1 01:00:00,500 --> 01:00:03,166 Good morning and welcome 2 01:00:03,166 --> 01:00:04,750 to your morning cereal. 3 01:00:09,083 --> 01:00:10,000 Okay, good morning 4 01:00:10,000 --> 01:00:12,000 and welcome to Thursday. 5 01:00:12,416 --> 01:00:15,125 It is Friday Eve and this week 6 01:00:15,125 --> 01:00:16,500 it just feels like it's 7 01:00:16,500 --> 01:00:17,666 flying by, doesn't it? 8 01:00:18,000 --> 01:00:18,541 All right, all right, 9 01:00:18,541 --> 01:00:19,708 don't panic, don't panic. 10 01:00:20,125 --> 01:00:21,625 Today is actually Wednesday. 11 01:00:22,041 --> 01:00:22,625 You probably knew 12 01:00:22,625 --> 01:00:24,083 that, but I just got you. 13 01:00:24,083 --> 01:00:25,791 It is April Fool's Day. 14 01:00:26,000 --> 01:00:27,125 The one day a year 15 01:00:27,125 --> 01:00:28,291 where your trust issues 16 01:00:28,500 --> 01:00:29,875 are not only valid, they're 17 01:00:29,875 --> 01:00:31,166 actually encouraged today. 18 01:00:31,583 --> 01:00:32,250 It's also a day 19 01:00:32,250 --> 01:00:34,000 dedicated to harmless pranks 20 01:00:34,000 --> 01:00:35,833 and pretending you did not 21 01:00:35,833 --> 01:00:37,250 fall for any of it, right? 22 01:00:37,500 --> 01:00:38,666 Was it really Thursday in 23 01:00:38,666 --> 01:00:39,666 your head for just a moment? 24 01:00:40,375 --> 01:00:42,625 Well, welcome to April everyone. 25 01:00:42,916 --> 01:00:45,333 It's 2Q of 26. 26 01:00:45,916 --> 01:00:46,750 Now the answer to 27 01:00:46,750 --> 01:00:48,583 yesterday's trivia question, bamboo. 28 01:00:48,791 --> 01:00:49,791 The fastest growing 29 01:00:49,791 --> 01:00:51,458 outdoor plant is bamboo. 30 01:00:52,041 --> 01:00:53,500 And now it is time for 31 01:00:53,500 --> 01:00:54,833 the essential vitamins 32 01:00:55,041 --> 01:00:56,583 in your morning cereal. 33 01:00:56,958 --> 01:00:58,000 It's today's quote and 34 01:00:58,000 --> 01:00:59,208 it is from birthday girl 35 01:00:59,291 --> 01:01:01,916 turning 53 today, Rachel 36 01:01:01,916 --> 01:01:03,458 Maddow, who said, quote, 37 01:01:03,875 --> 01:01:04,875 "Courage is like a muscle. 38 01:01:05,250 --> 01:01:07,083 We strengthen it by use." 39 01:01:07,500 --> 01:01:08,000 End quote. 40 01:01:08,375 --> 01:01:10,166 All right, here is your morning decode. 41 01:01:10,666 --> 01:01:11,875 Just as you aren't born 42 01:01:11,875 --> 01:01:13,625 with peak physical strength, 43 01:01:14,083 --> 01:01:15,291 you aren't necessarily 44 01:01:15,291 --> 01:01:17,125 born courageous either. 45 01:01:17,541 --> 01:01:18,458 You build it by 46 01:01:18,458 --> 01:01:20,625 repeatedly taking small actions 47 01:01:20,666 --> 01:01:22,625 despite feeling afraid at times. 48 01:01:23,375 --> 01:01:24,083 All right, well, let's go 49 01:01:24,083 --> 01:01:25,625 ahead and hear from the experts. 50 01:01:25,666 --> 01:01:26,625 Now it is time to pour 51 01:01:26,625 --> 01:01:28,166 in some atomic habits 52 01:01:28,250 --> 01:01:29,625 by James Clear. 53 01:01:29,916 --> 01:01:31,583 And today we are diving 54 01:01:31,583 --> 01:01:34,375 into the intro of chapter five, 55 01:01:34,375 --> 01:01:35,666 which is entitled, "The 56 01:01:35,666 --> 01:01:38,041 Best Way to Start a New Habit." 57 01:01:38,625 --> 01:01:39,750 And here's the truth. 58 01:01:40,166 --> 01:01:41,166 Most people don't fail 59 01:01:41,166 --> 01:01:42,916 because they lack discipline. 60 01:01:42,916 --> 01:01:44,875 Surprisingly, they fail because they 61 01:01:44,875 --> 01:01:46,208 never clearly decide 62 01:01:46,458 --> 01:01:47,541 when and where 63 01:01:47,541 --> 01:01:49,458 something will actually happen. 64 01:01:50,083 --> 01:01:52,125 Here, Clear introduces the concept 65 01:01:52,291 --> 01:01:54,583 of an implementation intention, 66 01:01:55,125 --> 01:01:56,000 which is just a 67 01:01:56,000 --> 01:01:57,791 structured plan for your habit. 68 01:01:58,166 --> 01:01:59,666 It follows a simple formula. 69 01:02:00,458 --> 01:02:02,625 I will behavior at 70 01:02:02,625 --> 01:02:05,041 time in location, okay? 71 01:02:05,291 --> 01:02:06,708 That specifically matters 72 01:02:06,708 --> 01:02:08,375 more than people realizing, 73 01:02:08,416 --> 01:02:10,125 saying, "I'll work out more." 74 01:02:10,125 --> 01:02:12,250 Well, that sounds productive, but it's 75 01:02:12,250 --> 01:02:13,583 very vague actually. 76 01:02:13,916 --> 01:02:14,500 And it's actually 77 01:02:14,500 --> 01:02:15,666 vague enough to disappear 78 01:02:15,666 --> 01:02:17,333 the moment life just gets busy. 79 01:02:17,708 --> 01:02:19,500 But instead, try saying something like, 80 01:02:20,041 --> 01:02:21,666 "I'll walk for 20 minutes at 81 01:02:21,666 --> 01:02:23,625 7 a.m. in my neighborhood." 82 01:02:23,875 --> 01:02:25,208 That removes the ambiguity, 83 01:02:25,500 --> 01:02:27,958 and ambiguity is where habits go to die. 84 01:02:28,500 --> 01:02:29,666 Clear puts it plainly, quote, 85 01:02:29,833 --> 01:02:32,000 "Many people think they lack motivation 86 01:02:32,166 --> 01:02:33,291 when they really just 87 01:02:33,291 --> 01:02:35,041 lack clarity," end quote. 88 01:02:35,500 --> 01:02:36,416 Now that line hits 89 01:02:36,416 --> 01:02:38,250 because it reframes the problem. 90 01:02:38,583 --> 01:02:39,625 You're not unmotivated, 91 01:02:39,625 --> 01:02:41,000 you're just undecided. 92 01:02:41,666 --> 01:02:42,750 He also explains that 93 01:02:42,750 --> 01:02:44,458 habits are triggered by cues. 94 01:02:44,666 --> 01:02:46,125 And when you define a 95 01:02:46,125 --> 01:02:48,250 clear time and a clear place, 96 01:02:48,625 --> 01:02:49,166 you're essentially 97 01:02:49,166 --> 01:02:51,416 creating a built-in cue. 98 01:02:52,041 --> 01:02:54,708 Instead of relying on memory or mood, 99 01:02:55,250 --> 01:02:57,208 the environment and the clock do the 100 01:02:57,208 --> 01:02:59,000 reminding for you, okay? 101 01:02:59,541 --> 01:03:01,375 Another key idea here is that 102 01:03:01,458 --> 01:03:03,833 starting is the most important part. 103 01:03:04,500 --> 01:03:07,333 Clear emphasizes that once habit begins, 104 01:03:07,750 --> 01:03:10,166 momentum often carries it forward. 105 01:03:10,458 --> 01:03:12,000 The hardest part isn't the workout, 106 01:03:12,000 --> 01:03:13,458 it's actually putting on your shoes. 107 01:03:13,833 --> 01:03:15,833 It's not writing the whole report, 108 01:03:16,000 --> 01:03:17,625 it's opening the document. 109 01:03:18,125 --> 01:03:20,500 He says this quote, "Goals are good for 110 01:03:20,500 --> 01:03:21,375 setting a direction, 111 01:03:21,791 --> 01:03:23,416 but systems are best for making 112 01:03:23,416 --> 01:03:24,750 progress," end quote. 113 01:03:25,291 --> 01:03:27,958 And this chapter shows that systems begin 114 01:03:27,958 --> 01:03:30,333 with clarity and repetition, not 115 01:03:30,333 --> 01:03:31,875 intensity or motivation. 116 01:03:32,500 --> 01:03:34,333 Ultimately, this isn't about doing more, 117 01:03:34,333 --> 01:03:35,750 it's about deciding better. 118 01:03:36,166 --> 01:03:37,708 When you remove uncertainty, 119 01:03:37,708 --> 01:03:39,500 you make action inevitable. 120 01:03:40,000 --> 01:03:41,375 And when action becomes 121 01:03:41,375 --> 01:03:43,291 consistent, results follow. 122 01:03:43,833 --> 01:03:46,666 All right, your hump day takeaway is 123 01:03:47,041 --> 01:03:49,166 if you want a habit to stick, 124 01:03:49,458 --> 01:03:51,083 give it a clear time and place 125 01:03:51,458 --> 01:03:52,791 because clarity beats 126 01:03:52,791 --> 01:03:54,750 motivation every single time. 127 01:03:55,708 --> 01:03:56,208 All right, friends, 128 01:03:56,666 --> 01:03:58,166 stay sharp out there today. 129 01:03:58,458 --> 01:03:59,541 Trust no one. 130 01:03:59,833 --> 01:04:00,875 Now, the prize from 131 01:04:00,875 --> 01:04:01,708 the bottom of the box, 132 01:04:01,708 --> 01:04:02,291 the morning serial 133 01:04:02,291 --> 01:04:04,208 trivia question of the day, 134 01:04:04,208 --> 01:04:07,583 here it is, in what year did the original 135 01:04:07,750 --> 01:04:09,500 Star Wars movie premiere? 136 01:04:10,250 --> 01:04:11,708 All right, hey, thanks for listening to 137 01:04:11,708 --> 01:04:12,666 morning serial today. 138 01:04:12,666 --> 01:04:14,208 We will see you back here tomorrow 139 01:04:14,208 --> 01:04:15,750 for the answer to the trivia question 140 01:04:16,125 --> 01:04:18,333 and more sugar for the soul. 141 01:04:18,333 --> 01:04:21,375 And until then, have a fantastic day. 142 01:04:22,583 --> 01:04:24,125 Don't forget to follow and subscribe 143 01:04:24,125 --> 01:04:25,666 to the morning serial podcast 144 01:04:25,666 --> 01:04:27,583 on the One Life Live It channel. 145 01:04:28,125 --> 01:04:29,833 You can find more episodes and videos 146 01:04:29,833 --> 01:04:31,291 by visiting our YouTube channel 147 01:04:31,500 --> 01:04:32,541 and the website at 148 01:04:32,541 --> 01:04:35,166 seaningless and at seaningless.com, 149 01:04:35,416 --> 01:04:36,250 where you can also 150 01:04:36,250 --> 01:04:37,708 follow our other podcast, 151 01:04:38,000 --> 01:04:39,208 the Mr. and Mrs. English podcast 152 01:04:39,750 --> 01:04:40,916 and the Life Happens podcast. 153 01:04:41,708 --> 01:04:43,875 And these other podcasts will dive deeper 154 01:04:43,875 --> 01:04:44,750 into everyday issues, 155 01:04:45,041 --> 01:04:46,500 self-improvement and well-being, 156 01:04:46,541 --> 01:04:48,333 business and finance, and we 157 01:04:48,333 --> 01:04:49,583 welcome special guests too. 158 01:04:50,125 --> 01:04:51,166 So join us, it'll be a 159 01:04:51,166 --> 01:04:52,125 good time, I promise. 160 01:04:52,875 --> 01:04:53,750 Thanks again for listening. 161 01:04:53,958 --> 01:04:55,500 Have a fantastic day and 162 01:04:55,500 --> 01:04:56,041 we'll see you tomorrow.