Committing to improvement and progress (S4) S41:E7

Welcome to the “Inspirations for your Life” Podcast! I’m John C. Morley: Serial Entrepreneur, accomplished Engineer, dynamic Marketing Specialist, award-winning Video Producer, seasoned Podcast Host & Coach, and a passionate lifelong learner. I’m here to fuel your journey with real stories, strategies, and mindsets that help you unlock peak workplace motivation and transformative leadership. If you’ve ever wondered how small habits shape big success, or what separates dreamers from doers, you’re in the right place! Let’s turn your workplace and your life into a hub of creativity, curiosity, and relentless growth.

1️⃣ Progress starts with one step. No matter how grand your aspirations, every rewarding journey begins the moment you commit to action. Taking that first step—no matter how small—starts the chain reaction toward meaningful improvement. Momentum follows initiative, so get moving and let your progress lead the way.

2️⃣ Consistency turns potential into power. Your greatest skills are shaped by daily habits. Consistency—not occasional bursts of effort—transforms raw talent into quantifiable results. Show up, put in the work, and watch as your steady progress compounds into something truly powerful.

3️⃣ Small wins create unstoppable momentum. Celebrating each minor victory fuels your motivation. These small wins are stepping stones that build your confidence, keep you energized, and propel you toward bigger achievements. Remember, big change comes from stacking little wins day after day.

4️⃣ Improvement is a daily choice. Every morning brings a new opportunity to improve. Commit to making intentional, positive changes each day—no matter how small. Persistent improvement outpaces the most impressive one-time effort.

5️⃣ Embrace effort, not perfection. Chasing perfection often means never starting. Embrace the effort, learn from the process, and grow through your challenges. Each mistake is a lesson and every setback a stepping stone to greater wisdom.

6️⃣ Persist when it's easiest to quit. Progress demands resilience when the initial excitement fades. Pushing forward during tough moments is what forges strength and separates achievers from dreamers. Persistence is the heartbeat of success.

7️⃣ Challenge yourself—growth lives outside comfort. If you’re never uncomfortable, you’re never growing. Push beyond your comfort zone, try new experiences, and be willing to risk short-term discomfort for long-term transformation.

8️⃣ Every setback teaches resilience. Failures aren’t the end—they’re the best source of growth. Use setbacks as opportunities to pivot, adapt, and come back stronger. Every obstacle you overcome becomes a new badge of resilience.

9️⃣ Focus beats force; work smart, not just hard. Smart, targeted effort delivers results. Instead of exhausting yourself with brute force, hone your focus and work strategically. The quality of your actions often outweighs the quantity.

🔟 Celebrate progress, no matter how small. Acknowledgment sustains momentum. Take time to appreciate your wins—big and small—and let gratitude fuel your continued journey forward.

1️⃣1️⃣ Stay hungry for knowledge. Curiosity is your rocket fuel. Never stop asking questions and seeking out new wisdom. The more you learn, the higher you can climb.

1️⃣2️⃣ Growth begins where excuses end. Excuses are the enemy of excellence. Let go of justifications and start taking full responsibility for your outcomes—the starting point for any real growth.

1️⃣3️⃣ You outgrow who you were yesterday. Every day is a fresh chance to improve on your past self. Reflect, learn, and focus on continuous, incremental progress.

1️⃣4️⃣ Choose dedication over distraction. Distractions are everywhere, but true growth belongs to those who focus. Commit to your priorities and let go of what doesn’t move you closer to your goals.

1️⃣5️⃣ Failure is data for your next move. Treat every misstep as valuable information, not evidence of defeat. Analyze, adapt, and use what you learn to make bolder, better decisions.

1️⃣6️⃣ Motivation is fueled by action. Waiting for motivation? Start acting—momentum builds motivation, not the other way around.

1️⃣7️⃣ Be relentless in pursuing better. Never settle for average. Commit to being just a little better today than you were yesterday, and greatness will follow.

1️⃣8️⃣ Progress comes from honest self-reflection. Take time to reflect on your choices, habits, and outcomes. Honest self-examination is the birthplace of transformation.

1️⃣9️⃣ Momentum is built, not found. Momentum doesn’t appear by magic—you create it through repeated, intentional action. Start, keep going, and watch your efforts gather speed.

2️⃣0️⃣ Improvement is a long game—play it. The pursuit of progress is a marathon, not a sprint. Stay in for the long haul and embrace the continuous process of becoming better.

Episode Transcript

(00:23):
Hey guys, it is John C.
Morley here, serial entrepreneur.
It is great to be with you on
a Friday.
Yes, this is October 10, 2025.
And that means we are closing out our
master topic.
What is the master topic?
Well, every week we start on a Saturday
and we end, yes, on a Friday.

(00:45):
And this week's master topic is a really
good one.
And they're always good ones.
But this one I really have, let's say,
a passion for, because I think it's something
that a lot of people miss.
And so this master topic that we're closing
out the week with is resilience, leadership, and

(01:09):
positive change.
That's the master topic.
And so the granular topic, which I'll get
to in just a second, is another interesting
point, which kind of laces into the master
topic.
But it gets very, very specific.

(01:30):
So that's the thing about the master topic.
And the granular topic for this evening is
committing to improvement and progress, series 4, show
41, episode number 7.
Hey, guys, if this is your first time
watching or listening to Inspiration to Your Life,
I am very grateful for you to be

(01:51):
here.
And if you're coming back, I want to
say thank you, and I'm very grateful for
you to come back to the Inspiration to
Your Life show.
We are on every single day.
If you miss us, well, you can watch
a replay anytime by going to BelieveMeAchieve.com.

(02:12):
You can catch Inspiration to Your Life.
You can catch the Jay Moore Tech Talk
show, which usually airs on Friday.
But if you missed it, you can always
go back and watch that show.
Inspiration to Your Life is a daily show.
You can watch that.
You can check out my reels.
You can read my articles.

(02:32):
And so much more, guys, so much more.
So definitely check that out.
Hey, guys, if you're thirsty right now, I
don't want you to be parched.
So feel free to go get yourself maybe
a glass of RO water, maybe a hot
beverage, maybe a snack.
It could be nuts.
It could be chocolate.

(02:52):
It could be fruit.
Whatever it is that floats your boat, healthy
or not, that's totally up to you guys.
So without any further ado, I'd like to
go ahead and kick the show off.
All right, everyone?
Okay.
So once again, welcome to the ever-popular
Inspirations for Your Life podcast.

(03:12):
Who am I?
I'm John Seymour, serial entrepreneur, accomplished video producer,
dynamic marketing specialist, award-winning coach for podcasting
and for other business coaching and personal coaching.

(03:34):
And, of course, a graduate student and a
passionate lifelong learner.
And it is my privilege and pleasure and
honor to be here with you tonight to
close out this amazing Master Topic Week.
I'm here, ladies and gentlemen, to fuel your

(03:55):
journey with real stories, strategies, and mindsets that
help you unlock peak workplace motivation and transformative
leadership.
If you've ever wondered how small habits shape
big success or what separates dreamers from doers,

(04:18):
you're in the right place.
Let's turn your workplace and your life into
a hub of creativity curiosity, and relentless growth.
Are you guys ready?
Because I know everybody has a lot of
thoughts, but thoughts don't go anywhere unless we

(04:39):
decide to take the inspired action.
That is really, really key, guys.
I mean really, really key.
You have to have the detail, all right?
All right, guys.
So let's go ahead and kick this off.
Number one, progress starts with one step.

(05:03):
No matter how grand your aspirations, every rewarding
journey begins the moment you commit to action.
Taking that first step, no matter how small,
starts the chain reaction toward, well, meaningful improvement.

(05:27):
Momentum has a way of following initiative.
So get moving and let your progress lead
the way, all right?
All right, number two, consistency turns potential into
power.
Your greatest skills are shaped by daily habits.

(05:53):
Consistency, not occasional bursts of effort, transforms raw
talent into quantifiable results.
Show up, put in the work, and watch
as your steady progress compounds into something truly
remarkable and powerful, just like money compounds our

(06:16):
interest.
Number three, guys, small wins create unstoppable momentum.
Celebrating each minor victory fuels your motivation.
These small wins are stepping stones that build
your confidence, keep you energized, and propel you
toward bigger achievements.

(06:37):
Remember, guys, big change comes from stacking little
wins day after day.
Number four, improvement is a daily choice.
It is, it's a choice, guys.
Every morning brings a new opportunity to improve.

(06:58):
Commit to making intentional, positive changes each day,
no matter how small.
Persistent improvement outpaces the most impressive one-time
effort.
Number five, embrace effort, not perfection.

(07:22):
That's key, guys.
Chasing perfection often means never starting.
Embrace the effort, learn from the process, and
grow through the challenges.
Each mistake is a lesson, and every setback
is a stepping stone to greater wisdom.

(07:45):
Number six, guys, persist when it's easiest to
quit.
Progress.
Progress demands resilience when the initial excitement fades.

(08:07):
I think that's important to understand.
I think that's something to gather, because if
you don't get it, then it's like you
miss it.

(08:28):
And pushing forward during tough moments is what
forges the strength and separates achievers from the
dreamers.
Persistence is the heartbeat of success.
Number seven, challenge yourself.

(08:53):
Growth lives outside comfort.
If you're never uncomfortable, you're never growing.
Push beyond your comfort zone.
Try new experiences and be willing to risk
short-term discomfort for long-term transformation.

(09:16):
Every setback teaches resilience, right?
Failures aren't the end.
They're the best source of your growth.
Each setback you should use as an opportunity
to pivot, adapt, and come back stronger, even
knowing that every obstacle you overcome becomes a

(09:40):
new badge of resilience.
Number nine, focus beats force.
Work smart, not just hard, guys.
Smart is important, okay?
Targeted effort delivers results instead of exhausting yourself.

(10:07):
Hone your focus and work strategically.
The quality of your actions, okay, often outweighs
the quantity.
I know that sounds like a very strange

(10:27):
thing, guys, but, you know, that's really the
truth.
Does that make sense?
I think having a perspective for something is

(10:48):
something a lot of people miss, right?
And I think they miss it because they
don't understand what it stands for, right?
What it stands for.
And when I say what it stands for,

(11:10):
that can sound like very, very confusing, but
it's not, okay?
It's not.
The reason I say this to you is
that it's a perception.

(11:35):
It is a perception.
It's a perception.
That's what it is.
And that's what changes our whole world, our
whole life, is to embrace these different perceptions.

(11:56):
Number 10, guys, celebrate progress no matter how
small.
Acknowledgement sustains momentum.
Take time to appreciate your wins, big and
small.
And let gratitude fuel your continued journey forward.
Number 11, stay hungry, guys, for knowledge.

(12:17):
Curiosity is your rocket fuel.
Never stop asking questions and seeking out new
wisdom.
The more you learn, the higher you can
climb.
Number 12, growth begins where excuses end.
Excuses are the enemy of excellence.

(12:38):
Let go of the justifications and start taking
full responsibility for your outcomes.
The starting point for any real growth is
that, guys.
Number 13, you outgrow who you were yesterday.
Every day is a fresh chance to improve

(13:00):
on your past self.
Reflect, learn, and focus on continuous incremental progress.
Number 14, choose dedication over distraction.
I know that might sound hard.
Distractions are everywhere.
But true growth belongs to those who focus.

(13:23):
Commit to your priorities and let go of
what doesn't move you closer to your goals.
Number 15, failure is data for your
next move.
Treat every misstep as valuable information, not evidence

(13:48):
of defeat.
Analyze, adapt, and use what you learn to
make bolder, better decisions.
That's key, guys.
Motivation is fueled by action.

(14:09):
Waiting for motivation?
Start acting.
Momentum builds motivation, not the other way around.
Number 17, guys, be relentless in pursuing better.
Never settle for average.
Commit to being just a little better today

(14:30):
than you were yesterday.
And greatness will follow, I promise you.
Progress comes, number eight, from honest self-reflection.
So reflect daily.
Take time to reflect on your choices, habits,
and the outcomes.
Honest self-examination is the birthplace of transformation.

(14:56):
Number 19, momentum, guys, is built, not found.
Momentum doesn't appear by magic.
You create it through repeated intentional action.
Start, keep going, and watch your efforts.
Gather speed, number 20.

(15:16):
Improvement is a long game.
Play it.
Play it well.
Play it strategically.
The pursuit of progress is a marathon.
It's not a sprint, guys.
Stay in for the long haul and embrace
the continuous process of becoming better.

(15:38):
I think what a lot of us ask
the question about becoming better, we don't necessarily
know, like, where to go or what to
start because of that reason, right?
And so when we think about this, we
know that we want to be just a
little bit better than we were yesterday.

(15:59):
We don't have to be 100 times better
because that might be too stressful.
We want to just get a little bit
better.
And when we become a little bit better,
we stay that little bit better.
We keep being better.
But if we try to grow too fast,
well, we might fall back immediately.
It's important, guys.
We may fall back immediately.

(16:20):
And you don't want to fall on your
face.
Unless you want to progress slowly so you
can have sustained growth.
Number 21, show up for yourself every single
day.
Make a choice right now, guys, that you're
going to show up no matter what.
Okay?

(16:41):
If you don't show up, then that's you.
Join us to know this.
We have to aspire for greatness.
We have to.
And you have to do it every single

(17:02):
day, guys.
You are your best advocate.
Don't kick yourself away from it.
You can empower yourself and you can also
de-empower yourself.
So be careful with the power that you
possess.
Invest in your development daily.

(17:28):
Not just when it feels comfortable.
Your well-being and your dreams with dedication
and regular effort are what's going to propel
you forward.
I know you might say, John, this is
impossible.

(17:49):
But, guys, it's the impossible that makes it
doable.
Does that make sense?
I hope it does.

(18:10):
That's important to think about.
I think it's important to understand the purpose.

(18:35):
I think that's an important thing to realize.
But sometimes we get caught in this minutiae
of, well, I can't do this or someone
says I can't do this.
So because you're hearing people say you can't
do it, you believe that.
And you're like, okay, I guess I got
to prove myself that I can do it.

(18:55):
So you fail.
Not because you want to fail, but because
you're already setting yourself up for failure, guys.
And this is the failure that you're not
going to recover from.
This is the failure that's going to keep
pulling you down and pulling you down and
pulling you down.
And you won't know that you're done until

(19:16):
you're totally on the ground.
That's different from failure that we get, that
we see, and then we want to change
course in our direction to become better.
You're just going to go down and not
even know you're going down.
Number 22, pivot.
Adapt.
Similar to a chameleon, right?

(19:37):
The army wears these nature-like uniforms that
you can blend in with nature camouflage.
Repeat the growth formula over and over again.
Flexibility, guys, is key to lasting success.
In other words, flexibility is your key to

(19:59):
sustainability.
That might sound hard, but when we are
open to more possibilities, more opportunities, we're not
gridlocked into just one way of doing something.
Embrace, guys.

(20:21):
Embrace the change.
Adapt your strategies and keep evolving in pursuit
of your big vision.
That's it.
Adapt, be flexible, have a great attitude, and

(20:42):
know you can do things.
Number 23, guys.
Number 23 is progress means learning from every
mistake.
Now, there's a difference between learning from a
mistake and total failure.
Total failure is when you just don't realize
you've made a mistake, and you just keep

(21:05):
going downhill, downhill, downhill, downhill, downhill, and you
wonder why you got there.
You never observed that you were making mistakes.
You just let yourself crash.
Use mistakes, guys, as stepping stones, not stumbling
blocks.

(21:26):
So many people I know are like, oh,
I made another mistake again.
I guess I'm going to fall, keep falling.
You have that attitude?
Sure you are.
You've got to make sure that you believe
that you can do what it is.
You see, when you believe, the impossible becomes
possible.

(21:46):
You make the impossible, what you see or
seem to see, perception, become possible.
Each error offers a unique lesson to repel
your next move forward.

(22:06):
Maybe you've been involved with something, and you
did something wrong, and you realized because of
the feedback you got, hopefully it got you
to change the course of your direction so
you could become a better person.
Maybe you got feedback from other people, or
maybe you just saw, hey, this isn't working.

(22:29):
And we've learned from Einstein over and over
again that doing the same thing over and
over again, expecting different results, is insanity.
None of you are insane.
So my question is, why are you doing
the same thing over and over and over
and over and over again, and then beating
yourself up and saying, you know, I want
different results?
You're never going to get different results.

(22:51):
It's just not going to happen.
So you've got to make a choice.
I can't make this choice for you.
You've got to make this choice, the choice
that you want to become better.
Number 24, guys, level up through commitment.

(23:14):
Commitment for me, one way I do this
is I have a piece of paper every
day.
And on that piece of paper, I write
down what it is that I'm going to
do that day.
And I make sure it's like a commitment
with myself and that paper that I know
I'm going to get these things accomplished.
And, you know, everything on my paper pretty
much got accomplished.
I think there was one thing that didn't
get accomplished.
It was going to a store to buy
some sneakers, but I can always do that

(23:35):
next week.
That wasn't, like, pressing.
So I have a few more things on
my schedule, which is I'm going away tomorrow,
so I need to pack to do that
tonight.
I'm going to get up early tomorrow and
do the next show, okay, and be ready.
So I think when we have a plan,
it sets us up for success.

(23:59):
Big results come from deep commitment.
You need to choose, you need to decide
to be all in.
This isn't like half in, half out.
You're either all in or you're all out.
Then you act with purpose and passion until

(24:22):
the progress you're making becomes a habit.
Now, you might have heard in the past
that habits are bad, right?
Well, not all habits are bad.
If there's a habit that you did every
day, like the one I do with the
heart math breathing, that's a great habit, just
like a natural thing.

(24:43):
I was actually using it today.
A client was getting stressed, a tech client,
and I told them to just breathe in
and out of their heart.
And I told them, don't stress.
I'll figure it out.
And they liked that.

(25:06):
Sometimes people build themselves up and I'm like,
what are we going to do?
There's nothing else we can do right at
the moment.
So we can't control anything at the moment.
Let's just acknowledge where we're at and we'll
resolve it later.
I think that's hard.
Number 25, sweat today, shine tomorrow.

(25:29):
The hustle, guys, isn't glamorous.
I got to admit this, but the payoff
definitely is.
Your efforts today are setting the stage for
tomorrow's triumphs.
I'm not telling you it's going to be
easy on stage.
I'm not telling you it's going to be
easy achieving these goals.

(25:51):
You're committed and you know that when you
put the time in, you're going to definitely
achieve.
Number 26, your journey inspires others.
Keep moving.
Every step you take forward sets an example

(26:15):
for someone else.
Stay committed because those watching you may find
the courage to begin their own journey.
They might dig deep into themselves and say,
well, he's doing that or she's doing that.
Well, I bet I could do that.
And that's what I always hope to do

(26:36):
here on Inspiration for Your Life.
Share some nugget that lets you know that
you can make this kind of progress in
your life.
If you believe in yourself.
If you believe in yourself.

(26:57):
You got to believe.
That's the key, guys.
And so as we think about commitment, which
is what this whole show today has been
hinging on, if you didn't know.
Committing to improvement and progress.

(27:18):
So improvement means that you're committing to the
fact, let me say that, that you're going
to get better.
Even if it's 1% better, great.
And that you're going to progress forward.
You're not going to go back.
Ladies and gentlemen, I am John Seymour.
Serial entrepreneur.

(27:38):
You know, it's always such a privilege and
a pleasure and honor to be with you
guys every time I see you live.
Or we do a replay with you.
Or you watch any of my other content.
I hope you guys have a great rest
of your evening or day.
I'm going to catch you on another show.
Remember, guys, to tune into BelieveMeAchieve.com for
Inspiration For Your Life podcasts and all the
other great content.
And together, we'll help you achieve greatness in

(28:00):
your life.
Have a fantastic one, everyone.
Be well.