1 01:00:01,250 --> 01:00:04,125 Good morning and 2 01:00:04,125 --> 01:00:05,958 welcome to Morning Serial. 3 01:00:08,833 --> 01:00:13,958 Okay, good morning and welcome to Friday. 4 01:00:14,166 --> 01:00:16,708 We made it and it's not just any Friday, 5 01:00:16,708 --> 01:00:18,500 it's Friday the 13th. 6 01:00:18,666 --> 01:00:20,750 The day that makes black cats nervous and 7 01:00:20,750 --> 01:00:22,916 hotel elevators skip the 13th floor. 8 01:00:22,916 --> 01:00:24,500 Hey, here's a fun fact for you. 9 01:00:24,875 --> 01:00:26,500 Historians trace the superstition of 10 01:00:26,500 --> 01:00:28,250 Friday the 13th all the way 11 01:00:28,250 --> 01:00:29,541 back to the Knights Templar. 12 01:00:29,958 --> 01:00:31,000 They were arrested on 13 01:00:31,000 --> 01:00:34,750 Friday, October 13th and 1307. 14 01:00:35,125 --> 01:00:37,000 And ever since, that date's been getting 15 01:00:37,000 --> 01:00:39,000 the side eye from these superstitious 16 01:00:39,000 --> 01:00:40,416 people and also the 17 01:00:40,416 --> 01:00:41,583 horror movie fans alike. 18 01:00:42,125 --> 01:00:44,000 But hey, instead of hiding under the 19 01:00:44,000 --> 01:00:46,375 covers, embrace the weirdness of the day. 20 01:00:46,750 --> 01:00:48,708 It's International Axe Throwing Day. 21 01:00:48,708 --> 01:00:50,916 But just be sure you're throwing axes at 22 01:00:50,916 --> 01:00:52,125 a target, not at people. 23 01:00:52,125 --> 01:00:53,708 We don't need some sort of horror film 24 01:00:53,708 --> 01:00:54,541 happening today, okay? 25 01:00:54,541 --> 01:00:57,083 Well, you want something a little bit 26 01:00:57,083 --> 01:00:58,083 more chill than that? 27 01:00:58,791 --> 01:00:59,625 Pull weeds for 28 01:00:59,625 --> 01:01:01,375 National Weed Your Garden Day. 29 01:01:01,375 --> 01:01:02,375 My kids can do that. 30 01:01:02,375 --> 01:01:02,958 You guys hear me? 31 01:01:03,416 --> 01:01:05,666 Or maybe just retreat into your inner 32 01:01:05,666 --> 01:01:07,041 introvert, which I love. 33 01:01:07,500 --> 01:01:09,166 It's National Hermit Week after all. 34 01:01:09,916 --> 01:01:11,083 Now, before hiding your face from 35 01:01:11,083 --> 01:01:12,541 humanity, here's a little 36 01:01:12,541 --> 01:01:14,291 twin-powered motivation for you. 37 01:01:14,791 --> 01:01:16,791 Mary Kate Olsen said, "Believe in 38 01:01:16,791 --> 01:01:18,916 yourself and your abilities, no matter 39 01:01:18,916 --> 01:01:20,500 what anyone else tells you." 40 01:01:20,541 --> 01:01:22,916 And it's a great reminder that even when 41 01:01:22,916 --> 01:01:24,958 we retreat from the world, we don't need 42 01:01:24,958 --> 01:01:26,041 to retreat from ourselves. 43 01:01:26,958 --> 01:01:28,208 Well, today's news, facts, 44 01:01:28,208 --> 01:01:30,625 and birthdays are for June 13th. 45 01:01:30,625 --> 01:01:33,000 We're going to start back in 1922, and 46 01:01:33,000 --> 01:01:34,291 this is a world record I 47 01:01:34,291 --> 01:01:35,541 hope you don't ever beat. 48 01:01:35,916 --> 01:01:38,375 But the longest recorded attack of 49 01:01:38,375 --> 01:01:41,416 hiccups began on this date in 1922. 50 01:01:42,083 --> 01:01:44,666 Charlie Osborne, he got the hiccups and 51 01:01:44,666 --> 01:01:47,166 he had them for another 68 years. 52 01:01:47,958 --> 01:01:50,708 Sadly, just 11 months after they stopped, 53 01:01:51,000 --> 01:01:52,041 68 years after they 54 01:01:52,041 --> 01:01:53,708 started, he passed away. 55 01:01:54,583 --> 01:01:57,166 Well, in 1966, this was a big day for 56 01:01:57,166 --> 01:01:59,250 law, Miranda versus Arizona. 57 01:01:59,750 --> 01:02:02,041 Well, that ruled that suspects must be 58 01:02:02,041 --> 01:02:03,416 read their rights, right? 59 01:02:03,416 --> 01:02:04,000 The Miranda rights. 60 01:02:04,458 --> 01:02:06,250 You have the right to remain silent. 61 01:02:07,125 --> 01:02:10,250 Well, in 1983 on this date, Pioneer 10, 62 01:02:10,250 --> 01:02:13,000 it became the first human-made object to 63 01:02:13,000 --> 01:02:14,416 leave our solar system. 64 01:02:14,416 --> 01:02:15,833 That's crazy if you think about it. 65 01:02:16,541 --> 01:02:18,833 If you're keeping tabs, Pioneer 10 is 66 01:02:18,833 --> 01:02:20,875 currently headed towards the star 67 01:02:20,875 --> 01:02:23,708 Aldebaran in the constellation Taurus, 68 01:02:24,166 --> 01:02:25,916 and that's about 20.4 69 01:02:25,916 --> 01:02:27,583 billion kilometers away. 70 01:02:28,166 --> 01:02:30,791 Now, fun fact again here, I tried to put 71 01:02:30,791 --> 01:02:32,125 that into miles and I 72 01:02:32,125 --> 01:02:33,791 cannot figure out how to do it. 73 01:02:34,000 --> 01:02:37,166 So comment below if you have an idea how 74 01:02:37,166 --> 01:02:39,708 many miles, 20 billion kilometers is. 75 01:02:40,583 --> 01:02:43,750 Moving on to 1995 on this date, Bjork, 76 01:02:43,750 --> 01:02:45,375 maybe she's your favorite singer, 77 01:02:45,541 --> 01:02:47,166 and if so, you probably know this. 78 01:02:47,583 --> 01:02:49,750 This is the date she released her second 79 01:02:49,750 --> 01:02:51,416 pop solo album, Host. 80 01:02:52,291 --> 01:02:55,000 Finally, in 2005 on this date, Michael 81 01:02:55,000 --> 01:02:57,416 Jackson was acquitted of molestation 82 01:02:57,416 --> 01:02:59,125 charges in Santa Maria, California. 83 01:02:59,916 --> 01:03:02,291 All right. Well, happy birthday to you. 84 01:03:02,291 --> 01:03:04,166 Today is your special day, right? 85 01:03:04,500 --> 01:03:06,500 You share it with actress from Thor and 86 01:03:06,500 --> 01:03:08,291 two broke girls, Kat Dennings. 87 01:03:08,583 --> 01:03:11,458 She's 39 today and an actor best known as 88 01:03:11,458 --> 01:03:12,541 Captain America, Chris Evans. 89 01:03:12,583 --> 01:03:16,125 He's 44 today and fashion designers and 90 01:03:16,125 --> 01:03:17,500 former actresses, Mary 91 01:03:17,500 --> 01:03:19,250 Kate Olsen and Ashley Olsen. 92 01:03:19,666 --> 01:03:20,708 They both, you guessed 93 01:03:20,708 --> 01:03:21,666 it, are the same age. 94 01:03:21,666 --> 01:03:23,708 They're 38 years old today and 95 01:03:23,708 --> 01:03:24,833 everybody's favorite neighbor. 96 01:03:25,166 --> 01:03:26,166 He's an actor and comedian. 97 01:03:26,458 --> 01:03:27,375 He's from Home Improvement 98 01:03:27,375 --> 01:03:29,291 and Toy Story, Tim Allen. 99 01:03:29,291 --> 01:03:30,458 He's 71 today. 100 01:03:31,375 --> 01:03:33,208 And the number one song in this date in 101 01:03:33,208 --> 01:03:37,083 1988 was One More Try by George Michael. 102 01:03:37,666 --> 01:03:40,208 Now, I know you know this song or at 103 01:03:40,208 --> 01:03:42,125 least a version of it because it's been 104 01:03:42,125 --> 01:03:45,291 covered by over 395 artists 105 01:03:45,291 --> 01:03:47,333 since its release in 1984. 106 01:03:48,083 --> 01:03:50,208 Now, this heartfelt ballad, it topped the 107 01:03:50,208 --> 01:03:52,458 charts with its soulful vulnerability, 108 01:03:52,958 --> 01:03:54,458 which was in stark contrast to George 109 01:03:54,458 --> 01:03:56,416 Michael's dance pop hits 110 01:03:56,416 --> 01:03:57,958 that he had previously, right? 111 01:03:58,333 --> 01:04:00,208 Well, the song One More Try, it reached 112 01:04:00,208 --> 01:04:01,458 number one on all the 113 01:04:01,458 --> 01:04:02,541 Billboard Hot 100 charts, 114 01:04:02,541 --> 01:04:05,583 and it's a great song about emotional 115 01:04:05,583 --> 01:04:06,875 hurt and hesitation to 116 01:04:06,875 --> 01:04:08,083 enter into a new relationship. 117 01:04:08,625 --> 01:04:10,583 Man, I love a good heartfelt ballad. 118 01:04:11,166 --> 01:04:12,291 Well, I know you see this transition 119 01:04:12,291 --> 01:04:13,791 coming too, and I love a 120 01:04:13,791 --> 01:04:14,875 good book review as well. 121 01:04:15,250 --> 01:04:17,791 And we are in Stephen R. Covey's Seven 122 01:04:17,791 --> 01:04:19,625 Habits of Highly Effective People, 123 01:04:20,000 --> 01:04:21,083 and today is a big day. 124 01:04:21,291 --> 01:04:22,375 We're starting to explore 125 01:04:22,375 --> 01:04:23,916 Covey's habit number three, 126 01:04:24,208 --> 01:04:26,083 and we're introducing the principles of 127 01:04:26,083 --> 01:04:26,541 personal management here. 128 01:04:26,583 --> 01:04:29,625 And Covey's opening quote for this 129 01:04:29,625 --> 01:04:31,708 chapter is from the German writer Goethe, 130 01:04:32,000 --> 01:04:33,583 who said, quote, "Things which matter 131 01:04:33,583 --> 01:04:36,125 most must never be at the mercy of things 132 01:04:36,125 --> 01:04:37,916 which matter least," end quote. 133 01:04:38,500 --> 01:04:40,625 So today we're diving into habit three, 134 01:04:40,625 --> 01:04:42,708 which is put first things first. 135 01:04:43,208 --> 01:04:45,833 But before we even define it, Covey asks 136 01:04:45,833 --> 01:04:49,208 us to pause and reflect with two simple 137 01:04:49,208 --> 01:04:50,291 yet powerful questions. 138 01:04:50,833 --> 01:04:51,541 Here's the first one. 139 01:04:52,125 --> 01:04:54,291 What one thing could you do that you're 140 01:04:54,291 --> 01:04:54,541 not doing right now, 141 01:04:54,541 --> 01:04:57,708 that if you did it on a regular basis, 142 01:04:58,166 --> 01:05:00,208 would make a tremendous positive 143 01:05:00,208 --> 01:05:02,208 difference in your personal life? 144 01:05:03,333 --> 01:05:04,875 Okay. And then the second question that 145 01:05:04,875 --> 01:05:05,958 Covey's asking us is, 146 01:05:06,541 --> 01:05:08,583 what's the one thing in your business or 147 01:05:08,583 --> 01:05:10,500 in your professional life that would 148 01:05:10,500 --> 01:05:11,916 bring similar results? 149 01:05:12,625 --> 01:05:14,208 So these aren't just rhetorical. 150 01:05:14,625 --> 01:05:15,958 They're what I'm going to call today 151 01:05:15,958 --> 01:05:17,833 clarity grenades, okay? 152 01:05:18,333 --> 01:05:20,750 Blowing up distractions and making room 153 01:05:20,750 --> 01:05:22,416 for what actually matters. 154 01:05:22,916 --> 01:05:25,125 But Covey warns us, right, this is not 155 01:05:25,125 --> 01:05:27,583 just jumping into prioritizing tasks, 156 01:05:27,916 --> 01:05:29,000 putting first things first. 157 01:05:29,000 --> 01:05:30,250 That's not what habit three is about. 158 01:05:30,666 --> 01:05:32,666 He wants to make sure that we're doing 159 01:05:32,666 --> 01:05:35,208 the deeper work of who you are. 160 01:05:35,208 --> 01:05:36,000 That's what habit one 161 01:05:36,000 --> 01:05:36,875 was all about, right? 162 01:05:37,125 --> 01:05:39,958 Remember, be proactive and finding out 163 01:05:39,958 --> 01:05:41,500 what you value most. 164 01:05:41,500 --> 01:05:42,458 That's what habit two is. 165 01:05:42,666 --> 01:05:43,916 Begin with the end in mind. 166 01:05:44,458 --> 01:05:46,583 In Covey's word, quote, "You can't be 167 01:05:46,583 --> 01:05:48,750 successful with other people if you 168 01:05:48,750 --> 01:05:51,083 haven't paid the price of success with 169 01:05:51,083 --> 01:05:51,541 yourself," end quote. 170 01:05:52,541 --> 01:05:55,875 Habit one is about choice, the ability to 171 01:05:55,875 --> 01:05:58,000 act rather than be acted upon. 172 01:05:58,541 --> 01:06:01,375 It's the root of personal responsibility. 173 01:06:02,125 --> 01:06:05,166 Then habit two is about vision, the 174 01:06:05,166 --> 01:06:06,208 blueprint that gives 175 01:06:06,208 --> 01:06:07,541 meaning to our choices. 176 01:06:07,916 --> 01:06:09,166 It's where your personal mission 177 01:06:09,166 --> 01:06:10,791 statement lives, okay? 178 01:06:11,250 --> 01:06:13,458 Only after establishing these can you 179 01:06:13,458 --> 01:06:15,875 fully live and move on to habit three, 180 01:06:16,208 --> 01:06:18,250 which is about discipline and execution. 181 01:06:19,125 --> 01:06:21,208 Covey defines it simply as, quote, 182 01:06:21,708 --> 01:06:22,708 "Organize and execute 183 01:06:22,708 --> 01:06:24,250 around priorities," end quote. 184 01:06:24,750 --> 01:06:26,291 So habit three is the practical 185 01:06:26,291 --> 01:06:28,166 fulfillment of habits one and two. 186 01:06:29,041 --> 01:06:30,416 Covey says habit three is, quote, "The 187 01:06:30,416 --> 01:06:33,041 second creation, the physical creation." 188 01:06:33,791 --> 01:06:36,166 It's the fulfillment, the actualization, 189 01:06:36,458 --> 01:06:38,375 and the natural emergence of 190 01:06:38,375 --> 01:06:40,750 habits one and two, end quote. 191 01:06:41,250 --> 01:06:43,583 So it's time management, not in terms of 192 01:06:43,583 --> 01:06:46,041 schedules and checklists, but in terms of 193 01:06:46,041 --> 01:06:47,541 values and conscience. 194 01:06:47,583 --> 01:06:50,666 Covey differentiates between urgent and 195 01:06:50,666 --> 01:06:51,833 important here, right? 196 01:06:52,500 --> 01:06:55,041 Urging us to focus on activities that are 197 01:06:55,041 --> 01:06:57,333 important but not urgent. 198 01:06:57,958 --> 01:06:59,500 So these would include things like 199 01:06:59,500 --> 01:07:00,333 relationships, 200 01:07:00,750 --> 01:07:02,333 planning, and personal growth. 201 01:07:02,666 --> 01:07:04,916 Those are important. You're not urgently 202 01:07:04,916 --> 01:07:06,416 working on relationships. They're 203 01:07:06,416 --> 01:07:07,541 important to work on. 204 01:07:08,166 --> 01:07:11,125 So as Covey puts it, quote, "The key is 205 01:07:11,125 --> 01:07:13,250 not to prioritize what's on your 206 01:07:13,250 --> 01:07:14,500 schedule, but to 207 01:07:14,500 --> 01:07:15,541 schedule your priorities." 208 01:07:16,541 --> 01:07:17,833 Okay, here's your takeaway. 209 01:07:18,625 --> 01:07:19,541 Habit three is where 210 01:07:19,541 --> 01:07:21,208 your life starts to align. 211 01:07:21,833 --> 01:07:23,541 It's not just about saying no to 212 01:07:23,541 --> 01:07:25,500 distractions, but about saying a 213 01:07:25,500 --> 01:07:28,041 resounding yes to what matters most. 214 01:07:28,666 --> 01:07:31,333 It's where you stop being busy and start 215 01:07:31,333 --> 01:07:33,916 being effective on your terms, guided by 216 01:07:33,916 --> 01:07:36,500 your mission and rooted in purpose. 217 01:07:37,375 --> 01:07:38,208 Okay, well, that's all 218 01:07:38,208 --> 01:07:39,541 for today's morning cereal. 219 01:07:39,583 --> 01:07:42,333 So whether you're lobbing axes and not at 220 01:07:42,333 --> 01:07:44,666 people, pulling weeds or hiding from the 221 01:07:44,666 --> 01:07:47,000 world on this Friday the 13th, don't 222 01:07:47,000 --> 01:07:49,833 forget you're capable of great things. 223 01:07:50,541 --> 01:07:52,250 Thanks so much for tuning in. And if 224 01:07:52,250 --> 01:07:54,625 you're enjoying morning cereal, tell a 225 01:07:54,625 --> 01:07:56,333 friend or family member to check it out. 226 01:07:56,875 --> 01:07:58,541 Hey, have a great weekend. Join us next 227 01:07:58,541 --> 01:08:00,625 week for more fun and inspiration and 228 01:08:00,625 --> 01:08:02,416 have a fantastic day. 229 01:08:09,583 --> 01:08:11,583 You can find more episodes and videos by 230 01:08:11,583 --> 01:08:13,250 visiting our YouTube channel and the 231 01:08:13,250 --> 01:08:15,833 website at Sean English and at Sean 232 01:08:15,833 --> 01:08:17,750 English dot com, where you can also 233 01:08:17,750 --> 01:08:19,833 follow our other podcast, the Mr. and 234 01:08:19,833 --> 01:08:21,375 Mrs. English podcast and 235 01:08:21,375 --> 01:08:22,416 the Life Happens podcast. 236 01:08:23,250 --> 01:08:25,375 And these other podcasts will dive deeper 237 01:08:25,375 --> 01:08:27,208 into everyday issues, self-improvement 238 01:08:27,208 --> 01:08:29,583 and well-being, business and finance. And 239 01:08:29,583 --> 01:08:31,083 we welcome special guests too. 240 01:08:31,583 --> 01:08:33,375 So join us. It'll be a good time. I 241 01:08:33,375 --> 01:08:35,500 promise. Thanks again for listening. Have 242 01:08:35,500 --> 01:08:37,541 a fantastic day. We'll see you tomorrow.