Why Chasing Success Actually Prevents You From Getting It

What Gets in the Way of Your Productivity? October 14, 2025 | Episode 5202 Host: Scott Smith Episode Description Ever feel like you just want to get your work done so you can hit the beach? Scott's broadcasting from sunny Daytona Beach with a reality check about productivity that'll make you rethink everything. Forget the fancy software and complicated systems. Most people are spending more time managing their productivity tools than actually being productive. Here's the truth: productivity isn't what you think it is. And once you understand what's really getting in your way, you'll finally stop beating your head against the wall. Featured Story Scott was researching productivity software to help his clients when he stumbled into a rabbit hole of apps designed to manage schedules, habits, and tasks. These programs were so complex they'd reschedule your entire day if you missed one thing. Plot twist: The young professionals using them were spending more time managing the software than actually getting things done. That's when Scott said "hell no" and walked away. Growing up in the 70s with a landline and an 18-foot cord taught him something valuable. He keeps his phone in another room while working because he knows what happens if it's within reach. The lesson? Don't fall into the marketing trap. Sometimes the old-school approach wins. Important Points Productivity is two words: Product and Activity. Is your activity actually creating the outcome you want? Most people have no awareness of what's really hindering their goals. They know something's wrong but won't look under the hood. The more you want in life is on the other side of doing less. Stop doing 50 steps when it only takes five. Memorable Quotes "Simple is the ultimate form of sophistication. Those people complicating things? They're not very sophisticated, are they?" "You will beat your head against the wall until you get tired of doing it. And one day you'll say, that's it. I'm done." "More is on the other side of less. The more you want is on the other side of doing less." Scott's Three-Step Approach Define your product. What outcome are you actually trying to create with your activity? If you're not getting it, change your actions. Get brutally aware. Stop and ask what's really in your way or what you're doing instead of moving forward. Know your philosophy. Why are you doing all this stuff? What's the reason you're getting out of bed? Don't know? Then why are you doing it? Connect With Me Search for The Daily Boost on Apple Podcasts and Spotify. Email: [email protected] Main Website: https://motivationtomove.com YouTube: https://youtube.com/dailyboostpodcast Facebook Page: https://facebook.com/motivationtomove Facebook Group: https://dailyboostpodcast.com/facebook Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

4 Questions That Improve Self-Confidence October 13, 2025 | Episode 5201 Host: Scott Smith Episode Description Ever notice how confident you are until you're not? Scott's been "training" for his annual physical like it's the Olympics. More cardio, cleaner eating, the works. His wife called him out on it. And yeah, he admits it—that white coat syndrome is real. But here's the thing about confidence. It's not about swagger you can buy at the store. It's about knowing exactly what you're stepping into and having a simple way to validate it. Scott shares four questions from "The Three Minute Rule" that'll change how you approach anything scary. From breaking boards to asking for that raise. Featured Story Scott got his black belt at 33 years old. Walking into that dojo for the first time? People in pajamas making strange noises. But the real terror? Breaking boards. It's just a one-inch pine board. Nothing dramatic. But that first punch through changes everything. Suddenly you want two boards. Then four. Can I use my elbow? What about a kick? That's the moment confidence shifts. From "I can't do this" to "give me more." Scott reveals what happens in your brain when you master that first scary thing—and why the next level always brings a new devil. Important Points Confidence lives at your current level until you step up—then everything feels scary again and you need a new toolkit. The four validation questions work for anything from breaking boards to breaking through your mundane routines. Wisdom isn't being chicken—it's knowing which boards to break and which ones to walk away from. Memorable Quotes "Swagger is expensive. You can't buy it at the store. It's hard to get." "New level, new devil. Every time you step up to a new level, things get a little bit, it throws you out of your confidence zone." "If you can't answer 'are you sure?,' how are you going to be confident?" Scott's Three-Step Approach Ask yourself what it is and how it works—if you can't explain it, your confidence is built on air. Validate you can actually do it with the time, skill, and resources you have right now. Answer "are you sure?" honestly—this question separates real confidence from empty motivation. Connect With Me Search for The Daily Boost on Apple Podcasts and Spotify. Email: [email protected] Main Website: https://motivationtomove.com YouTube: https://youtube.com/dailyboostpodcast Facebook Page: https://facebook.com/motivationtomove Facebook Group: https://dailyboostpodcast.com/facebook Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

5 Steps For Transformational Change October 10, 2025 | Episode 5200 Host: Scott Smith Episode Description Everyone says they hate change, but here's the thing: what you really want is transformation. You know that feeling when you're comfortably miserable? Life's not perfect, but at least it's familiar. You want something different, but you're stuck somewhere between "I should do something" and "I'm actually doing it." Scott breaks down the five stages every transformation goes through and shows you exactly where you're stuck. Because once you know where you are in the process, you can finally move forward. Featured Story Picture this: Scott's wife is in the closet having a full-blown change crisis. One outfit on. Look in the mirror. Change it. Repeat. It's funny, but it's also exactly what we all do with bigger life decisions. We keep trying on different versions of what we want, never quite committing to walking out the door. Scott shares why his approach isn't about change coaching or life coachy stuff - it's about one thing: getting you from where you are to where you actually want to be. And why knowing the difference between change and transformation changes everything. Important Points You're not afraid of transformation itself - you're afraid of not knowing the exact roadmap to get there. Most people stay stuck in contemplation for years (maybe decades) because they lack two things: a specific outcome and clear next steps. Maintenance is the stage everyone forgets about, which is why you end up back where you started five years later. Memorable Quotes "I'm not a change coach. I'm interested in one thing. What do you want? And can I transform you to get it?" "It's like, I'm comfortably miserable, but at least I'm comfortable, right?" "If you know what you want to do and you don't know the exact steps in between, how could you possibly be determined to get there?" Scott's Three-Step Approach Get crystal clear on the specific transformation you want - not just "something different," but exactly what that looks like. Build your roadmap with actual next steps, because determination without direction keeps you spinning in place. Plan for maintenance from day one, or you'll be right back here in five years doing this all over again. Connect With Me Search for The Daily Boost on Apple Podcasts and Spotify. Email: [email protected] Main Website: https://motivationtomove.com YouTube: https://youtube.com/dailyboostpodcast Facebook Page: https://facebook.com/motivationtomove Facebook Group: https://dailyboostpodcast.com/facebook Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

How to Stop Emotional Triggers Before They Control You October 9, 2025 | Episode 5199 Host: Scott Smith Episode Description You know that moment when your mouth moves faster than your brain? When you say exactly what you promised yourself you wouldn't say? We've all been there. Scott breaks down the frustrating reality of emotional triggers and why trying to shut them down completely is the wrong approach. Here's the thing: You're emotional. I'm emotional. We all are. The trick isn't becoming some cold, disconnected robot. It's learning to catch yourself earlier in the process. Scott shares his simple three-step method that anyone can use, starting right where you are today. Featured Story After 20 years of doing this podcast, Scott got an email from Eda, a listener born in 2005. She's been listening since 2021 and thanked him for helping her into adulthood. She almost qualified as a "boost baby" - those second-generation listeners whose parents rocked them to sleep with Scott's voice in their ears The timing hit Scott hard. Twenty years shakes him too. It also reminded him why this topic matters so much. Whether you're just entering adulthood or you've been around the block a few times, emotional triggers affect everyone. Every age. Every stage of life. And the wine-fueled conversations with your spouse where you say that thing you swore you wouldn't say? Yeah, those too. Important Points Your emotional habits trigger your actions before you can do anything about them - that's the most frustrating part. You can't control emotions by shutting them down, and the day you're not affected by emotions, you're probably not someone worth hanging around. Training yourself to interrupt the pattern works, but it takes stumbling through the middle stages before you finally catch yourself in time. Memorable Quotes "I get paid to put my foot in my mouth." "The day that you're not affected by emotions, I'm not sure I want to be your friend." "By the way, these techniques do not work under the influence of wine. They just don't." Scott's Three-Step Approach Step 1: Catch yourself after you've done it - notice what happened and promise yourself you'll catch it sooner next time. Step 2: Catch yourself in the middle of it - even if you still finish saying what you didn't want to say, you're interrupting the pattern and breaking it. Step 3: Catch yourself before you act and stop it - this is the goal, and it happens when you finally see your lips moving but nothing comes out. Connect With Me Search for The Daily Boost on Apple Podcasts and Spotify. Email: [email protected] Main Website: https://motivationtomove.com YouTube: https://youtube.com/dailyboostpodcast Facebook Page: https://facebook.com/motivationtomove Facebook Group: https://dailyboostpodcast.com/facebook Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Daily Boost Podcast Show Notes Happiness: What Makes JOY Last Longer Than Happiness? October 8, 2025 | Episode 5198 Host: Scott Smith Episode Description Scott gave up chasing happiness years ago. Plot twist: He's happier for it. After almost 20 years and over 5,000 episodes, he's learned that joy sticks around longer than happiness ever did. It's less fleeting, more reliable, and way more real. In this episode, Scott shares five ideas that have been posted on his office wall for years. He doesn't even remember when he put them there. But they're still relevant because they work. These aren't fluffy positive vibes—this is the honest truth about what actually makes life feel good when you're stuck, frustrated, or wondering why success isn't bringing the satisfaction you expected. Featured Story Picture this: Scott's looking at his office wall during a recording session. There are five handwritten reminders staring back at him. They've been there for years. He has no idea when he posted them, which tells you something—these aren't trendy mantras. They're the real deal. As he's about to hit 20 years of daily podcasting, he realizes these five ideas are exactly why he's still showing up. They're also why his clients in their 40s and 50s—successful people who should be happy but aren't quite there—finally start feeling something shift. It's not about motivation. It's about getting brutally honest with yourself about what you're doing with your time and who you're doing it for. Important Points Gratitude isn't just nice—it's the foundation for getting more of what you want. If you can't appreciate what you have, why would you get anything else? Your actions tell the truth your words won't. Look at what you actually do every day, not what you say you'll do or wish you were doing. Serving others strategically changes your life faster than chasing your own happiness. When you make someone else feel great today, everything shifts for you too. Memorable Quotes "You change when you wear yourself out. And the truth is, if you are stuck and you can't figure stuff out, there's some things you have to do and you have to figure it out, but there's a big stack. I'm going to guess 50, 60% of what you think you need to do that doesn't need to be done at all." "Remember, the person you are today is not who you will be tomorrow. In fact, the decision you make today may scare you to death. But as you start moving forward tomorrow and the next week and the next month and the next year, you'll become that person who is fully capable of transforming into whatever you want to do." "This is not the toxic positivity. Come on guys. You can do it. Be happy. Let's go. Rah, rah, rah. Love that stuff. But man, if that's not working for you, we got to get real, don't we?" Scott's Three-Step Approach Pause today and write down three things you're grateful for—even if life feels hard right now. Don't tell anyone you're doing it. Just do it and watch what compounds over time. Review everyone you'll interact with today and decide in advance how you want to make them feel. Serve first. Tell someone you're proud of them and watch what happens. Pull out your calendar and block time for yourself—not for tasks, but for your dreams. Own your time or everyone else will own it for you. Connect With Me Search for The Daily Boost on Apple Podcasts and Spotify. Email: [email protected] Main Website: https://motivationtomove.com YouTube: https://youtube.com/dailyboostpodcast Facebook Page: https://facebook.com/motivationtomove Facebook Group: https://dailyboostpodcast.com/facebook Possible Titles (Ranked by Effectiveness) podcast, Scott, mindfulness, motivation, inspiration, happiness, personal development, mental health, joy, self-improvement, positivity, life lessons, personal growth, resilience, life advice, emotional well-being, happiness vs joy, authentic living, meaningful life, happiness tips Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Daily Boost Podcast Show Notes Job Market Ghosting You? Here's Why. October 7, 2025 | Episode 5197 Host: Scott Smith Episode Description The job market feels brutal right now. Ghosting, endless applications, AI slop everywhere. But here's what nobody's telling you: sending a thousand AI-generated resumes is making it worse. You're not a commodity. You're the solution someone's desperately searching for right now. Scott breaks down why the traditional job hunt is draining your energy and stealing your hope. More importantly, he reveals the mindset shift that's helped his coaching clients land opportunities fast. It's not about your resume. It's about understanding what they really need before they even know it themselves. Featured Story Scott's son left Amazon burned out and needed to regroup. After a summer off, the job hunt hit hard. When his son showed Scott his resume and website, Scott didn't critique the formatting. He challenged him to flip the entire approach. Stop thinking about what you've done. Start thinking about who's looking for you right now and what keeps them up at night. It's the same principle Scott uses in his business every single day. When someone hires him to speak, it's not about his "golden tones." It's about making the person who hired him look brilliant to their committee. That's the real opportunity hiding in plain sight. Important Points There's somebody out there right now who needs exactly what you offer and will pay you to save their day. Your resume should make them think "what if they could do that for me" instead of listing your accomplishments. Opening new doors creates hope, but only when you're focused on serving instead of just applying. Memorable Quotes "There's somebody out there right now who's looking for you and you don't even know it." "It's not about how efficient you are. It's about them saying, wow, you can save my day." "You're like a Tesla on a cross country road trip with no charging stations. Wait, that's actually a real thing." Scott's Three-Step Approach Ask yourself "what can I do?" then focus that energy on finding who's desperately looking for your solution. Rewrite everything to answer their unspoken needs, not showcase your credentials or past achievements. Open as many doors as possible with purpose, bringing your authentic human self to every interaction. Connect With Me Search for The Daily Boost on Apple Podcasts and Spotify. Email: [email protected] Main Website: https://motivationtomove.com YouTube: https://youtube.com/dailyboostpodcast Facebook Page: https://facebook.com/motivationtomove Facebook Group: https://dailyboostpodcast.com/facebook Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Daily Boost Podcast Show Notes Stop Lying to Yourself About Your Commitment October 6, 2025 | Episode 5196 Host: Scott Smith Episode Description Ever caught yourself making a goal and then complaining it's too hard? Scott calls you out on the biggest lie we tell ourselves. The one where we say we're committed to something, then sabotage ourselves the moment it gets difficult. This episode shares Scott's raw 2 AM moment with a cheap bottle of wine that changed everything. It's about that instant when you look in the mirror and realize you're not who you thought you were. If you've ever questioned why you're grinding so hard, this one's for you. Featured Story Picture this: 2 AM in a small office bathroom. Scott's working in film and TV production, stressed beyond belief, missing workouts and family time. He's got a big cheap bottle of wine and he's gone through most of it. Then he stumbles to the bathroom and catches his reflection. The guy staring back looked normal, even happy. But inside? Man, it felt bad. The look in his eyes wasn't mad. It was sad. That's when Scott realized he was lying to himself about his commitment. He was questioning everything while claiming to be all in. It was the moment that eventually led him from film production to creating this podcast you're listening to right now. The relief that came from that realization? That's what this episode unpacks. Important Points Real commitment means you don't complain when it gets hard - you signed up for the challenge. You'll change when you wear yourself out, not a moment before, and everyone knows it. Everything in your life is self-inflicted, including deciding to get in the game in the first place. Memorable Quotes "You will change when you wear yourself out. There will come a day when you won't put up with whatever you don't like today." "Either you're committed or you're not. It's not a goal if you're stumbling and bumbling because it got hard." "Everything in your life is self-inflicted. You decided to get in the game, didn't you?" Scott's Three-Step Approach Look yourself in the mirror and ask if you're lying about your commitment right now. Stop blaming circumstances and own that you chose this challenge when you set the goal. Find that little sparkle, that excitement you had at the start, and finish what you started. Connect With Me Search for The Daily Boost on Apple Podcasts and Spotify. Email: [email protected] Main Website: https://motivationtomove.com YouTube: https://youtube.com/dailyboostpodcast Facebook Page: https://facebook.com/motivationtomove Facebook Group: https://dailyboostpodcast.com/facebook Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Daily Boost Podcast Show Notes Why Your To-Do List Is Killing Your Productivity October 3, 2025 | Episode 5195 Host: Scott Smith Episode Description Your to-do list isn't helping you get more done. It's actually sabotaging your productivity. Scott breaks down the real reason successful people feel overwhelmed despite having all the right systems. Spoiler alert: It's not about adding more techniques or apps. This episode reveals a simple four-step approach that eliminates decision fatigue and gets the right things done. Perfect for anyone tired of running in circles while their important goals collect dust. Featured Story Scott opens up about his own productivity struggles and why he's considering a complete theme change for his show. He shares his honest moment of realizing that even productivity experts can fall into the "more is better" trap. The breakthrough came when he stopped trying to organize everything and started throwing away what didn't matter first. Like cleaning out those 50,000 albums we used to have (kids, ask your mom what an album is). This personal revelation led to his current system that keeps successful people focused on what actually moves the needle. Important Points The more you remove, the easier it gets to have exactly what you want. Stop adding productivity systems and start eliminating tasks that don't deserve your attention. Four D's beat endless to-do lists every time. Delete, Delegate, Delay, or Do - run every task through this filter and watch your overwhelm disappear. Three important things per day is enough. When you're done with three, call it done - even if there's another 10 or 20 things waiting. Memorable Quotes "The more you take away, the more you clear things out, the easier it gets to have exactly what you want." "Sometimes the buck stops with you. Now that everything else is off your plate, you have time to do it, don't you?" "Winning the day is about making sure the most important things in your life get done. What's it going to be today?" Scott's Three-Step Approach Audit your current tasks. Write down everything on your to-do list and run each item through the four D's - can you delete, delegate, delay, or do it. Ask the daily priority question. What's the most important thing to do today? Limit yourself to three things and call it done when they're finished. Set up a delegation system. Identify three things you could get someone else to handle and create a simple handoff process you can repeat. Connect With Me Search for The Daily Boost on Apple Podcasts and Spotify. Email: [email protected] Main Website: https://motivationtomove.com YouTube: https://youtube.com/dailyboostpodcast Facebook Page: https://facebook.com/motivationtomove Facebook Group: https://dailyboostpodcast.com/facebook Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Daily Boost Podcast Show Notes Why Chasing Success Actually Prevents You From Getting It October 2, 2025 | Episode 5194 Host: Scott Smith Episode Description How's your life going? That's a big question, isn't it? Sometimes success feels just out of reach, even when you're doing everything right. Scott dives into Viktor Frankl's counterintuitive wisdom from "Man's Search for Meaning" that completely flips how we think about achievement and happiness. This isn't about giving up or settling. It's about the weird paradox successful people face - the harder you chase something, the more it slips away. Scott shares why he tells his coaching clients "I just don't care, but I care" and how that mindset shift changes everything. Featured Story A longtime listener reaches out during his darkest hour - battling cancer at 2 AM, finding Scott's voice to get him through until dawn. The story hits Scott differently this time, reminding him how real life gets for people out there. It's the kind of moment that stops you cold. Here's someone using the podcast as a lifeline during treatment, and Scott realizes he doesn't consciously try to help anyone - he just shows up and does what he does. That's when Viktor Frankl's wisdom about success being a byproduct clicks into place. The beautiful things happen when you're busy doing meaningful work, not when you're chasing the outcome. Important Points Success is like happiness - you can't pursue it directly, it only shows up as a side effect of dedication to something greater than yourself. The destination only appears when you stop looking for the map - otherwise you're just stuck on the journey. Excellence in what you're doing right now matters more than obsessing over the outcome. Memorable Quotes "Don't aim for success. The more you aim at it and make it a target, the more you're going to miss it." "I just don't care. But I care. But I don't care." "When Scott does what Scott does, when Scott doesn't worry about it, there is a byproduct that really cool things happen to me and to you." Scott's Three-Step Approach Shift your focus from outcomes to excellence in what you're doing right now. Find something bigger than your personal ambitions that gives your work deeper purpose. Practice surrender - let go of tight control to allow natural excellence to flow through you. Connect With Me Search for The Daily Boost on Apple Podcasts and Spotify. Email: [email protected] Main Website: https://motivationtomove.com YouTube: https://youtube.com/dailyboostpodcast Facebook Page: https://facebook.com/motivationtomove Facebook Group: https://dailyboostpodcast.com/facebook Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Daily Boost Podcast Show Notes Why You're Not Motivated - Science Will Surprise You October 1, 2025 | Episode 5193 Host: Scott Smith Episode Description Ever feel like you're spinning your wheels despite reading every motivation book out there? Scott discovered something fascinating in baby DJ school that completely flips traditional goal-setting advice on its head. Turns out, everyone's teaching you to start with your "why" - but that might be exactly backwards. Today's episode reveals the science-backed sequence that actually works. It's simpler than you think, and it explains why you've been fighting yourself all this time. Featured Story Picture this: 18-year-old Scott faces a choice between broadcast school in freezing Minneapolis or sunny Fort Lauderdale. Obviously, he chose Florida. Who wouldn't? But here's the twist - those broadcast school professionals forced him to learn journalism when all he wanted was to spin records. He looked down his nose at journalists, thinking it had nothing to do with being a world-famous DJ. Years later, those five little journalism words became the key to unlocking personal transformation. The irony? He had to completely flip the order everyone teaches. Important Points Most personal development advice starts with "why" - but that's actually backwards for real change. The magic sequence is What, Why, When, Where, Who - not the traditional journalist order. Specificity beats perfection every time; concrete goals create concrete results. Memorable Quotes "Y'all wrong. I got it right." "Don't wait for the perfect plan. Because when you sit around waiting for the perfect plan, things don't always get perfect." "We're just going to assume some days are going to be perfect, and some days are not going to be perfect. So if we average out pretty good days, we get a pretty good life, right?" Scott's Three-Step Approach Define your "what" with brutal specificity - write it down and make it concrete. Create a question roadmap using the five words in proper order for transformation. Take massive, imperfect action - put one concrete step on your calendar this week. Connect With Me Search for The Daily Boost on Apple Podcasts and Spotify. Email: [email protected] Main Website: https://motivationtomove.com YouTube: https://youtube.com/dailyboostpodcast Facebook Page: https://facebook.com/motivationtomove Facebook Group: https://dailyboostpodcast.com/facebook Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices