There is no magic button or one single ingredient in the recipe for success. So often, grit has been attributed to much of the success that the elite in our society has experienced. But what if I told you that there was something else that could be key in the pursuit of your goals and dreams? What I am hinting at is this thing called willpower. Willpower is the yin to grit's yang. In this episode, I'm sharing how focusing too much on one thing can increase your risk of stress and anxiety, and the three simple things you can do to start flexing your willpower muscle. 

What's In This Episode:

Avoiding getting caught up in the vicious cycle of grit

Using willpower to help you recover quickly from setbacks and maintain motivation in pursuit of your goals

Building up your willpower and grit without burning them out

3 simple ways to flex your willpower muscle

Have you ever thought about choosing your goal for the day from the very get-go when you wake up? Think about this for a second, what if you started your day by planning what you want to be the highlight, and then worked backward to make sure it happened? That’s one of the things that today’s guest, John Zeratsky, shared in this episode. John is the co-author of Make Time: How to Focus on What Matters Every Day. He shares his wisdom on not living our life by default, and how things, like the busy bandwagon and infinity pulls, are tugging away at our attention. He explores what he’s learned over the years about productivity optimization, and how he uses the four-step structure of Highlights, Laser, Energy, and Reflect to help build his day. 

What’s In This Episode:

The negative consequences of the busy bandwagon

John’s four-step structure of Highlights, Laser, Energy and Reflect

Three strategies for selecting a highlight to concentrate on

Quitting is one of those things that’s been given a bad wrap but, in reality, can be great on your journey toward reaching your goals. Quitting isn’t easy, especially because a lot of people believe that winners never quit. But what if I told you that wasn’t accurate? What if I said that winners actually quit quite often? In this episode, we’ll be chatting about quitting what no longer serves us. I’ll be talking about using constraints to laser in on what’s most important and using those as safeguards to guide you to your goals and ambitions. 

What’s In This Episode:

Eliminating the negative connotation associated with quitting

Permitting ourselves to quit what doesn’t serve you

Using constraints to laser in on what’s most important and push you toward growth

It’s time to turn “stuck” on its head and begin to use it as leverage to create the success and happiness you want. We’ve all had those moments where we feel like we just want to throw the covers on over our heads. In this episode, we’re talking about getting past those moments where we feel stuck. I share how to reframe how you look at low points, my tips for overcoming feeling stuck, and using the traps that can make you feel stuck as an opportunity for growth and testing new boundaries. 

What’s In This Episode:

Reframing how you look at low points in your life 

How to deal with life's highs and lows

Tracking the progress you’ve made toward your goals

How to find your peak periods of productivity

You can’t pour from an empty cup. We’ve talked about this idea a few times on the show, and it’s so true. I couldn’t wait to bring on my friend, Kristen Ley, founder of Thimblepress, to chat about celebrating little wins, taking care of your wellbeing, and so much more. We dive into everything from getting back to her North Star, to gaining back her mental and physical health. She shares why you need to learn to say no to the things that don’t serve yourself or your purpose and why she’s such a big believer in having a morning routine to set your day up for success.

What’s In This Episode:

Detoxing from the lifestyle of doing everything for everybody

Creating a morning routine to set yourself up for success

The number one rule for maintaining harmony in your life

How to celebrate your wins, big or small