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 01:00:11,833 --> 01:00:13,958 Okay, good morning and welcome to Friday, 4 01:00:14,458 --> 01:00:15,625 the first Friday of March. 5 01:00:16,166 --> 01:00:17,750 It's hard to believe we're staring down 6 01:00:17,750 --> 01:00:19,791 spring break vacations starting here in 7 01:00:19,791 --> 01:00:20,708 just a couple of weeks 8 01:00:20,708 --> 01:00:22,791 and I hope you and your family are able 9 01:00:22,791 --> 01:00:24,708 to take some time off and get some real 10 01:00:24,708 --> 01:00:25,666 rest and relaxation. 11 01:00:26,750 --> 01:00:28,958 That being said, morning cereal will be 12 01:00:28,958 --> 01:00:29,833 taking a break the 13 01:00:29,833 --> 01:00:31,125 week of the 17th as well, 14 01:00:31,125 --> 01:00:32,375 but we'll be back the 15 01:00:32,375 --> 01:00:34,875 following week of the 24th. 16 01:00:35,041 --> 01:00:36,916 Hey, thanks for tuning in this Friday and 17 01:00:36,916 --> 01:00:38,041 you must have known 18 01:00:38,041 --> 01:00:40,291 today is National Cereal Day. 19 01:00:40,708 --> 01:00:41,583 So you're getting your 20 01:00:41,583 --> 01:00:43,125 morning cereal for sure. 21 01:00:43,708 --> 01:00:45,750 Let's see here. The cereals that I can 22 01:00:45,750 --> 01:00:46,750 remember growing up 23 01:00:46,750 --> 01:00:49,000 with were Cookie Crisp, 24 01:00:49,791 --> 01:00:52,291 Captain Crunch, Count Chocula, Cinnamon 25 01:00:52,291 --> 01:00:54,208 Toast Crunch. Some of those 26 01:00:54,208 --> 01:00:55,416 are still in our pantry today. 27 01:00:56,291 --> 01:00:58,666 And of course, any Wheaties boxes that 28 01:00:58,666 --> 01:00:59,875 had Michael Jordan on it back 29 01:00:59,875 --> 01:01:01,083 in the day, I had all those. 30 01:01:01,416 --> 01:01:03,083 Now, I never ate the Wheaties cereal 31 01:01:03,083 --> 01:01:04,583 inside. That was terrible, 32 01:01:04,875 --> 01:01:07,083 but I still have those boxes. 33 01:01:07,750 --> 01:01:10,958 Well, it's also National Be Her Day and 34 01:01:10,958 --> 01:01:12,875 National Day of Unplugging. 35 01:01:13,333 --> 01:01:14,750 So depending on what mood you find 36 01:01:14,750 --> 01:01:16,416 yourself in this morning, you have one 37 01:01:16,416 --> 01:01:17,500 that works really well. 38 01:01:18,166 --> 01:01:20,666 Okay, let's do some quotes. One fun 39 01:01:20,666 --> 01:01:22,291 nostalgic quote and then a second quote 40 01:01:22,291 --> 01:01:23,875 to tease our book review 41 01:01:23,916 --> 01:01:25,708 later in the episode. Hopefully one of 42 01:01:25,708 --> 01:01:26,583 these quotes will speak to 43 01:01:26,583 --> 01:01:27,500 you and jumpstart your day 44 01:01:27,500 --> 01:01:30,333 in a positive direction. Okay, the first 45 01:01:30,333 --> 01:01:31,416 quote is from actor 46 01:01:31,416 --> 01:01:33,291 Brian Cranston and he said, 47 01:01:34,125 --> 01:01:36,458 "I learned long ago to focus on things 48 01:01:36,458 --> 01:01:38,375 you can control and don't 49 01:01:38,375 --> 01:01:39,666 even pay attention to the 50 01:01:39,666 --> 01:01:42,583 things you don't." Brian's right here, 51 01:01:42,583 --> 01:01:43,666 right? This is a popular 52 01:01:43,666 --> 01:01:45,541 one in my household. I'm 53 01:01:45,583 --> 01:01:47,875 constantly reminding my children and 54 01:01:47,875 --> 01:01:48,875 sometimes I have to remind 55 01:01:48,875 --> 01:01:51,458 myself that I can only control 56 01:01:51,583 --> 01:01:54,833 myself. So I shouldn't lose my mind or 57 01:01:54,833 --> 01:01:56,250 shouldn't worry or 58 01:01:56,250 --> 01:01:58,166 shouldn't lose time just trying to 59 01:01:58,166 --> 01:01:59,875 control a situation or someone else that 60 01:01:59,875 --> 01:02:00,541 I have no control 61 01:02:00,541 --> 01:02:02,541 over. So control yourself, 62 01:02:02,875 --> 01:02:04,250 make sure you're making the best 63 01:02:04,250 --> 01:02:05,583 decisions, right? Can't 64 01:02:05,583 --> 01:02:06,791 control other people. Hey, 65 01:02:06,791 --> 01:02:09,000 thanks for the reminder, Brian. And 66 01:02:09,000 --> 01:02:10,708 today's teaser quote from the book review 67 01:02:10,708 --> 01:02:13,041 is, "This is the day of 68 01:02:13,041 --> 01:02:15,750 dramatization. Merely stating a truth 69 01:02:15,750 --> 01:02:17,625 isn't enough. The truth has 70 01:02:17,625 --> 01:02:19,375 to be made vivid, interesting, 71 01:02:19,666 --> 01:02:22,833 and dramatic." And as usual, we'll unpack 72 01:02:22,833 --> 01:02:24,083 that here in just a minute 73 01:02:24,083 --> 01:02:25,333 or two during the book review 74 01:02:25,333 --> 01:02:27,500 segment. But first, let's jump into our 75 01:02:27,500 --> 01:02:29,500 usual dose of fun and nostalgic facts 76 01:02:29,500 --> 01:02:30,541 here from this day in 77 01:02:30,583 --> 01:02:33,458 history. But first, let's jump into our 78 01:02:33,458 --> 01:02:34,875 usual dose of fun and 79 01:02:34,875 --> 01:02:36,666 historic facts from this day in 80 01:02:36,666 --> 01:02:38,750 history. And today's news facts of 81 01:02:38,750 --> 01:02:39,666 birthdays are from March 82 01:02:39,666 --> 01:02:42,958 7th. We're going way back. We're 83 01:02:42,958 --> 01:02:46,333 starting in 161. That's when Marcus 84 01:02:46,333 --> 01:02:49,958 Aurelius became emperor of Rome. And as I 85 01:02:49,958 --> 01:02:51,083 recall from my history 86 01:02:51,083 --> 01:02:53,000 classes, actually, maybe it was something 87 01:02:53,000 --> 01:02:54,458 else, he was fantastic. I 88 01:02:54,458 --> 01:02:55,250 think that was according to 89 01:02:55,291 --> 01:02:57,416 the movie Gladiator. I really liked him. 90 01:02:58,250 --> 01:02:59,208 Then we're going to skip up 91 01:02:59,208 --> 01:03:01,166 almost two millennia. That's 92 01:03:01,166 --> 01:03:05,041 when on this day in 1926, the first 93 01:03:05,041 --> 01:03:06,750 two-way transatlantic 94 01:03:06,750 --> 01:03:09,000 telephone call took place. And it 95 01:03:09,000 --> 01:03:10,583 happened between the post office in 96 01:03:10,583 --> 01:03:13,583 London and Bell Laboratories in New York. 97 01:03:14,458 --> 01:03:16,291 Then on this day in 1965, 98 01:03:16,625 --> 01:03:18,583 state troopers used nightsticks and tear 99 01:03:18,583 --> 01:03:20,250 gas to attack American 100 01:03:20,250 --> 01:03:22,041 civil rights activists as they 101 01:03:22,083 --> 01:03:24,666 crossed a bridge in Selma, Alabama during 102 01:03:24,666 --> 01:03:26,291 their attempted march to the state 103 01:03:26,291 --> 01:03:27,416 capital in Montgomery. 104 01:03:28,666 --> 01:03:32,125 Then on this date in 1987, boxer Mike 105 01:03:32,125 --> 01:03:33,500 Tyson, he became the 106 01:03:33,500 --> 01:03:35,541 youngest heavyweight champion ever 107 01:03:35,666 --> 01:03:38,250 by defeating James Smith in 12 rounds. 108 01:03:39,208 --> 01:03:41,125 Then on this date in 2009, 109 01:03:41,541 --> 01:03:43,833 despite only being 17 years old, 110 01:03:44,125 --> 01:03:47,208 the Brazilian soccer sensation Neymar, he 111 01:03:47,208 --> 01:03:49,625 made his professional debut for Santos. 112 01:03:50,625 --> 01:03:54,500 Then lastly, in 2010, American director 113 01:03:54,500 --> 01:03:56,000 Catherine Bigelow, she 114 01:03:56,000 --> 01:03:58,125 became the first woman to win an 115 01:03:58,125 --> 01:04:00,583 Academy Award for Best Director. And she 116 01:04:00,583 --> 01:04:01,458 did it for directing The 117 01:04:01,458 --> 01:04:02,625 Hurt Locker. Great movie. 118 01:04:03,541 --> 01:04:04,750 Well, happy birthday. If today is your 119 01:04:04,750 --> 01:04:06,000 birthday, you share a 120 01:04:06,000 --> 01:04:07,875 birthday with actor Brian Cranston. 121 01:04:08,083 --> 01:04:11,250 He's 69 today. And actress Rachel Wise. 122 01:04:11,791 --> 01:04:13,666 She's 55. And finally 123 01:04:13,666 --> 01:04:15,625 golfer Tom Lehman. He's 66 today. 124 01:04:15,666 --> 01:04:18,750 And the number one song on this date back 125 01:04:18,750 --> 01:04:21,208 in 1988 was Father Figure 126 01:04:21,208 --> 01:04:23,083 by George Michael. Again, 127 01:04:23,083 --> 01:04:25,416 another great song. And it was one of 128 01:04:25,416 --> 01:04:27,500 four number one singles on George 129 01:04:27,500 --> 01:04:28,625 Michael's album titled 130 01:04:28,875 --> 01:04:31,791 Faith. And at that time, he was the only 131 01:04:31,791 --> 01:04:32,916 British male artist 132 01:04:32,916 --> 01:04:34,000 who have ever done that. 133 01:04:35,250 --> 01:04:37,041 Okay, well, let's move on to some 134 01:04:37,041 --> 01:04:38,541 personal growth in the book review 135 01:04:38,541 --> 01:04:39,750 segment of Morning Serial. 136 01:04:40,416 --> 01:04:42,041 As you know, this is where we take a few 137 01:04:42,041 --> 01:04:43,083 moments to reflect on 138 01:04:43,083 --> 01:04:44,375 lessons learned from the current 139 01:04:44,375 --> 01:04:46,333 book we're reading. And currently we're 140 01:04:46,333 --> 01:04:46,958 reading through Dale 141 01:04:46,958 --> 01:04:48,500 Carnegie's How to Win Friends and 142 01:04:48,500 --> 01:04:50,583 Influence People. It's a timeless book 143 01:04:50,583 --> 01:04:51,791 that is consistently in all 144 01:04:51,791 --> 01:04:53,000 the must read lists and is 145 01:04:53,000 --> 01:04:55,541 packed with rock solid advice and actions 146 01:04:55,541 --> 01:04:57,416 for all of us to use and 147 01:04:57,416 --> 01:04:58,500 build healthy foundational 148 01:04:58,541 --> 01:05:01,750 concepts to live by. Now, yesterday, we 149 01:05:01,750 --> 01:05:03,083 finished chapter 10 of 150 01:05:03,083 --> 01:05:04,500 part three with that chapter 151 01:05:04,500 --> 01:05:07,083 entitled An Appeal That Everybody Likes. 152 01:05:07,708 --> 01:05:09,083 And in chapter 10, Carnegie 153 01:05:09,083 --> 01:05:10,291 taught us that most people 154 01:05:10,375 --> 01:05:13,208 among us are idealists. And they will 155 01:05:13,208 --> 01:05:14,875 take action based on some 156 01:05:14,875 --> 01:05:17,083 reasoning that the action has some 157 01:05:17,083 --> 01:05:19,125 noble appearance to others, right? 158 01:05:19,541 --> 01:05:21,583 Despite the fact that the actual action 159 01:05:21,583 --> 01:05:23,208 and the reason behind it 160 01:05:23,208 --> 01:05:26,000 might be a bit selfish. Carnegie says, 161 01:05:26,208 --> 01:05:27,958 quote, the fact is that all people you 162 01:05:27,958 --> 01:05:29,041 meet have a high regard 163 01:05:29,041 --> 01:05:31,583 for themselves, end quote. And they like 164 01:05:31,583 --> 01:05:32,958 to think of themselves as 165 01:05:32,958 --> 01:05:35,541 unselfish and noble. So Carnegie 166 01:05:35,666 --> 01:05:38,041 says that when we are trying to appeal to 167 01:05:38,041 --> 01:05:39,541 other people, we should try 168 01:05:39,541 --> 01:05:41,000 and appeal to these secondary 169 01:05:41,083 --> 01:05:43,708 reasons with principle number 10 being 170 01:05:43,708 --> 01:05:45,583 appeal to the nobler 171 01:05:45,583 --> 01:05:48,500 motives. Okay, today we're going to 172 01:05:48,500 --> 01:05:50,208 start and finish chapter 11, which is 173 01:05:50,208 --> 01:05:53,500 entitled The Movies Do It, TV Does It, So 174 01:05:53,500 --> 01:05:54,458 Why Don't You Do It? 175 01:05:55,083 --> 01:05:56,541 And if you're wondering what this chapter 176 01:05:56,541 --> 01:05:57,750 is all about, well, so am 177 01:05:57,750 --> 01:05:58,875 I. Let's get into it here. 178 01:05:59,583 --> 01:06:01,375 Carnegie originally published this book 179 01:06:01,375 --> 01:06:03,708 in 1936, and he opens 180 01:06:03,708 --> 01:06:05,208 this chapter stating, quote, 181 01:06:05,625 --> 01:06:08,625 this is the day of dramatization, merely 182 01:06:08,625 --> 01:06:10,500 stating a truth isn't 183 01:06:10,500 --> 01:06:12,916 enough. The truth has to be made 184 01:06:12,958 --> 01:06:15,750 vivid, interesting and dramatic, end 185 01:06:15,750 --> 01:06:18,000 quote. Well, if Carnegie 186 01:06:18,000 --> 01:06:20,291 thought 1936 was dramatic, 187 01:06:20,583 --> 01:06:22,416 I wonder what he would think of today's 188 01:06:22,416 --> 01:06:24,333 world with our social media, with 189 01:06:24,333 --> 01:06:26,875 influencers, TV personalities, 190 01:06:27,375 --> 01:06:30,333 our politics and our news. The need to 191 01:06:30,333 --> 01:06:31,541 stand out from the crowd 192 01:06:31,541 --> 01:06:32,750 to gain others' attention 193 01:06:33,458 --> 01:06:35,875 in today's world has only been amplified 194 01:06:35,875 --> 01:06:37,833 since Carnegie's days. And 195 01:06:37,833 --> 01:06:39,916 as such, his point is still 196 01:06:40,000 --> 01:06:42,625 very applicable here. And Carnegie says 197 01:06:42,625 --> 01:06:44,250 about making the truth more 198 01:06:44,250 --> 01:06:45,625 interesting, more dramatic, 199 01:06:45,833 --> 01:06:47,541 making ourselves more interesting and 200 01:06:47,541 --> 01:06:49,916 more dramatic, quote, you 201 01:06:49,916 --> 01:06:51,500 have to use showmanship. 202 01:06:52,291 --> 01:06:54,708 The movies do it, television does it, and 203 01:06:54,708 --> 01:06:56,583 you will have to do it if you want 204 01:06:56,583 --> 01:06:58,125 attention, end quote. 205 01:06:58,666 --> 01:07:01,208 Here, Carnegie gives examples of how this 206 01:07:01,208 --> 01:07:02,458 drama plays out in our 207 01:07:02,458 --> 01:07:04,458 daily lives, pointing to TV 208 01:07:04,458 --> 01:07:07,000 commercials, even back then, showing one 209 01:07:07,000 --> 01:07:08,208 brand of detergent, 210 01:07:08,208 --> 01:07:09,666 removing all the stains and being 211 01:07:09,666 --> 01:07:11,333 perfectly white while the other leaves a 212 01:07:11,333 --> 01:07:14,291 gray mark, or a car racing around the 213 01:07:14,291 --> 01:07:15,500 corner or through the 214 01:07:15,500 --> 01:07:18,333 mountains, right? Users of products are 215 01:07:18,333 --> 01:07:19,583 so happy when they're using 216 01:07:19,583 --> 01:07:21,208 this product and smiling while 217 01:07:21,333 --> 01:07:23,625 the other product are frowning. And 218 01:07:23,625 --> 01:07:25,166 Carnegie was giving examples of 219 01:07:25,166 --> 01:07:26,333 commercials in his day, 220 01:07:26,500 --> 01:07:28,416 and we all still know commercials are 221 01:07:28,416 --> 01:07:30,166 like that today. Carnegie 222 01:07:30,166 --> 01:07:32,208 gives another example of a rat 223 01:07:32,208 --> 01:07:35,041 poison company using live rats in a 224 01:07:35,041 --> 01:07:36,875 window display that drew the attention of 225 01:07:36,875 --> 01:07:38,083 the crowd passing by. 226 01:07:38,625 --> 01:07:40,958 And lo and behold, sales increased three 227 01:07:40,958 --> 01:07:43,333 times. Now you might not be 228 01:07:43,333 --> 01:07:44,916 able to do that exactly today, 229 01:07:44,958 --> 01:07:47,583 but is that really any different than Red 230 01:07:47,583 --> 01:07:48,791 Bull having a man 231 01:07:48,791 --> 01:07:50,625 skydive from the edge of space? 232 01:07:51,333 --> 01:07:53,750 Not really. If you want people to take 233 01:07:53,750 --> 01:07:55,416 action for you or buy 234 01:07:55,416 --> 01:07:57,000 what you're actually selling, 235 01:07:57,541 --> 01:08:00,291 or even metaphorically selling, you need 236 01:08:00,291 --> 01:08:01,500 to grab their attention. 237 01:08:02,125 --> 01:08:03,625 And to this point, Carnegie 238 01:08:03,750 --> 01:08:07,041 suggests that we think outside the box in 239 01:08:07,041 --> 01:08:08,666 our personal lives and not 240 01:08:08,666 --> 01:08:11,208 sit idly by doing the same 241 01:08:11,208 --> 01:08:13,708 thing as everyone else. If you want the 242 01:08:13,708 --> 01:08:14,833 interview, do something 243 01:08:14,833 --> 01:08:16,875 outside the box, write a handwritten 244 01:08:17,125 --> 01:08:19,458 letter. If you want kids to clean up, 245 01:08:19,791 --> 01:08:21,250 make it a game. Think 246 01:08:21,250 --> 01:08:23,416 outside the box rather than just 247 01:08:23,500 --> 01:08:25,791 arguing your point and shoving your 248 01:08:25,791 --> 01:08:27,083 perspective down other 249 01:08:27,083 --> 01:08:29,666 people's throats. Don't just present 250 01:08:29,666 --> 01:08:31,666 yourself in the same manner as everyone 251 01:08:31,666 --> 01:08:33,666 else if you want to stand out. 252 01:08:34,291 --> 01:08:35,875 Dramatize yourself. Dramatize 253 01:08:35,875 --> 01:08:38,666 the facts in a different way. Find ways 254 01:08:38,666 --> 01:08:40,125 to appropriately, and 255 01:08:40,125 --> 01:08:41,000 I think using the word 256 01:08:41,041 --> 01:08:44,166 appropriately here is appropriate, but 257 01:08:44,166 --> 01:08:46,083 find ways to appropriately 258 01:08:46,083 --> 01:08:48,166 utilize showmanship to set 259 01:08:48,166 --> 01:08:51,083 yourself apart. Okay, here it is. In a 260 01:08:51,083 --> 01:08:53,125 very short chapter 11, which was 261 01:08:53,125 --> 01:08:54,500 entitled, "The Movies Do It, 262 01:08:54,500 --> 01:08:56,250 TV Does It, So Why Don't You Do It?" 263 01:08:56,541 --> 01:08:58,041 Carnegie's principle number 264 01:08:58,041 --> 01:09:00,833 11 is, "Drama ties your ideas." 265 01:09:01,916 --> 01:09:04,125 Sometimes we fall into the ho-hum of 266 01:09:04,125 --> 01:09:06,375 daily life. Adding a little color, a 267 01:09:06,375 --> 01:09:07,208 little spice sometimes 268 01:09:07,583 --> 01:09:10,333 is needed, and it's appreciated when it's 269 01:09:10,333 --> 01:09:11,583 appropriately applied. 270 01:09:12,708 --> 01:09:13,958 Well, you can check the 271 01:09:13,958 --> 01:09:15,958 box of getting something done today. You 272 01:09:15,958 --> 01:09:16,833 can check the box of 273 01:09:16,833 --> 01:09:18,208 getting your cereal, your morning 274 01:09:18,291 --> 01:09:21,500 cereal, so nice work. And if you can 275 01:09:21,500 --> 01:09:23,041 celebrate National Day of 276 01:09:23,041 --> 01:09:25,000 Unplugging by unplugging at some 277 01:09:25,000 --> 01:09:27,500 point today, I hope you can do that. It's 278 01:09:27,500 --> 01:09:28,958 a beautiful Friday, so 279 01:09:28,958 --> 01:09:30,958 enjoy it. And don't forget, 280 01:09:31,291 --> 01:09:32,916 on Monday we're going to dive into the 281 01:09:32,916 --> 01:09:34,666 final chapter of part three 282 01:09:34,666 --> 01:09:36,375 with that chapter entitled, 283 01:09:36,791 --> 01:09:39,916 "When Nothing Else Works, Try This." Hey, 284 01:09:39,916 --> 01:09:40,833 thanks for joining us 285 01:09:40,833 --> 01:09:42,125 today. Thanks for joining us this 286 01:09:42,125 --> 01:09:44,583 week. Have a fantastic weekend. We'll see 287 01:09:44,583 --> 01:09:46,750 you back here on Monday, and of course, 288 01:09:46,750 --> 01:09:48,083 have a fantastic day. 289 01:10:06,791 --> 01:10:07,666 The Life Happens podcast and the Life 290 01:10:07,666 --> 01:10:09,541 Happens podcast. In these 291 01:10:09,541 --> 01:10:11,458 other podcasts, we'll dive deeper 292 01:10:11,458 --> 01:10:13,375 into everyday issues, self-improvement, 293 01:10:13,375 --> 01:10:15,000 and well-being, business and finance, 294 01:10:15,458 --> 01:10:17,791 and we welcome special guests too. So 295 01:10:17,791 --> 01:10:19,708 join us. It'll be a good time, I promise. 296 01:10:20,458 --> 01:10:21,750 Thanks again for listening. Have a 297 01:10:21,750 --> 01:10:23,083 fantastic day, and 298 01:10:23,083 --> 01:10:23,625 we'll see you tomorrow.