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 --> 01:00:13,333 Okay, good morning and 4 01:00:13,333 --> 01:00:14,958 welcome back to a new week. 5 01:00:14,958 --> 01:00:15,458 It's Monday. 6 01:00:15,666 --> 01:00:18,041 I hope you had a great weekend and today 7 01:00:18,041 --> 01:00:19,000 is special because 8 01:00:19,000 --> 01:00:20,958 there's a second bowl of sweet 9 01:00:20,958 --> 01:00:22,333 cereal yumminess, right? 10 01:00:22,666 --> 01:00:25,291 First it's Kiss and Makeup Day, which is 11 01:00:25,291 --> 01:00:26,500 a day that encourages 12 01:00:26,500 --> 01:00:28,416 reconciliation, even if 13 01:00:28,416 --> 01:00:30,333 it's just with your alarm clock, right? 14 01:00:31,000 --> 01:00:32,166 And today also happens to 15 01:00:32,166 --> 01:00:34,375 be National Banana Split Day. 16 01:00:34,708 --> 01:00:35,833 So let's just be real 17 01:00:35,833 --> 01:00:36,833 here for one second, right? 18 01:00:37,041 --> 01:00:38,916 Does anyone actually still 19 01:00:38,916 --> 01:00:40,708 make and eat banana splits? 20 01:00:41,208 --> 01:00:44,958 Now I have had one in my entire life and 21 01:00:44,958 --> 01:00:46,833 really it wasn't that great. 22 01:00:46,833 --> 01:00:48,666 The ice cream was fantastic and the ice 23 01:00:48,666 --> 01:00:50,291 cream is more than enough, right? 24 01:00:50,291 --> 01:00:52,375 There's no need to add the bananas to it. 25 01:00:52,750 --> 01:00:53,583 Well, I digress. 26 01:00:53,916 --> 01:00:55,500 There is a national day for it. 27 01:00:55,500 --> 01:00:58,000 So if you love banana splits or you are a 28 01:00:58,000 --> 01:00:59,125 banana split, today's your day. 29 01:00:59,541 --> 01:01:00,458 All right, I'm off my 30 01:01:00,458 --> 01:01:01,583 banana split soapbox. 31 01:01:02,000 --> 01:01:04,458 Here is a quote from Claudia Schiffer who 32 01:01:04,458 --> 01:01:05,916 said, "I try to 33 01:01:05,916 --> 01:01:07,208 extract something positive 34 01:01:07,208 --> 01:01:09,625 from every situation, even if it's just 35 01:01:09,625 --> 01:01:11,166 learning not to make 36 01:01:11,166 --> 01:01:12,666 the same mistake twice." 37 01:01:13,708 --> 01:01:15,666 So Claudia is providing us with a 38 01:01:15,666 --> 01:01:18,000 reminder that even in imperfect or 39 01:01:18,000 --> 01:01:19,125 challenging moments, 40 01:01:19,500 --> 01:01:20,958 there's an opportunity to grow. 41 01:01:21,416 --> 01:01:22,666 Or she's saying I should 42 01:01:22,666 --> 01:01:24,166 try for another banana split. 43 01:01:24,666 --> 01:01:26,708 Well, today's news facts and birthdays 44 01:01:26,708 --> 01:01:28,625 are for August 25th. 45 01:01:28,625 --> 01:01:29,375 We're going to start back 46 01:01:29,375 --> 01:01:31,875 all the way back in 1609. 47 01:01:32,166 --> 01:01:35,000 That's when Galileo, he demonstrated the 48 01:01:35,000 --> 01:01:37,708 first telescope to Venetian lawmakers. 49 01:01:38,416 --> 01:01:41,333 Then on this date in 1960, the AFL, well, 50 01:01:41,333 --> 01:01:43,791 they began placing players' names on the 51 01:01:43,791 --> 01:01:44,750 back of their jersey. 52 01:01:45,208 --> 01:01:46,500 I'm sure they didn't envision people 53 01:01:46,500 --> 01:01:48,041 putting "He hate me" back there. 54 01:01:48,625 --> 01:01:50,791 Well, moving on to 2001 on this date, the 55 01:01:50,791 --> 01:01:52,500 number one movie at the box office in the 56 01:01:52,541 --> 01:01:55,416 United States was "American Pie 2." 57 01:01:56,041 --> 01:01:57,125 Well happy birthday to you. 58 01:01:57,125 --> 01:01:58,416 Today is your birthday. 59 01:01:58,416 --> 01:02:00,000 You share a birthday with the actress 60 01:02:00,000 --> 01:02:01,750 with on-screen sparkle Blake Lively. 61 01:02:01,750 --> 01:02:02,875 She's 36 today. 62 01:02:03,416 --> 01:02:05,000 Model and rebound girlfriend, if you know 63 01:02:05,000 --> 01:02:06,125 a movie I'm talking about. 64 01:02:06,500 --> 01:02:08,083 Claudia Schiffer, she's 55. 65 01:02:08,750 --> 01:02:10,250 The infamous lawyer and whistleblower 66 01:02:10,250 --> 01:02:12,250 Michael Cohen, he's 59 today. 67 01:02:12,916 --> 01:02:14,500 The achy-breaky dad, Billy 68 01:02:14,500 --> 01:02:16,708 Ray Cyrus, he's 64 today. 69 01:02:17,208 --> 01:02:19,375 Ruby maker Tim Burton, he's 67 today. 70 01:02:19,833 --> 01:02:22,500 Rock icon Gene Simmons, he's 74 today. 71 01:02:23,166 --> 01:02:26,375 And the late 007, Sean Connery, was born 72 01:02:26,375 --> 01:02:27,916 on this date in 1930. 73 01:02:28,916 --> 01:02:30,583 Now the number one song on this date back 74 01:02:30,583 --> 01:02:33,958 in 1988 was "Sweet Child of Mine" by Guns 75 01:02:33,958 --> 01:02:34,375 and Roses. 76 01:02:35,000 --> 01:02:36,750 Finally, a rock song. 77 01:02:36,750 --> 01:02:38,583 I mean, are there no rock songs anymore? 78 01:02:39,333 --> 01:02:41,750 Either way, "Sweet Child of Mine" has one 79 01:02:41,750 --> 01:02:43,250 of the, if not, the 80 01:02:43,250 --> 01:02:45,083 most recognizable guitar 81 01:02:45,083 --> 01:02:47,166 riff intros of all time, period. 82 01:02:47,708 --> 01:02:48,958 Look it up, listen to it. 83 01:02:49,458 --> 01:02:51,000 Nobody knows the air guitar to it. 84 01:02:51,000 --> 01:02:51,666 All right, totally 85 01:02:51,666 --> 01:02:53,125 holds up after 35 years. 86 01:02:53,583 --> 01:02:54,625 Well, check it out on 87 01:02:54,625 --> 01:02:56,375 Instagram, YouTube, or TikTok. 88 01:02:57,041 --> 01:02:58,875 Well, just like those riffs find harmony, 89 01:02:59,083 --> 01:03:01,416 so does effective leadership, right? 90 01:03:02,125 --> 01:03:03,500 Let's explore the beginning of chapter 91 01:03:03,500 --> 01:03:04,750 six leading into 92 01:03:04,750 --> 01:03:06,583 synergistic communication. 93 01:03:07,125 --> 01:03:08,083 In "Covey's," the seven 94 01:03:08,083 --> 01:03:09,875 habits of highly effective people. 95 01:03:10,333 --> 01:03:11,791 Now chapter six opens 96 01:03:11,791 --> 01:03:13,166 with a nod to synergy. 97 01:03:13,500 --> 01:03:14,708 Quote, "Synergy is better 98 01:03:14,708 --> 01:03:16,333 than my way or your way. 99 01:03:16,833 --> 01:03:18,375 It's our way," says Covey. 100 01:03:18,833 --> 01:03:20,583 Now at the beginning of this chapter, 101 01:03:21,041 --> 01:03:22,041 Covey quotes President 102 01:03:22,041 --> 01:03:23,708 George H.W. Bush saying, 103 01:03:24,000 --> 01:03:26,000 "Communication starts with listening. 104 01:03:26,500 --> 01:03:28,166 Leadership starts with listening." 105 01:03:29,166 --> 01:03:30,250 That captures the 106 01:03:30,250 --> 01:03:31,500 essence of this chapter. 107 01:03:32,041 --> 01:03:34,583 Synergy isn't just one person's voice. 108 01:03:34,583 --> 01:03:35,291 It's creating something 109 01:03:35,291 --> 01:03:37,583 fresh from collective input. 110 01:03:38,083 --> 01:03:40,750 Now Covey framed synergy as the result of 111 01:03:40,750 --> 01:03:41,916 valuing differences. 112 01:03:42,666 --> 01:03:45,125 It's not compromise, it's co-creation. 113 01:03:45,958 --> 01:03:47,916 And Covey invites us to see problems as 114 01:03:47,916 --> 01:03:49,416 opportunities for 115 01:03:49,416 --> 01:03:51,583 collaboration because, quote, "The whole 116 01:03:51,791 --> 01:03:52,625 is greater than the sum 117 01:03:52,625 --> 01:03:53,708 of its parts," end quote. 118 01:03:54,416 --> 01:03:56,083 Now when genuine empathy meets 119 01:03:56,083 --> 01:03:58,791 open-mindedness, innovation ignites. 120 01:03:59,458 --> 01:04:01,625 Now this introduction to habit six also 121 01:04:01,625 --> 01:04:03,916 warns against entrenched thinking. 122 01:04:04,500 --> 01:04:07,041 Covey says synergy dissolves either or 123 01:04:07,041 --> 01:04:08,875 choices and it transforms 124 01:04:08,875 --> 01:04:11,916 them into and or both options, 125 01:04:11,916 --> 01:04:12,125 right? 126 01:04:12,875 --> 01:04:15,583 It shifts the mindset from scarcity to 127 01:04:15,583 --> 01:04:17,958 abundance, trusting that the best 128 01:04:17,958 --> 01:04:19,541 solution may lie beyond 129 01:04:19,875 --> 01:04:21,000 the obvious choices. 130 01:04:21,541 --> 01:04:23,583 So here Covey lays the groundwork for the 131 01:04:23,583 --> 01:04:24,833 next section, which is 132 01:04:24,833 --> 01:04:26,500 synergistic communication. 133 01:04:27,250 --> 01:04:29,208 And this goes beyond mutual benefit. 134 01:04:29,791 --> 01:04:30,708 It's about forgoing 135 01:04:30,708 --> 01:04:32,583 dialogue that makes both... 136 01:04:33,291 --> 01:04:35,375 It's about forging dialogue that makes 137 01:04:35,375 --> 01:04:36,083 both parties 138 01:04:36,083 --> 01:04:38,291 stronger, not just satisfied. 139 01:04:38,708 --> 01:04:40,083 All right, here's your takeaway. 140 01:04:41,125 --> 01:04:43,083 Synergy begins when we listen deeply, 141 01:04:43,333 --> 01:04:44,833 value differences, and 142 01:04:44,833 --> 01:04:46,750 co-create outcomes that neither 143 01:04:46,791 --> 01:04:48,291 side could produce alone. 144 01:04:49,125 --> 01:04:50,958 All right, well, today, make 145 01:04:50,958 --> 01:04:52,666 up and make out if you like. 146 01:04:52,666 --> 01:04:54,416 Maybe share a banana split or something 147 01:04:54,416 --> 01:04:56,916 and listen your way towards new ideas. 148 01:04:57,333 --> 01:04:58,791 Thank you so much for starting your 149 01:04:58,791 --> 01:05:00,000 Monday morning with Morning Serial. 150 01:05:00,208 --> 01:05:01,375 Come back tomorrow for 151 01:05:01,375 --> 01:05:02,291 more insight and fun. 152 01:05:02,916 --> 01:05:05,041 And as always, have a fantastic day. 153 01:05:06,041 --> 01:05:08,375 Don't forget to follow and subscribe to 154 01:05:08,375 --> 01:05:09,000 the Morning Serial 155 01:05:09,000 --> 01:05:11,125 podcast on the One Life Live 156 01:05:11,125 --> 01:05:11,583 It channel. 157 01:05:12,125 --> 01:05:14,083 You can find more episodes and videos by 158 01:05:14,083 --> 01:05:15,750 visiting our YouTube channel and the 159 01:05:15,750 --> 01:05:17,375 website at seaningless 160 01:05:17,750 --> 01:05:19,916 and at seaningless.com, where you can 161 01:05:19,916 --> 01:05:21,208 also follow our other 162 01:05:21,208 --> 01:05:22,541 podcasts, the Mr. and Mrs. 163 01:05:22,833 --> 01:05:23,875 English podcast and 164 01:05:23,875 --> 01:05:24,916 the Life Happens podcast. 165 01:05:25,708 --> 01:05:27,875 And these other podcasts will dive deeper 166 01:05:27,875 --> 01:05:28,750 into everyday issues, 167 01:05:29,041 --> 01:05:29,833 self-improvement and 168 01:05:30,000 --> 01:05:32,333 well-being, business and finance, and we 169 01:05:32,333 --> 01:05:33,583 welcome special guests too. 170 01:05:34,125 --> 01:05:34,833 So join us. 171 01:05:34,833 --> 01:05:36,166 It'll be a good time, I promise. 172 01:05:36,875 --> 01:05:37,708 Thanks again for listening. 173 01:05:37,958 --> 01:05:39,125 Have a fantastic day, 174 01:05:39,125 --> 01:05:40,041 and we'll see you tomorrow.