrase that encapsulates the 141 01:04:26,458 --> 01:04:27,750 challenge of acting on 142 01:04:27,750 --> 01:04:29,333 what matters most when 143 01:04:29,375 --> 01:04:30,958 it's least convenient. 144 01:04:31,583 --> 01:04:33,541 Whether it's resisting the lure of 145 01:04:33,541 --> 01:04:35,250 meaningless urgency or 146 01:04:35,250 --> 01:04:37,208 saying no to good opportunities 147 01:04:37,541 --> 01:04:39,708 so you can stay focused on great ones, 148 01:04:40,333 --> 01:04:41,583 independent will is the 149 01:04:41,583 --> 01:04:43,458 muscle that we need for these 150 01:04:43,500 --> 01:04:44,125 situations. 151 01:04:45,000 --> 01:04:47,291 So Covey also highlights the emotional 152 01:04:47,291 --> 01:04:49,166 dimension of this, how we 153 01:04:49,166 --> 01:04:51,208 often allow our moods or the 154 01:04:51,208 --> 01:04:52,291 circumstances that we're 155 01:04:52,291 --> 01:04:54,208 in to dictate our actions. 156 01:04:54,833 --> 01:04:56,666 And by strengthening our independent 157 01:04:56,666 --> 01:04:58,583 will, we become less 158 01:04:58,583 --> 01:05:00,333 enslaved by the environment 159 01:05:00,333 --> 01:05:03,000 that we're in and more guided by the 160 01:05:03,000 --> 01:05:04,625 purpose that we want to live by. 161 01:05:05,208 --> 01:05:07,083 There's a shift again here from reactive 162 01:05:07,083 --> 01:05:10,000 living to proactive leadership of our own 163 01:05:10,000 --> 01:05:11,083 time and energy. 164 01:05:11,750 --> 01:05:13,625 A practical point from this section is 165 01:05:13,625 --> 01:05:14,916 the use of a personal 166 01:05:14,916 --> 01:05:16,291 mission statement as a compass. 167 01:05:16,500 --> 01:05:16,916 This is what we 168 01:05:16,916 --> 01:05:17,916 didn't have it too, right? 169 01:05:18,375 --> 01:05:19,666 It reminds us not just 170 01:05:19,666 --> 01:05:22,416 what to do, but why we do it. 171 01:05:22,750 --> 01:05:24,791 As Covey writes, quote, "The degree to 172 01:05:24,791 --> 01:05:26,208 which we have developed 173 01:05:26,208 --> 01:05:27,416 independent will in our 174 01:05:27,416 --> 01:05:29,416 lives is measured by our personal 175 01:05:29,416 --> 01:05:31,000 integrity," end quote. 176 01:05:31,666 --> 01:05:33,666 Again, in a world buzzing with 177 01:05:33,666 --> 01:05:36,125 distractions and to-do lists, this 178 01:05:36,125 --> 01:05:37,500 chapter reaffirms the 179 01:05:37,500 --> 01:05:40,458 empowering truth that discipline, guided 180 01:05:40,458 --> 01:05:42,000 with purpose, leads 181 01:05:42,000 --> 01:05:43,125 to true effectiveness. 182 01:05:43,916 --> 01:05:46,583 Ultimately, the power of independent will 183 01:05:46,583 --> 01:05:47,750 calls us to become 184 01:05:47,750 --> 01:05:49,041 the executive producers 185 01:05:49,500 --> 01:05:51,833 of our own lives, firm in direction, 186 01:05:52,125 --> 01:05:53,000 flexible in execution, 187 01:05:53,166 --> 01:05:54,500 and always aligned with what 188 01:05:54,500 --> 01:05:55,250 matters most. 189 01:05:55,958 --> 01:05:57,500 Okay, here's your takeaway. 190 01:05:58,500 --> 01:06:00,458 Method three teaches us that living 191 01:06:00,458 --> 01:06:03,041 intentionally means putting principles 192 01:06:03,041 --> 01:06:05,125 into practice daily. 193 01:06:06,000 --> 01:06:08,333 As Covey says, quote, "The key is not to 194 01:06:08,333 --> 01:06:09,500 prioritize what's on your 195 01:06:09,500 --> 01:06:11,500 schedule, but to schedule our 196 01:06:11,500 --> 01:06:12,833 priorities," end quote. 197 01:06:13,583 --> 01:06:15,500 All right, well, that's your bowl of 198 01:06:15,500 --> 01:06:16,958 morning cereal for this Monday. 199 01:06:17,458 --> 01:06:19,541 Whether you're hurting everybody's cats 200 01:06:19,541 --> 01:06:21,208 at the office or you're 201 01:06:21,208 --> 01:06:22,625 building your dream salad, 202 01:06:22,625 --> 01:06:25,000 one veggie at a time, just keep your 203 01:06:25,000 --> 01:06:25,958 vision in front of you 204 01:06:25,958 --> 01:06:27,708 and your priorities in line. 205 01:06:54,375 --> 01:06:55,833 Hey, thanks for 206 01:06:55,833 --> 01:06:57,500 starting your Monday with us. 207 01:07:04,583 --> 01:07:05,833 Thank you.