1 01:00:01,250 --> 01:00:04,125 Good morning and 2 01:00:04,125 --> 01:00:06,375 welcome to Morning Cereal. 3 01:00:08,833 --> 01:00:12,708 Okay, good morning 4 01:00:12,708 --> 01:00:13,916 and welcome to Tuesday. 5 01:00:14,291 --> 01:00:15,958 Well, I hope your cereal this morning is 6 01:00:15,958 --> 01:00:18,375 perfectly soggy or delightfully crunchy. 7 01:00:18,375 --> 01:00:18,833 We don't judge. 8 01:00:19,375 --> 01:00:20,625 Well, actually, I do judge. 9 01:00:20,625 --> 01:00:22,166 If it's too soggy, that's nasty. 10 01:00:22,750 --> 01:00:25,125 Well, before you head into this Tuesday, 11 01:00:25,125 --> 01:00:26,958 today we are celebrating 12 01:00:26,958 --> 01:00:28,583 those overlooked siblings. 13 01:00:29,041 --> 01:00:31,041 Today is middle child day. 14 01:00:31,541 --> 01:00:32,833 Here's the stereotype, all right? 15 01:00:33,125 --> 01:00:34,916 Middle children are often perceived as 16 01:00:34,916 --> 01:00:36,583 being overlooked or neglected. 17 01:00:36,833 --> 01:00:37,500 Who who, right? 18 01:00:37,750 --> 01:00:38,750 Leading to feelings of 19 01:00:38,750 --> 01:00:40,541 resentment or invisibility. 20 01:00:41,041 --> 01:00:44,000 But in reality, many middle children 21 01:00:44,000 --> 01:00:45,541 thrive in their position, 22 01:00:45,541 --> 01:00:47,166 developing unique strengths 23 01:00:47,166 --> 01:00:48,625 and personality traits like 24 01:00:48,625 --> 01:00:50,916 flexibility and adaptability. 25 01:00:51,333 --> 01:00:52,833 And I can tell you, as the oldest 26 01:00:52,833 --> 01:00:54,458 sibling, I still think 27 01:00:54,458 --> 01:00:55,958 they are just probably being 28 01:00:56,041 --> 01:00:56,458 dramatic. 29 01:00:57,333 --> 01:00:59,291 Well, here's a quote from the baby of his 30 01:00:59,291 --> 01:01:00,708 family, Casey Affleck. 31 01:01:01,083 --> 01:01:03,333 And he said, quote, "One learns more at 32 01:01:03,333 --> 01:01:05,541 the corner store than in a lecture hall." 33 01:01:06,083 --> 01:01:08,583 And that line is like gold to anyone who 34 01:01:08,583 --> 01:01:09,875 remembers all the street 35 01:01:09,875 --> 01:01:11,416 smarts education that we got 36 01:01:11,541 --> 01:01:13,500 walking around the mall, right? 37 01:01:13,500 --> 01:01:15,875 It's a great reminder that life's small 38 01:01:15,875 --> 01:01:17,083 moments can often 39 01:01:17,083 --> 01:01:18,208 teach more than textbooks. 40 01:01:18,958 --> 01:01:20,250 All right, well, today's news facts and 41 01:01:20,250 --> 01:01:22,166 birthdays are for August 12. 42 01:01:22,583 --> 01:01:23,916 And we're going to start back in 1908. 43 01:01:24,125 --> 01:01:24,666 That's when on this 44 01:01:24,666 --> 01:01:26,000 date, Ford Motor Company. 45 01:01:26,458 --> 01:01:28,833 Well, it built its first model T car, 46 01:01:29,250 --> 01:01:30,041 which Henry Ford 47 01:01:30,041 --> 01:01:32,666 himself, he first tested driving 48 01:01:32,666 --> 01:01:34,166 it on a hunting trip to 49 01:01:34,166 --> 01:01:36,375 Wisconsin and to northern Michigan. 50 01:01:37,125 --> 01:01:40,083 And then in 1981, the IBM personal 51 01:01:40,083 --> 01:01:41,125 computer was released. 52 01:01:41,125 --> 01:01:41,958 Remember this one right here? 53 01:01:42,458 --> 01:01:43,833 Well, it taught us all that 54 01:01:43,833 --> 01:01:45,166 we needed to upgrade our RAM. 55 01:01:45,375 --> 01:01:46,000 I guess we had to 56 01:01:46,000 --> 01:01:46,958 figure out what RAM was. 57 01:01:47,541 --> 01:01:49,291 And we needed to floppy our disks. 58 01:01:49,541 --> 01:01:51,416 And definitely we feared 59 01:01:51,416 --> 01:01:52,625 that blue screen of death. 60 01:01:53,708 --> 01:01:56,916 Well, in 1990 on this date, Sue, the 61 01:01:56,916 --> 01:01:58,416 largest and most complete 62 01:01:58,416 --> 01:01:59,708 Tyrannosaurus rex skeleton 63 01:01:59,875 --> 01:02:02,166 was discovered in South Dakota. 64 01:02:02,875 --> 01:02:03,958 Well, happy birthday to you. 65 01:02:03,958 --> 01:02:05,041 Today is your birthday. 66 01:02:05,333 --> 01:02:07,666 You share a birthday with great and funny 67 01:02:07,666 --> 01:02:09,125 actor Casey Athlick. 68 01:02:09,125 --> 01:02:09,916 He's 50 today. 69 01:02:10,458 --> 01:02:11,708 Tennis great Pete Sampras. 70 01:02:12,000 --> 01:02:12,750 He's 53. 71 01:02:13,583 --> 01:02:15,875 And now the number one song on this date 72 01:02:15,875 --> 01:02:19,000 back in 1990 was "Gonna Make You Sweat." 73 01:02:19,000 --> 01:02:21,166 Everybody dance now by CNC Music Factory. 74 01:02:21,833 --> 01:02:22,541 Now, if you don't 75 01:02:22,541 --> 01:02:24,875 remember this, the song repeated. 76 01:02:24,875 --> 01:02:25,875 Everybody dance now 77 01:02:25,875 --> 01:02:27,541 about a thousand times. 78 01:02:27,958 --> 01:02:29,083 So you may have cataloged that 79 01:02:29,083 --> 01:02:30,375 way to the back of your mind. 80 01:02:30,916 --> 01:02:32,958 But it was the unofficial anthem of 81 01:02:32,958 --> 01:02:35,041 aerobic tapes and neon 82 01:02:35,041 --> 01:02:36,041 headbands, if you remember 83 01:02:36,250 --> 01:02:36,375 those. 84 01:02:36,875 --> 01:02:38,666 And I have to say, it's not hard to let 85 01:02:38,666 --> 01:02:39,833 the music take control 86 01:02:39,833 --> 01:02:40,916 and let the rhythm move 87 01:02:40,916 --> 01:02:41,166 you. 88 01:02:41,666 --> 01:02:41,958 All right. 89 01:02:41,958 --> 01:02:44,458 Well, let's move into habit for the 90 01:02:44,458 --> 01:02:46,750 sub-chapter processes, right? 91 01:02:46,750 --> 01:02:48,291 We're still in the seven habits of highly 92 01:02:48,291 --> 01:02:50,708 effective people by Steven R. Covey. 93 01:02:51,166 --> 01:02:52,916 And here Covey is inviting us to 94 01:02:52,916 --> 01:02:55,333 recognize that achieving endpoint 95 01:02:55,333 --> 01:02:56,458 results, effectiveness 96 01:02:56,875 --> 01:02:58,208 depends on the strength and 97 01:02:58,208 --> 01:02:59,833 health of our processes, right? 98 01:03:00,083 --> 01:03:02,083 The daily habits, our routines, and the 99 01:03:02,083 --> 01:03:03,708 systems which we live by. 100 01:03:04,041 --> 01:03:06,708 So Covey says, "The key is not to 101 01:03:06,708 --> 01:03:07,916 prioritize what's on your 102 01:03:07,916 --> 01:03:09,791 schedule, but to schedule your 103 01:03:09,791 --> 01:03:10,458 priorities." 104 01:03:10,750 --> 01:03:10,791 Right? 105 01:03:10,791 --> 01:03:12,125 We hear that over and over again. 106 01:03:12,458 --> 01:03:14,541 We soak up the idea that designing 107 01:03:14,541 --> 01:03:16,208 processes like morning 108 01:03:16,208 --> 01:03:18,416 routines, weekly planning sessions, 109 01:03:18,875 --> 01:03:21,833 or even a good cereal to milk ratio, it 110 01:03:21,833 --> 01:03:23,416 isn't just about being busy, 111 01:03:23,833 --> 01:03:25,500 it's about being effective. 112 01:03:26,083 --> 01:03:27,208 Processes, Covey 113 01:03:27,208 --> 01:03:29,000 argues, are living systems. 114 01:03:29,625 --> 01:03:31,416 Covey emphasizes that when you measure 115 01:03:31,416 --> 01:03:32,833 and feed your process, 116 01:03:33,250 --> 01:03:34,541 the outcomes take care 117 01:03:34,541 --> 01:03:35,041 of themselves. 118 01:03:35,500 --> 01:03:36,833 "A good system properly 119 01:03:36,833 --> 01:03:39,333 executed returns effective results." 120 01:03:40,333 --> 01:03:42,666 It's not about one epic push, it's about 121 01:03:42,666 --> 01:03:44,541 consistent, incremental steps. 122 01:03:45,416 --> 01:03:47,500 And for all of us, that means embracing 123 01:03:47,500 --> 01:03:49,375 checklists, to-do apps, or 124 01:03:49,375 --> 01:03:51,166 even sticky notes because our 125 01:03:51,208 --> 01:03:53,000 analog hearts appreciate 126 01:03:53,000 --> 01:03:54,708 this tangible progress. 127 01:03:55,083 --> 01:03:55,291 All right. 128 01:03:55,750 --> 01:03:56,791 Covey also cautions 129 01:03:56,791 --> 01:03:58,791 against process erosion, okay? 130 01:03:59,250 --> 01:04:00,125 Habits they can decay 131 01:04:00,125 --> 01:04:00,916 if they're neglected. 132 01:04:01,416 --> 01:04:03,333 And as he puts it, "You cannot expect to 133 01:04:03,333 --> 01:04:04,250 live a highly effective 134 01:04:04,250 --> 01:04:06,166 life if your processes 135 01:04:06,333 --> 01:04:08,708 are unexamined or undernourished." 136 01:04:09,166 --> 01:04:10,208 So reflect. 137 01:04:10,666 --> 01:04:12,750 Are your mornings running on autopilot 138 01:04:12,750 --> 01:04:14,541 fueled by leftover habits? 139 01:04:15,375 --> 01:04:17,375 If your processes don't align with your 140 01:04:17,375 --> 01:04:18,875 goals, your career, your 141 01:04:18,875 --> 01:04:20,166 personal, or your family, 142 01:04:20,666 --> 01:04:22,125 they won't serve you. 143 01:04:22,458 --> 01:04:23,666 Okay, here's your takeaway. 144 01:04:24,500 --> 01:04:27,500 Habit for processes, they teach us that 145 01:04:27,500 --> 01:04:28,333 the difference between 146 01:04:28,333 --> 01:04:30,000 living intentionally and 147 01:04:30,000 --> 01:04:33,000 being swept along lies and systems, okay? 148 01:04:33,291 --> 01:04:34,250 By designing and 149 01:04:34,250 --> 01:04:35,875 nurturing your daily rhythms. 150 01:04:36,166 --> 01:04:37,750 Whether that means meal prepping 151 01:04:37,750 --> 01:04:39,583 nostalgic snacks or 152 01:04:39,583 --> 01:04:41,625 scheduling break time to load that 153 01:04:41,791 --> 01:04:43,041 vintage mix tape, okay? 154 01:04:43,666 --> 01:04:45,291 You engineer a day that 155 01:04:45,291 --> 01:04:47,375 works for you, not against you. 156 01:04:47,791 --> 01:04:48,166 All right. 157 01:04:48,166 --> 01:04:49,875 Now you're armed with trivia, a quote, 158 01:04:50,041 --> 01:04:51,416 and Covey's process wisdom. 159 01:04:51,750 --> 01:04:53,083 It's basically breakfast for your mind. 160 01:04:53,750 --> 01:04:55,416 Well, thanks for tuning in this morning. 161 01:04:55,416 --> 01:04:57,166 Come back tomorrow and every weekday for 162 01:04:57,166 --> 01:04:58,041 that matter for some 163 01:04:58,041 --> 01:04:59,041 smart, slightly nostalgic 164 01:04:59,333 --> 01:04:59,541 fuel. 165 01:05:00,000 --> 01:05:01,666 And have a fantastic day. 166 01:05:03,333 --> 01:05:05,000 Don't forget to follow and subscribe to 167 01:05:05,000 --> 01:05:05,666 the Morning Serial 168 01:05:05,666 --> 01:05:07,750 Podcast on the One Life Live 169 01:05:07,750 --> 01:05:08,208 It channel. 170 01:05:08,791 --> 01:05:10,708 You can find more episodes and videos by 171 01:05:10,708 --> 01:05:12,375 visiting our YouTube channel and the 172 01:05:12,375 --> 01:05:14,000 website at seaningless 173 01:05:14,375 --> 01:05:16,500 and at seaningless.com, where you can 174 01:05:16,500 --> 01:05:17,833 also follow our other 175 01:05:17,833 --> 01:05:19,208 podcasts, the Mr. and Mrs. 176 01:05:19,500 --> 01:05:20,500 English podcast and 177 01:05:20,500 --> 01:05:21,541 the Life Happens podcast. 178 01:05:22,375 --> 01:05:24,500 And these other podcasts will dive deeper 179 01:05:24,500 --> 01:05:25,416 into everyday issues, 180 01:05:25,666 --> 01:05:26,458 self-improvement and 181 01:05:26,458 --> 01:05:28,000 wellbeing, business and finance. 182 01:05:28,708 --> 01:05:30,250 And we welcome special guests too. 183 01:05:30,666 --> 01:05:31,500 So join us. 184 01:05:31,500 --> 01:05:32,458 It will be a good time. 185 01:05:32,458 --> 01:05:32,916 I promise. 186 01:05:33,500 --> 01:05:34,541 Thanks again for listening. 187 01:05:34,541 --> 01:05:36,125 Have a fantastic day and 188 01:05:36,125 --> 01:05:36,666 we'll see you tomorrow.