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 01:00:11,750 --> 01:00:14,041 Okay, good morning friends and welcome to 4 01:00:14,041 --> 01:00:16,541 Friday. And not just any 5 01:00:16,541 --> 01:00:18,833 Friday, today is a big deal. 6 01:00:19,333 --> 01:00:22,333 It's episode 100. That's right, our 7 01:00:22,333 --> 01:00:24,083 podcast is officially 8 01:00:24,083 --> 01:00:26,750 centurion adjacent. We've made it 9 01:00:26,750 --> 01:00:29,875 through the late nights, the mic fails, a 10 01:00:29,875 --> 01:00:31,500 lot of questionable humor 11 01:00:31,500 --> 01:00:33,833 and puns, and somehow you're 12 01:00:33,833 --> 01:00:37,791 still here. So thank you. Now in honor of 13 01:00:37,791 --> 01:00:38,875 our hundredth episode, 14 01:00:39,291 --> 01:00:40,833 let's stick some magnetic 15 01:00:40,958 --> 01:00:43,458 letters to the fridge of our minds or 16 01:00:43,458 --> 01:00:44,833 maybe our actual fridge. 17 01:00:44,833 --> 01:00:46,833 Either way, it's National 18 01:00:46,958 --> 01:00:49,833 Alphabet Magnet Day, a perfect time to 19 01:00:49,833 --> 01:00:53,416 spell out T-G-I-F. Also, if 20 01:00:53,416 --> 01:00:54,958 you've been holding on to a 21 01:00:54,958 --> 01:00:58,416 lonely single sock, today's the day to 22 01:00:58,416 --> 01:01:00,916 set it free. It's Lost Sock 23 01:01:00,916 --> 01:01:02,958 Memorial Day, when we pause 24 01:01:02,958 --> 01:01:04,875 and reflect on all the laundry room 25 01:01:04,875 --> 01:01:06,333 mysteries we'll never 26 01:01:06,333 --> 01:01:08,833 solve. So grab your coffee. Let's 27 01:01:08,875 --> 01:01:10,875 jumpstart today with our quote, and it's 28 01:01:10,875 --> 01:01:13,208 from Rosario Dawson, who 29 01:01:13,208 --> 01:01:15,500 said, "Failure is temporary. 30 01:01:16,208 --> 01:01:19,416 Regret lasts forever." And Rosario 31 01:01:19,416 --> 01:01:21,041 Dawson's quote reminds us 32 01:01:21,041 --> 01:01:23,708 that failure is just a moment. It 33 01:01:23,875 --> 01:01:27,000 passes, teaches, and it strengthens us. 34 01:01:27,291 --> 01:01:29,625 But regret, it sticks around, it haunts 35 01:01:29,625 --> 01:01:30,666 us for the chances that 36 01:01:30,708 --> 01:01:34,083 we never took, which makes action far 37 01:01:34,083 --> 01:01:36,750 less risky than inaction in 38 01:01:36,750 --> 01:01:39,500 the long run. All right. Well, 39 01:01:39,750 --> 01:01:41,958 today's news facts and birthdays are for 40 01:01:41,958 --> 01:01:43,791 May 9th. We're going to 41 01:01:43,791 --> 01:01:46,125 start back in 1914, when on this 42 01:01:46,125 --> 01:01:48,750 date, US President Woodrow Wilson, he 43 01:01:48,750 --> 01:01:51,375 proclaimed the first official Mother's 44 01:01:51,375 --> 01:01:52,750 Day, establishing the 45 01:01:52,750 --> 01:01:55,666 day as an official holiday. By the way, 46 01:01:55,666 --> 01:01:57,083 it's this Sunday, so I hope 47 01:01:57,083 --> 01:01:58,250 everybody's ready for that. 48 01:01:58,791 --> 01:02:00,541 Then we're going to jump up to 1926. 49 01:02:01,083 --> 01:02:03,125 That's when Richard E. Byrd and Floyd 50 01:02:03,125 --> 01:02:04,125 Bennett, they claimed 51 01:02:04,125 --> 01:02:07,875 the first flight over the North Pole. And 52 01:02:07,875 --> 01:02:09,958 subsequently, they were able to confirm 53 01:02:09,958 --> 01:02:12,083 Santa's Village was there and the 54 01:02:12,083 --> 01:02:14,333 Fortress of Solitude. For 55 01:02:14,333 --> 01:02:15,458 those of you who don't know what 56 01:02:15,458 --> 01:02:18,333 that is, that's Superman's cozy ice home. 57 01:02:19,375 --> 01:02:22,208 On this date in 1980, the 58 01:02:22,208 --> 01:02:24,375 very first film of Friday the 59 01:02:24,833 --> 01:02:27,041 13th was released in movie theaters. 60 01:02:27,833 --> 01:02:28,583 Well, happy birthday to 61 01:02:28,583 --> 01:02:30,000 you. If today is your birthday, 62 01:02:30,000 --> 01:02:32,250 you share a birthday with actress Rosario 63 01:02:32,250 --> 01:02:35,250 Dawson. You may know her as the Jedi 64 01:02:35,250 --> 01:02:37,750 Ahsoka Tano. She's 46 65 01:02:37,833 --> 01:02:40,541 today. And singer Billy Joel. Incredibly, 66 01:02:40,750 --> 01:02:43,458 he's 76 today. All right. 67 01:02:43,833 --> 01:02:45,208 The number one song on this 68 01:02:45,208 --> 01:02:49,000 date back in 2001 was "All 4 You" by 69 01:02:49,000 --> 01:02:52,291 Janet Jackson. Now, Miss Jackson's 2001 70 01:02:52,291 --> 01:02:53,625 hit "All 4 You" was more 71 01:02:53,666 --> 01:02:56,208 than just a catchy comeback. The song 72 01:02:56,208 --> 01:02:58,666 sampled the 1980 disco funk track "The 73 01:02:58,666 --> 01:03:00,541 Glow of Love" by Change. 74 01:03:01,083 --> 01:03:03,583 And that song instantly resonated with 75 01:03:03,583 --> 01:03:04,791 Gen X listeners, right? 76 01:03:05,000 --> 01:03:06,250 Those of us who grew up on 77 01:03:06,291 --> 01:03:09,250 boomboxes and in roller rinks. Well, the 78 01:03:09,250 --> 01:03:10,083 track topped the 79 01:03:10,083 --> 01:03:12,166 Billboard Hot 100 for seven weeks, 80 01:03:12,625 --> 01:03:14,875 reminding the fans that actually grew up 81 01:03:14,875 --> 01:03:16,500 with Janet that she was 82 01:03:16,500 --> 01:03:19,541 still a chart force. All right. 83 01:03:20,000 --> 01:03:23,875 Well, morning cereal, 100 episodes in is 84 01:03:23,875 --> 01:03:27,208 also "All 4 You." And your, well, I guess 85 01:03:27,208 --> 01:03:29,000 our self-improvement, 86 01:03:29,000 --> 01:03:31,916 right? So today we're diving into part 87 01:03:31,916 --> 01:03:32,916 two, chapter one of 88 01:03:32,916 --> 01:03:34,333 Stephen Covey's "The Seven Habits 89 01:03:34,333 --> 01:03:36,750 of Highly Effective People" and a section 90 01:03:36,750 --> 01:03:38,041 that continues to build 91 01:03:38,041 --> 01:03:40,041 on habit one, be proactive. 92 01:03:40,875 --> 01:03:43,333 In the sub-chapter "Taking the 93 01:03:43,333 --> 01:03:45,166 Initiative," Covey makes it crystal 94 01:03:45,166 --> 01:03:47,041 clear. Highly effective people 95 01:03:47,375 --> 01:03:49,083 don't wait for life to happen to them. 96 01:03:49,583 --> 01:03:51,125 They step up and make 97 01:03:51,125 --> 01:03:53,583 things happen. He writes, quote, 98 01:03:53,583 --> 01:03:55,583 "Taking initiative does not mean being 99 01:03:55,583 --> 01:03:58,000 pushy, obnoxious, or even 100 01:03:58,000 --> 01:04:00,416 aggressive. It means recognizing 101 01:04:00,625 --> 01:04:02,791 our responsibility to make things 102 01:04:02,791 --> 01:04:05,833 happen," end quote. It's a quiet kind of 103 01:04:05,833 --> 01:04:07,541 power, the kind that 104 01:04:07,541 --> 01:04:09,791 doesn't depend on circumstance, but on 105 01:04:09,791 --> 01:04:12,916 choice. So Covey argues that 106 01:04:12,916 --> 01:04:14,708 too many of us are conditioned 107 01:04:14,958 --> 01:04:18,041 to be reactive. We wait for instructions. 108 01:04:18,416 --> 01:04:20,083 We wait for permission or the 109 01:04:20,083 --> 01:04:21,791 right mood before doing what 110 01:04:21,791 --> 01:04:24,916 needs to be done. But the reality is, 111 01:04:24,916 --> 01:04:26,208 quote, "Our behavior is a 112 01:04:26,208 --> 01:04:29,125 function of our decisions, not our 113 01:04:29,125 --> 01:04:32,291 conditions," end quote. That's a wake-up 114 01:04:32,291 --> 01:04:34,166 call. It means we always 115 01:04:34,166 --> 01:04:36,083 have the ability to choose our 116 01:04:36,083 --> 01:04:38,833 response, whether we're facing traffic, a 117 01:04:38,833 --> 01:04:41,208 toxic workplace, or just 118 01:04:41,208 --> 01:04:43,000 the Monday blues. Proactive 119 01:04:43,125 --> 01:04:45,250 people don't surrender their power to 120 01:04:45,250 --> 01:04:49,041 circumstances. Then in "Act or Be Acted 121 01:04:49,041 --> 01:04:50,166 Upon," which is the next 122 01:04:50,166 --> 01:04:53,041 sub-chapter, Covey gives another reality 123 01:04:53,041 --> 01:04:56,208 check. If we don't step into action, we 124 01:04:56,208 --> 01:04:57,708 risk becoming passive 125 01:04:57,833 --> 01:05:01,000 players in our own lives, letting others 126 01:05:01,000 --> 01:05:03,750 or situations dictate our 127 01:05:03,750 --> 01:05:05,625 direction. He says, quote, 128 01:05:05,958 --> 01:05:08,875 "If we wait and only act when we have to 129 01:05:08,875 --> 01:05:10,708 or when we are forced to, 130 01:05:11,041 --> 01:05:12,708 we are being acted upon." 131 01:05:12,958 --> 01:05:15,750 End quote. It's not just about ambition. 132 01:05:16,333 --> 01:05:17,500 It's about ownership. 133 01:05:18,416 --> 01:05:20,708 Taking initiative is what creates 134 01:05:20,958 --> 01:05:23,708 motion in our careers, in our 135 01:05:23,708 --> 01:05:26,583 relationships, and for personal growth. 136 01:05:27,541 --> 01:05:29,083 Covey even ties this back to 137 01:05:29,083 --> 01:05:31,833 the language we use. Reactive people say 138 01:05:31,833 --> 01:05:33,750 things like, "There's nothing I can do," 139 01:05:33,750 --> 01:05:35,458 or, "That's just the way I am," 140 01:05:35,666 --> 01:05:38,250 but proactive language sounds different, 141 01:05:38,250 --> 01:05:39,208 right? We talked about this 142 01:05:39,208 --> 01:05:40,791 yesterday. Let's look at our 143 01:05:40,875 --> 01:05:43,791 options, or, "I choose to." These 144 01:05:43,791 --> 01:05:47,291 phrases, they claim agency rather than 145 01:05:47,291 --> 01:05:49,916 surrender it. As Covey puts it, 146 01:05:49,916 --> 01:05:52,083 quote, "Between stimulus and response, 147 01:05:52,791 --> 01:05:54,500 man has freedom to choose." 148 01:05:54,833 --> 01:05:57,166 End quote. That gap, again, 149 01:05:57,583 --> 01:06:00,333 this is where growth happens and where 150 01:06:00,333 --> 01:06:02,125 proactive living begins. 151 01:06:03,000 --> 01:06:05,125 So, if you're feeling stuck, 152 01:06:05,208 --> 01:06:07,375 if you're waiting for motivation or a 153 01:06:07,375 --> 01:06:09,375 sign, Covey would say, 154 01:06:09,708 --> 01:06:12,958 "Don't." You don't need permission to 155 01:06:12,958 --> 01:06:16,250 take initiative. You need to just start, 156 01:06:16,583 --> 01:06:18,208 because if you don't act, 157 01:06:18,708 --> 01:06:20,708 something or someone will act 158 01:06:20,708 --> 01:06:23,333 on your behalf, and that, Covey reminds 159 01:06:23,333 --> 01:06:25,083 us, is not how effective 160 01:06:25,083 --> 01:06:28,375 people operate. Hey, thanks for 161 01:06:28,375 --> 01:06:30,250 joining us today on our hundredth 162 01:06:30,250 --> 01:06:32,583 episode. I hope you have a great weekend. 163 01:06:32,875 --> 01:06:33,958 I hope you have a happy 164 01:06:34,000 --> 01:06:35,958 Mother's Day out there, and happy 165 01:06:35,958 --> 01:06:37,958 Mother's Day to all the mothers. Thank 166 01:06:37,958 --> 01:06:39,291 you for all that you do. 167 01:06:39,875 --> 01:06:42,333 Super special. We'll see you back here on 168 01:06:42,333 --> 01:06:44,708 Monday, and have a fantastic day. 169 01:06:46,666 --> 01:06:48,416 Don't forget to follow and subscribe to 170 01:06:48,416 --> 01:06:49,041 the Morning Serial 171 01:06:49,041 --> 01:06:50,666 podcast on the One Life 172 01:06:50,833 --> 01:06:51,666 Live It channel. 173 01:06:52,208 --> 01:06:54,125 You can find more episodes and videos by 174 01:06:54,125 --> 01:06:55,791 visiting our YouTube channel and the 175 01:06:55,791 --> 01:06:57,416 website at Shawningless 176 01:06:57,750 --> 01:06:59,916 and at Shawningless.com, where you can 177 01:06:59,916 --> 01:07:01,250 also follow our other 178 01:07:01,250 --> 01:07:02,791 podcast, the Mr. and Mrs. 179 01:07:02,791 --> 01:07:03,958 Inglis podcast and the 180 01:07:03,958 --> 01:07:04,958 Life Happens podcast. 181 01:07:05,791 --> 01:07:07,458 In these other podcasts, we'll dive 182 01:07:07,458 --> 01:07:08,833 deeper into everyday issues, 183 01:07:09,125 --> 01:07:09,875 self-improvement and 184 01:07:09,875 --> 01:07:12,375 well-being, business and finance, and we 185 01:07:12,375 --> 01:07:13,625 welcome special guests too. 186 01:07:14,125 --> 01:07:14,875 So join us. 187 01:07:14,875 --> 01:07:16,208 It'll be a good time, I promise. 188 01:07:16,916 --> 01:07:17,791 Thanks again for listening. 189 01:07:18,000 --> 01:07:19,541 Have a fantastic day and 190 01:07:19,541 --> 01:07:20,166 we'll see you tomorrow.