Are You a Rule Bender?

Daily Boost Podcast - Are You a Rule Bender? - Episode 5,005 Host: Scott Smith Episode Description Scott Smith explores the complex relationship between following rules and bending them, sharing personal experiences from his high school days and radio career. Through engaging storytelling, he reveals how sometimes we unconsciously follow the rules while thinking we're breaking them and the importance of understanding when rule-bending crosses the line. Key Takeaways - Rules in jobs, relationships, and organizations serve important purposes, even for self-proclaimed rule-benders - Understanding your "why" and following core principles can coincide with being a rule-bender - Sometimes, we follow important rules unconsciously while thinking we're breaking them - Creating your own rules without considering others can lead to professional consequences Featured Story Scott shares a pivotal career moment when his radio mentor called him in for a "Come to Jesus" meeting. While Scott prided himself on being a rule-bender, his mentor showed him how he followed all the essential rules - showing up early, being persistent, never assuming, and taking responsibility. However, the story takes an unexpected turn when Scott learns he is creating too many rules that affect others. Scott's Three-Step Approach 1. Recognize which rules are fundamental and serve a purpose 2. Understand your personal "why" and align it with organizational goals 3. Consider how your actions and personal rules impact others Memorable Quotes - "How we spend our days is, of course, how we spend our lives." - Annie Dillard - "You may not like our rules, but you seem to have written them for us." - "Rules for thee, but not for me." Connect With Scott Search for The Daily Boost on Apple Podcasts and Spotify. #DailyBoost #PersonalGrowth #Motivation #Leadership #RuleBreaker #PodcastNotes #SuccessStrategies #PersonalDevelopment Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Daily Boost - Episode 5,004 "Why You Shouldn't Trust Your Brain" Host: Scott Smith Episode Description Scott explores the fascinating relationship between our brain's chemical rewards system and decision-making. He explains why our brains, while essential for survival and success, shouldn't always be trusted blindly due to their addiction to neurotransmitters like dopamine, serotonin, and oxytocin. Scott shares his unorthodox yet practical approach to managing this relationship for better decision-making. Key Takeaways - Your brain is naturally addicted to chemical rewards, making it an unreliable partner in decision-making without proper verification - The brain takes 10% of daily caloric intake regardless of performance, so it's best to learn to work with it effectively - Emotional decisions aren't always the best decisions, even when they feel right at the moment - Taking time for clarity, such as during a peaceful drive, can help bypass the brain's emotional responses Featured Story Scott shares a listener's experience finding mental clarity during solo road trips on the Pennsylvania Turnpike. The story illustrates how removing ourselves from regular environmental triggers can help achieve better mental clarity and decision-making capabilities, contrasting with the "poop show" of regular daily life when our brain's chemical responses are in complete control. Scott's Three-Step Approach 1. Accept that you can't completely control your brain's chemical responses 2. Learn to recognize which activities trigger positive feelings and consciously choose them 3. "Trust but verify" - like Ronald Reagan's approach, acknowledge your brain's influence but verify its decisions Memorable Quotes - "No matter how successful you feel, there is a day when you'll get out of bed wondering if you're successful." - "Your brain is an addict, it's junky. Say it as it is; it's addicted to every possible chemical it can find." - "Do more of what you like and less of what you don't like. Keep those feelings coming." Connect With Scott Search for The Daily Boost on Apple Podcasts and Spotify. #DailyBoost #Motivation #PersonalDevelopment #MentalClarity #BrainScience #DecisionMaking #Mindfulness #PersonalGrowth #MotivationalPodcast #SelfImprovement Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Daily Boost Podcast - Episode 5003 Monkey Effect: When Others Dump Their Problems on You Host: Scott Smith Episode Description: Scott explores how people try to burden us with their problems (their “monkeys”) and how this affects our ability to pursue our goals. Through a personal story from his fifth grade, he illustrates why we should be mindful of taking on others' responsibilities while managing our challenges, especially during New Year's resolution season. Key Takeaways: - External influences and others' agendas are constantly trying to impact your path - Everyone has their own "monkeys" (challenges/problems) to deal with already - Big goals naturally come with challenges, but they shouldn't be overcomplicated - Saying "no" without explanation is sometimes necessary to protect your time and energy Featured Story: Scott shares a memorable childhood story about his fifth-grade teacher, who literally put a monkey on his back while visiting her home. This amusing yet pointed anecdote is a metaphor for how people frequently try to burden others with their problems and responsibilities, demonstrating why we should be cautious about taking on others' challenges. Scott's Three-Step Approach: 1. Expect others will try to distract you with their problems and learn to say "no" without explanation 2. Don't overcomplicate or self-sabotage by putting monkeys on your own back 3. Avoid putting your monkeys on other people's backs - they'll just return them anyway Memorable Quotes: - "Life is your circus, and you are in charge of your monkeys." - "You've got your dreams, ambitions, goals, desires, all the things you want to do... And while they may be good, they can still feel like a monkey on your back." - "Not my monkey, not my circus." Connect With Scott: Search for The Daily Boost on Apple Podcasts and Spotify. https://motivationtomove.com https://faceyourpassion.com https://9minuteclaritycodecom https://perfectweekplanner.com #DailyBoost #Motivation #PersonalDevelopment #GoalSetting #Boundaries #PodcastTips #SelfImprovement #LifeLessons #ProductivityTips #MindsetMatters Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Love vs Grind: Counterintuitive Path to Success Host: Scott Smith Episode Description: Scott explores wanting success "bad enough" through personal experiences and an enlightening interview with Ann Beiler, founder of Auntie Anne's Pretzels. He discusses the reality of "the grind" and how passion transforms challenging work into meaningful pursuits. Key Takeaways: - True desire for success requires embracing difficulty rather than seeking easy paths - Sometimes, not knowing the challenges ahead can be beneficial for starting ambitious ventures - Following what you love naturally leads to success, even if the path isn't what you expected - Changing direction when passion doesn't align is better than forcing an unwanted path Featured Story: Ann Beiler, founder of Auntie Anne's Pretzels, reveals she wouldn't have started if she knew the challenges ahead. Starting with a simple love for making people happy through food, she built an empire of 1,400 locations. The story concludes with a surprising twist - Ann prefers baking chocolate chip cookies over her famous pretzels. Scott's Three-Step Approach: 1. Verify you want your goal badly enough; change direction if needed 2. Focus on doing what you love rather than dwelling on difficulties 3. Accept that hard work is inevitable but doesn't feel like grinding when aligned with passion Memorable Quotes: "Thank God I didn't know what it was going to take because I would have never even started." - Ann Beiler "Your purpose for today is to get out there and go find your purpose." "Sometimes the things you love, they just sneak up on you." Connect With Scott: Search for The Daily Boost on Apple Podcasts and Spotify. #DailyBoost #Entrepreneurship #AuntieAnnes #SuccessMindset #BusinessMotivation #PurposeDriven Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Daily Boost - Episode 5,001 When Resolutions Meet Bathroom Breaks Hosted by Scott Smith Episode Description Join Scott for this milestone 5,000th episode, where he shares a hilarious road trip story that perfectly illustrates the difference between goals and resolutions. Through bathroom breaks, Bucky's stops, and visiting his 92-year-old mom, Scott reveals powerful insights about setting and achieving your biggest dreams. In This Episode - Celebrating 18 seasons and 5,000 episodes of The Daily Boost - A road trip adventure with unexpected life lessons - The real difference between goals and resolutions - Wisdom from a 92-year-old who prioritizes mobility over dignity - Why treating your goals like military objectives works Key Takeaways 1. Set big, exciting goals that light your fire 2. Attack your objectives like a military mission 3. Make firm resolutions, but stay flexible with timing 4. Sometimes, the best path forward isn't the most conventional one Quotable Moments "I'm okay walking around in wet pants as long as I can!" - Scott's Mom. "Your goal should be an obsessive objective." "Sometimes timing's not up to you... and that's okay." Resources Mentioned - Nine Minute Clarity Code Course - http://NineMinuteClarityCode.com Connect With Scott https://motivationtomove.com https://faceyourpassion.com Remember: Life's greatest lessons often come wrapped in laughter and bathroom breaks!* Next Episode: Catch Scott tomorrow for more motivation and real-life wisdom on The Daily Boost! #DailyBoost #GoalSetting #Resolutions #Motivation #PersonalDevelopment #RoadTrip #LifeLessons Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Don’t Break Your Success Chain I’ll never forget the day a friend called and made me an offer I couldn’t refuse - and I didn’t. Rob was an event promoter who had snagged the chance to book an up-and-coming comedian named Jerry Seinfeld into a local venue. He needed somebody to warm up the audience and introduce Jerry. I was all in when he agreed to cover my drink tab and let me hang out with Jerry before the show. It was 1986, and Jerry’s television series about nothing was still in development. I know that because it’s what we talked about before the show. As he munched on veggies and sipped sparkling water, I’ll never forget how focused he was on getting what he wanted. Tired and worn out from living on the road, I asked how he managed to keep going. He said — “I know exactly what I want. I’m a comedian, so I have to be funny. The only way to be funny is to write funny jokes. The only way to write funny jokes is to write every day. So, I write daily and put a big red “X” on the calendar. Eventually, there is a chain of X’s on the calendar. My goal is not to break the chain.”  Then, in a very Seinfeld way, he screamed, “Don’t break the chain! That’s how you get what.” Over the years, I’ve read that others have had the same conversation with Jerry. I’m guessing it was a rule of success that he practiced and shared often. I’m happy he shared it with me. As we begin 2025, pick an action and do it every day until you get so good people notice. And, whatever you do, “Don’t break the chain!” Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

How To Make Change in 2025 As we get into the New Year, I've noticed that people are getting back to their old ways. That's okay. It's a journey. But what is that journey? Winston Churchill said, "To improve is to change, so to be perfect is to have changed often."  And it helps if you understand the stages of change: 1) Pre-Contemplation. You may intend to take action but are unaware that your behavior is the problem.  2) Contemplation. You recognize the problem and start to debate the pros and cons of your actions. 3) Preparation. You intend to take action soon. You may even begin small steps. 4) Action. The process of making the specific changes required to create your new life begins. 5) Maintenance. Sustain your efforts for at least six months. You will likely achieve a life-long transformation. 6) Termination. You have zero temptation and are sure you will not return to your old unhealthy habits. Winston Churchill said something else - "For myself, I am an optimist — it does not seem to be much use being anything else." Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Wouldn’t it be great to have a plan to help you get what you want?   What you need is MAPSS. - a system that gets thinking out of the way and focuses on actions in four areas: Motivation: Everything begins with motivation and knowing ‘WHY’ you set your goals. Stay motivated. Accountability: Being accountable and accepting responsibility for your results will empower your success. Saying, ‘If it’s to be, it’s up to me,’ is a great way to get started. Planning: Plan your work, work you plan. It’s simple. If you can’t plan it, you won’t be able to do it. Systemization: The first steps of any worthy goal are difficult. As you get more comfortable with your process, lock in the actions and repeat them until you get what you want. Sustainability: Everything takes longer than you think. Momentum is built in life by stacking your accomplishments sequentially. Make sure you set yourself up for the long haul. The freedom you desire rests on a stable and repeatable foundation. Motivation, Accountability, Planning, Systemization, and Sustainability.   Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Creating a difference in your life is a non-stop process that requires simple actions to help you get what you want. And it is, after all, about getting what you want and keeping what you love. You’ll always go through these steps: 1) Decide. Everything begins with your decision to head off in a new direction. While sometimes you may feel like you’ve made a decision, if you’re not moving, you haven’t. 2) Define. Aimless wandering is fun when that’s what you’ve decided to do. Otherwise, it’s frustrating, exhausting, and takes place more than you think. When you define your path, you get to walk your path. 3) Deploy. As dull as the advice may be, putting your plan into action is the only way for you to get what you want. If you don’t deploy, you don’t get it. 4) Defend. After working so hard to get what you want, you can guarantee that something or somebody will try to take away your results. That’s not good or bad. That’s life. When you find what you love, defend it so you never lose it. Simple. I like simple. Simple works! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

I'm a big fan of setting big-ass goals. Dreaming BIG is my natural state - which is why S.M.A.R.T. goals are not all that smart. S.M.A.R.T. stands for Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Realistic, and Time-Bound. While it may seem like a good plan, I can't wrap my head around not setting goals because they don't seem achievable or realistic. Excuse me? When did big goals seem achievable and realistic?   If that were true, you would already be doing them. Anytime you are moving from dreaming into doing, you will be living in the land of crazy and scary. If you hold yourself to what is achievable and realistic, you might as well keep doing what you're doing. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices