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 01:00:11,958 --> 01:00:13,291 Okay, good morning and 4 01:00:13,291 --> 01:00:15,958 welcome to Tuesday, May 27th. 5 01:00:15,958 --> 01:00:18,250 And after a long Memorial Day weekend, 6 01:00:18,250 --> 01:00:19,416 it's now time to shake 7 01:00:19,416 --> 01:00:20,708 off that barbecue haze 8 01:00:21,208 --> 01:00:22,500 and get back into the groove. 9 01:00:22,791 --> 01:00:23,791 That's hard to do sometimes, 10 01:00:24,083 --> 01:00:26,666 but today might be a little bit easier 11 01:00:26,666 --> 01:00:28,875 because it's National Grape Popsicle Day, 12 01:00:28,875 --> 01:00:30,041 which is very specific. 13 01:00:30,416 --> 01:00:32,083 So I'm going to allow cherry 14 01:00:32,333 --> 01:00:34,208 and pina colada popsicles as well, 15 01:00:34,583 --> 01:00:35,541 because you know it's 16 01:00:35,541 --> 01:00:36,541 getting hot right now 17 01:00:36,541 --> 01:00:37,500 and we're all starting to 18 01:00:37,500 --> 01:00:38,625 feel that heat of summer. 19 01:00:38,833 --> 01:00:40,583 So grab one of those frozen treats 20 01:00:41,041 --> 01:00:42,208 and get a little bit of a cool down. 21 01:00:42,791 --> 01:00:43,708 Well, it's also 22 01:00:43,708 --> 01:00:45,583 National Cellophane Tape Day, 23 01:00:45,875 --> 01:00:46,750 you know, Scotch tape, 24 01:00:47,083 --> 01:00:48,375 because where would we be 25 01:00:48,375 --> 01:00:49,500 without the sticky stuff 26 01:00:49,500 --> 01:00:50,791 that holds our lives together? 27 01:00:51,750 --> 01:00:52,500 Okay, well, let's 28 01:00:52,500 --> 01:00:53,833 jump into today's quote. 29 01:00:54,083 --> 01:00:56,250 And today's quote reminds us that tools 30 01:00:56,250 --> 01:00:58,250 and circumstances are secondary. 31 01:00:58,833 --> 01:01:00,333 It's your mindset, it's 32 01:01:00,333 --> 01:01:01,583 your skills and your guts 33 01:01:01,583 --> 01:01:03,541 that determine just how far you'll fly. 34 01:01:04,166 --> 01:01:05,041 All right, here to see if 35 01:01:05,041 --> 01:01:06,458 you can place this quote. 36 01:01:07,250 --> 01:01:08,208 Quote, "It's not the 37 01:01:08,208 --> 01:01:10,000 plane, it's the pilot." 38 01:01:10,083 --> 01:01:10,500 End quote. 39 01:01:11,083 --> 01:01:11,958 You probably guessed it, 40 01:01:11,958 --> 01:01:13,708 that's Captain Pete Maverick Mitchell 41 01:01:14,041 --> 01:01:15,958 from the movie "Top Gun Maverick." 42 01:01:16,541 --> 01:01:17,416 Well, it's a perfect quote 43 01:01:17,416 --> 01:01:18,750 for a post-holiday Tuesday 44 01:01:18,750 --> 01:01:20,458 reentry into the real world. 45 01:01:20,708 --> 01:01:21,333 Hey, thanks, Mav. 46 01:01:22,000 --> 01:01:23,625 All right, today's news facts and 47 01:01:23,625 --> 01:01:25,458 birthdays are for May 27th. 48 01:01:25,458 --> 01:01:27,000 We're going to start back in 1937, 49 01:01:27,375 --> 01:01:28,750 when on this date, 50 01:01:28,750 --> 01:01:30,125 the Golden Gate Bridge, 51 01:01:30,125 --> 01:01:31,291 it opened up to pedestrian 52 01:01:31,291 --> 01:01:32,708 traffic in San Francisco, 53 01:01:33,166 --> 01:01:34,625 becoming an iconic symbol 54 01:01:34,625 --> 01:01:35,958 of engineering and design. 55 01:01:36,791 --> 01:01:39,375 Then in 2018 on this date, 56 01:01:39,791 --> 01:01:41,875 the South Korean boy band BTS, 57 01:01:42,333 --> 01:01:44,416 they became the first K-pop group 58 01:01:44,750 --> 01:01:45,583 to top the US 59 01:01:45,583 --> 01:01:47,083 Billboard 200 with their album, 60 01:01:47,500 --> 01:01:48,916 Love Yourself, tier. 61 01:01:49,500 --> 01:01:50,583 And then lastly, on 62 01:01:50,583 --> 01:01:52,291 this date back in 2022, 63 01:01:53,166 --> 01:01:54,625 "Top Gun Maverick," the sequel, 64 01:01:54,916 --> 01:01:55,875 starring Tom Cruise, Miles 65 01:01:55,875 --> 01:01:57,333 Teller, and Jennifer Connelly, 66 01:01:57,333 --> 01:01:58,166 you know, my second wife. 67 01:01:58,708 --> 01:02:01,375 Well, the movie was released 36 years 68 01:02:01,375 --> 01:02:03,166 after the original film. 69 01:02:03,416 --> 01:02:04,750 And in my opinion, 70 01:02:04,750 --> 01:02:05,458 probably one of the 71 01:02:05,458 --> 01:02:06,500 best sequels of all time. 72 01:02:07,083 --> 01:02:09,000 All right, well, happy birthday to you 73 01:02:09,041 --> 01:02:10,208 and I hope today is your birthday. 74 01:02:10,208 --> 01:02:12,666 You share a birthday with Chris Koffer. 75 01:02:12,875 --> 01:02:14,625 He's an actor known for his role on Glee. 76 01:02:14,875 --> 01:02:16,250 Well, he's 35 today. 77 01:02:16,916 --> 01:02:18,583 Andre 3000, the musician 78 01:02:18,583 --> 01:02:20,708 from OutKast, he's 50 today. 79 01:02:21,375 --> 01:02:23,625 And then Paul Bettany, he's the actor 80 01:02:23,625 --> 01:02:25,541 who is the voice of Jarvis, or 81 01:02:25,541 --> 01:02:26,708 you might know him as Vision. 82 01:02:27,250 --> 01:02:28,708 You may also remember him in a movie 83 01:02:28,708 --> 01:02:30,750 from way back called A Knight's Tale. 84 01:02:31,333 --> 01:02:32,625 Well, he's 54 today. 85 01:02:33,250 --> 01:02:35,583 And then lastly, Lee Merriweather. 86 01:02:35,583 --> 01:02:37,000 She was the original cat woman 87 01:02:37,250 --> 01:02:38,541 and she was a former Miss America. 88 01:02:39,125 --> 01:02:40,375 She turns 90 today. 89 01:02:41,416 --> 01:02:42,333 Well, the number one song 90 01:02:42,333 --> 01:02:43,958 on this date back in 1990 91 01:02:44,416 --> 01:02:45,833 was Vogue by Madonna. 92 01:02:46,583 --> 01:02:48,291 Now, this dant anthem 93 01:02:48,291 --> 01:02:49,666 not only topped the charts, 94 01:02:49,666 --> 01:02:50,916 but it also, apparently, 95 01:02:51,166 --> 01:02:52,083 according to the Google, 96 01:02:52,666 --> 01:02:53,500 brought back the 97 01:02:53,500 --> 01:02:55,041 underground ballroom culture 98 01:02:55,375 --> 01:02:56,083 into the mainstream. 99 01:02:56,958 --> 01:02:58,083 Well, with its iconic 100 01:02:58,083 --> 01:02:59,083 black and white video 101 01:02:59,083 --> 01:03:00,541 and its stylish choreography, 102 01:03:01,250 --> 01:03:03,125 Vogue remains a defining moment 103 01:03:03,125 --> 01:03:04,583 in pop culture history today. 104 01:03:05,291 --> 01:03:06,208 And I primarily 105 01:03:06,208 --> 01:03:08,166 remember the voguing dancing 106 01:03:08,166 --> 01:03:09,625 with your hands by your face. 107 01:03:09,958 --> 01:03:11,375 You know exactly what I'm talking about. 108 01:03:11,791 --> 01:03:13,041 It's often the go-to 109 01:03:13,041 --> 01:03:13,708 when someone puts you 110 01:03:13,708 --> 01:03:14,666 on the spot to dance. 111 01:03:15,541 --> 01:03:17,000 Well, we're gonna vogue our way 112 01:03:17,125 --> 01:03:19,166 right into today's book review segment, 113 01:03:19,375 --> 01:03:20,375 Dancing into the Seven 114 01:03:20,375 --> 01:03:22,041 Habits of Highly Effective People. 115 01:03:22,708 --> 01:03:24,875 Well, we are in part two, habit two, 116 01:03:24,875 --> 01:03:25,833 begin with the end in mind. 117 01:03:26,416 --> 01:03:28,458 And specifically, the sub-chapter today 118 01:03:28,583 --> 01:03:30,583 is by design or default. 119 01:03:31,375 --> 01:03:32,875 And fair warning here, 120 01:03:32,916 --> 01:03:34,541 Kovey, as usual, isn't 121 01:03:34,541 --> 01:03:35,791 pulling any punches, right? 122 01:03:36,500 --> 01:03:38,083 This section tackles one 123 01:03:38,083 --> 01:03:39,750 of life's most common traps, 124 01:03:40,333 --> 01:03:40,666 drifting. 125 01:03:41,500 --> 01:03:43,750 Now, Kovey challenges us to ask ourselves 126 01:03:43,750 --> 01:03:44,416 whether we're 127 01:03:44,416 --> 01:03:46,375 actively designing our lives 128 01:03:47,000 --> 01:03:48,541 or just reacting to 129 01:03:48,541 --> 01:03:49,875 whatever the day throws at us. 130 01:03:49,875 --> 01:03:52,083 He writes, quote, "If we do not develop 131 01:03:52,083 --> 01:03:53,208 "our own self-awareness 132 01:03:53,375 --> 01:03:53,791 "and become 133 01:03:53,791 --> 01:03:55,708 responsible for first creations, 134 01:03:56,458 --> 01:03:58,791 "we empower other people in circumstances 135 01:03:58,958 --> 01:04:00,625 "outside our circle of influence 136 01:04:01,208 --> 01:04:02,583 "to shape much of our 137 01:04:02,583 --> 01:04:04,208 lives by default," end quote. 138 01:04:04,875 --> 01:04:06,416 Now, that's the heart 139 01:04:06,416 --> 01:04:07,458 of this sub-chapter. 140 01:04:07,916 --> 01:04:09,625 And it's bringing back a lot of ideas 141 01:04:09,625 --> 01:04:10,375 that we've been covering 142 01:04:10,375 --> 01:04:11,541 over the last couple of weeks. 143 01:04:12,125 --> 01:04:13,875 The idea that living by default 144 01:04:14,000 --> 01:04:15,583 means letting external 145 01:04:15,583 --> 01:04:17,291 forces write your story. 146 01:04:17,708 --> 01:04:18,958 If you don't intentionally 147 01:04:18,958 --> 01:04:21,583 clarify what matters to you, 148 01:04:21,583 --> 01:04:24,125 Kovey warns that your life will be shaped 149 01:04:24,125 --> 01:04:26,000 by the loudest voices around you, 150 01:04:26,541 --> 01:04:28,708 either your coworkers or culture, 151 01:04:29,166 --> 01:04:30,458 schedule, social media, 152 01:04:30,583 --> 01:04:31,500 or whatever crisis 153 01:04:31,500 --> 01:04:33,041 screams loudest that week. 154 01:04:34,000 --> 01:04:35,541 Kovey uses the metaphor of 155 01:04:35,541 --> 01:04:36,875 first and second creations. 156 01:04:37,125 --> 01:04:37,750 Remember these, right? 157 01:04:38,208 --> 01:04:39,833 Everything is created twice. 158 01:04:39,833 --> 01:04:41,125 The first creation is 159 01:04:41,125 --> 01:04:42,125 the mental blueprint, 160 01:04:42,541 --> 01:04:44,791 then the second is the physical outcome. 161 01:04:45,500 --> 01:04:46,166 And if you're not 162 01:04:46,166 --> 01:04:48,875 deliberate about that first creation, 163 01:04:49,166 --> 01:04:50,416 the mental blueprint, 164 01:04:51,250 --> 01:04:53,708 then you'll still end up with a second, 165 01:04:54,000 --> 01:04:55,875 but it might not be what you like. 166 01:04:56,458 --> 01:04:57,166 Kovey explains that 167 01:04:57,166 --> 01:04:58,625 proactivity from habit one 168 01:04:59,041 --> 01:05:00,875 isn't just about reacting better. 169 01:05:00,875 --> 01:05:01,791 It's about stepping 170 01:05:01,791 --> 01:05:03,416 into the architect's chair. 171 01:05:03,916 --> 01:05:05,750 That means drafting your own 172 01:05:05,750 --> 01:05:07,250 personal mission statement, 173 01:05:07,250 --> 01:05:07,791 all things we've 174 01:05:07,791 --> 01:05:08,875 talked about here recently, 175 01:05:09,625 --> 01:05:11,083 something grounded in 176 01:05:11,083 --> 01:05:12,458 timeless principles. 177 01:05:13,416 --> 01:05:14,458 They're not public opinion. 178 01:05:14,958 --> 01:05:16,916 Kovey writes, quote, "The extent to which 179 01:05:17,125 --> 01:05:18,625 we accept responsibility 180 01:05:18,625 --> 01:05:20,250 for that first creation 181 01:05:20,250 --> 01:05:22,083 is the extent to which we become 182 01:05:22,083 --> 01:05:23,708 effective as individuals," 183 01:05:24,041 --> 01:05:24,375 end quote. 184 01:05:25,125 --> 01:05:26,416 Kovey even addresses the idea 185 01:05:26,583 --> 01:05:27,458 that many of us have 186 01:05:27,458 --> 01:05:28,750 been scripted by default, 187 01:05:29,375 --> 01:05:30,791 by our upbringing, by 188 01:05:30,791 --> 01:05:32,958 society, by old paradigms. 189 01:05:33,375 --> 01:05:34,083 So what do we do? 190 01:05:34,083 --> 01:05:36,166 The solution isn't to just blame, 191 01:05:36,833 --> 01:05:39,625 but the solution is to rewrite it. 192 01:05:40,000 --> 01:05:41,416 And that rewrite only 193 01:05:41,416 --> 01:05:42,791 happens through self-awareness 194 01:05:43,250 --> 01:05:45,083 and deliberate values-based 195 01:05:45,083 --> 01:05:46,916 decision-making, all right? 196 01:05:47,541 --> 01:05:48,583 Here's the takeaway. 197 01:05:49,458 --> 01:05:51,041 Whether you're building a house, a 198 01:05:51,041 --> 01:05:52,500 career, or a legacy, 199 01:05:53,000 --> 01:05:53,791 you're either the 200 01:05:53,791 --> 01:05:55,750 designer or someone else's. 201 01:05:56,416 --> 01:05:58,416 Life by default might be convenient, 202 01:05:58,791 --> 01:06:00,916 but life by design is 203 01:06:00,916 --> 01:06:02,250 where fulfillment lives. 204 01:06:02,958 --> 01:06:05,041 So don't just survive the week. 205 01:06:05,666 --> 01:06:07,625 Start shaping what you want 206 01:06:07,625 --> 01:06:09,708 the next one to look like. 207 01:06:10,291 --> 01:06:11,833 All right, that wraps up 208 01:06:11,833 --> 01:06:13,125 today's episode of Morning Serial. 209 01:06:13,541 --> 01:06:14,750 As you step into the short 210 01:06:14,750 --> 01:06:16,041 work week after a holiday, 211 01:06:16,625 --> 01:06:18,125 remember to stay proactive and 212 01:06:18,125 --> 01:06:19,500 intentional in your actions. 213 01:06:20,291 --> 01:06:21,166 Well, thanks so much 214 01:06:21,166 --> 01:06:22,083 for joining us today. 215 01:06:22,291 --> 01:06:24,000 We'll see you back here again tomorrow 216 01:06:24,166 --> 01:06:25,125 as we start to get back 217 01:06:25,125 --> 01:06:26,583 into that regular rhythm 218 01:06:26,583 --> 01:06:27,291 of a work week. 219 01:06:28,125 --> 01:06:29,291 Have a fantastic day. 220 01:06:31,166 --> 01:06:32,708 Don't forget to follow and subscribe 221 01:06:32,708 --> 01:06:34,208 to the Morning Serial podcast 222 01:06:34,500 --> 01:06:36,208 on the One Life Live It channel. 223 01:06:36,750 --> 01:06:38,416 You can find more episodes and videos 224 01:06:38,416 --> 01:06:39,416 by visiting our YouTube 225 01:06:39,416 --> 01:06:40,708 channel and the website 226 01:06:40,875 --> 01:06:43,916 at seaningless and at seaningless.com, 227 01:06:44,125 --> 01:06:44,833 where you can also 228 01:06:44,833 --> 01:06:46,291 follow our other podcast, 229 01:06:46,583 --> 01:06:47,791 the Mr. and Mrs. English podcast 230 01:06:48,333 --> 01:06:49,500 and the Life Happens podcast. 231 01:06:50,291 --> 01:06:52,458 And these other podcasts will dive deeper 232 01:06:52,541 --> 01:06:53,541 into everyday issues, 233 01:06:53,541 --> 01:06:54,750 self-improvement and wellbeing, 234 01:06:55,125 --> 01:06:56,916 business and finance, and we 235 01:06:56,916 --> 01:06:58,166 welcome special guests too. 236 01:06:58,666 --> 01:06:59,416 So join us. 237 01:06:59,416 --> 01:07:00,750 It'll be a good time, I promise. 238 01:07:01,458 --> 01:07:02,333 Thanks again for listening. 239 01:07:02,541 --> 01:07:04,083 Have a fantastic day and 240 01:07:04,083 --> 01:07:04,625 we'll see you tomorrow.