Daily Boost - Motivation and Coaching

Freedom and Growth Between the Lines Are you a fun-loving, carefree person who prefers to drift with the wind? Are you happier following the rules and staying within the lines? Whichever you are, happiness and success will arrive when you combine both: 1) Too much flexibility in life doesn’t allow for compounding your life experience. Like money in the bank, leave it alone once you know what works. 2) Too much structure will limit your ability to discover growth opportunities. Don’t get stuck. Donnie and Marie said it best in the ’70s, “I’m a little bit country, he’s a little bit rock and roll.” Combine the best of both.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

You're Building Your Life Backwards October 21, 2025 | Episode 5207 Host: Scott Smith Episode Description Smart people are doing it backwards right now. Even people who studied this exact thing in college are forgetting the basics. They're chasing respect before they can pay rent. They're demanding acceptance while their life's falling apart. Scott breaks down why 2025 has been so damn hard and what Abraham Maslow figured out in 1954 that still works today. No shortcuts. No hacks. Just the sequential steps you actually need to climb. Spoiler: You can't skip steps just because you're 21 and think the world is different now. Featured Story Scott's been having the same conversation over and over the past few weeks with successful people who've somehow forgotten what they learned in college. They're college-educated. They know Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs. But when Scott reminds them what they studied at university, they go, "Oh yeah, I forgot about it." Here's the thing that keeps coming up: people are trying to build the top floors before they've laid the foundation. They want self-actualization and respect while they can't feed themselves or feel safe. Scott calls it building without a peaceful base. And in a year as hard as 2025 has been—politically, financially, with AI throwing monkey wrenches everywhere—more people are doing this than ever. Even his son-in-law thinks he has to fix his entire hurricane-damaged house by himself when he's surrounded by a church community ready to help. Sometimes the basics are right in front of you. Important Points Your best life is built sequentially, one level at a time—forget the elevator, you've got to climb the steps to the top. If you can't feed yourself, feel safe, or maintain good relationships, you're not ready to help others or reach your full potential yet. Humans figured out how to build this whole world without AI, and things that have worked forever still work today—don't get distracted. Memorable Quotes "What a man can be, he must be. You feel it inside your bones." "I don't think you have to wait to become the person you're meant to be. I think you were put on this planet as that person." "If you can't feed yourself, if you don't have good relationships, if you're not happy, how could you possibly go out and help other people?" Scott's Three-Step Approach Take inventory of where you are in Maslow's five levels—physiological needs, safety, love and belonging, esteem, and self-actualization. Build your peaceful base first by handling the basics like shelter, money, relationships, and feeling safe before chasing bigger goals. Stop demanding respect and acceptance from others until you've mastered the previous levels—what you can be, you must be, but in the right order. Connect With Me Search for The Daily Boost on Apple Podcasts and Spotify. Email: support@motivationtomove.com 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

I'm about to make life coaches mad at me. Smart goals? I think they're stupid. And I've tried them. Specific, measurable, achievable, realistic, time-bound. Sounds great on paper. But two of those letters are killing your dreams before you even start. If you know you can achieve it, your goal is too small. If it feels realistic, you're not thinking big enough. I break down why big ass goals beat smart goals every time and why science backs up going bigger than you think possible. Featured Story I used to be just like everyone else. Read all the books. Watched all the videos. Tried every framework and acronym some guy like me made up. Smart goals included. I dove right in because I'm that person. You tell me to do it, I'll go do it. But something didn't add up. When I weighed myself every morning (before the BCI—body crap index), I could measure progress. But the goals that actually changed my life? They were never realistic or achievable when I started. This podcast wasn't realistic 20 years ago. I couldn't even see what it would become. The goals that fire you up make everyone around you wonder what you're thinking. Plot twist: You're wondering the same thing. Important Points You're hardwired for goal setting—your eyes triangulate targets with every step you take, making you a natural goal-setting machine. If you know you can achieve a goal, it's not really a goal—it's a to-do item, and your dreams deserve bigger than that. Your mind achieves goals the moment you set them, which is why they get hard to finish—you've already arrived in your head. Memorable Quotes "If you know you can do it, that's not really a goal. That's a to-do thing, right?" "The best goals in the world, the ones that really fire you up, everybody around you is like, what are you thinking, right?" "Big ass goals need to be a little bigger than you." Scott's Three-Step Approach Make it specific and measurable—if you can't see it clearly and track progress, you're setting yourself up to drift. Ditch achievable and realistic—the person you need to be to reach your goal doesn't exist yet, so stop playing small. Go big enough that you can't not do it—when a goal excites you so much you'll figure it out no matter what, you've found the sweet spot. Chapter Notes 0:03 - Why smart goals make life coaches unhappy 2:10 - Big ass goals beat smart goals every time 4:31 - Breaking down the SMART framework honestly 6:14 - If you know you'll achieve it, it's too small 7:25 - Realistic goals won't transform your life 8:08 - Your mind already sees the destination 8:59 - Go bigger than you think possible Connect With Me Search for the Daily Boost on YouTube, Apple Podcasts, and Spotify Email: support@motivationtomove.com Main Website: https://motivationtomove.com YouTube: https://youtube.com/dailyboostpodcast Instagram: @heyscottsmith Facebook Page: https://facebook.com/motivationtomove Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

December brings those annual bad habits back for about six weeks. You know the ones. I sat on the couch all day after a neighbor's wine party and had one word: incompatible. Not sustainable. Compatible. That's the question that changes everything about your habits. You already know what you should be doing. I walk you through my Good Habit Generator process that makes it actually happen. Short list. Pick one. Do it today. Layer in the rest. Simple stuff that works when life gets complicated. Featured Story My neighbor threw a wine party on Saturday night. I like good wine. And I almost never drink during the year. So I went. Had a glass. Maybe more because people kept topping me off. Cookies, chicken wings, pigs in a blanket, Swedish meatballs. All of it. Sunday morning I woke up with one word in my head: incompatible. Fun? Absolutely. But completely incompatible with what I want. I know because I spent the entire day on the freaking couch doing nothing. That one word has become huge in my coaching. Not is it sustainable, but is it compatible with your life? Important Points Every single action or inaction in your life creates a result, even doing nothing changes things. You already know your bad habits and good habits, the problem is making them fit your actual life. Compatible beats sustainable as the question to ask about your habits and choices. Memorable Quotes "Is it compatible or is it incompatible with your life?" "Everything you do in your life is a result of an action or an inaction." "If you do what you'd like to do and if you do it every single day, your life is going to be happier." Scott's Three-Step Approach Make a short list of one to three good habits you know will improve your life right now. Choose one single habit from your list and do it today, then repeat it tomorrow no matter what. Layer in the other habits from your list day by day without overwhelming yourself with too much too fast. Chapter Notes 0:03 - Annual bad habits return every December for six weeks 0:59 - Three-year-old ballet recital: cutest thing I've ever seen 1:24 - Wine party hangover teaches me about compatibility 2:31 - Compatible vs sustainable: the word that changes habits 4:12 - Actions and inactions both create life-changing results 5:25 - Good Habit Generator: my simple three-step process 7:45 - Simple stuff works better than complicated systems Connect With Me Search for the Daily Boost on YouTube, Apple Podcasts, and Spotify Email: support@motivationtomove.com Main Website:https:// motivationtomove.com YouTube: https://youtube.com/dailyboostpodcast Instagram: @heyscottsmith Facebook Page: https://facebook.com/motivationtomove Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

You know what you want. You're clear on that now. But you just don't know how to get there. You need the map, right? Most people want me to tell them exactly how to get from here to there. And honestly? You need a bridge. Not a vision board. Not a prayer. A real foundation on both sides with a solid plan connecting them. I share the Hoover Dam story that changed how I think about building anything in life — whether it's a new business, a relationship, or chasing a passion you can't shake. The secret isn't knowing exactly where you're going. It's building a peaceful base where you are right now, drafting where you want to go, and constructing the roadmap to get there. If you've been freaking out because life is messy or you spent your last credit card dollar on a course promising billions in 30 days, this episode brings you back to earth. Featured Story Years ago I was standing on top of the Hoover Dam. Pretty awe-inspiring. One of the biggest engineering marvels in history. But something else caught my attention. The new bridge going up high above the canyon. They were building a bypass, which made total sense to me. Why drive cars and semi-trucks over a dam holding billions of gallons of water? But I grew up in the seventies. Most of what we did then made no sense. As I watched that bridge construction, I realized something. The process was identical to getting what I wanted in life. Foundation on one side. Foundation on the other side. Build the span between them. That's how you cross any canyon. Important Points Most people know what they want after gaining clarity, but they just don't know how to get there — you need a bridge with foundations on both sides. Build a peaceful present base first before chasing the future, which means getting bills paid, relationships solid, and feeling strong where you are today. You can't know exactly where you're going until you start because you've never been there before — anyone who claims otherwise is lying to you. Memorable Quotes "God's got a plan for you, but he gave you free will. He's like, okay, here's the big plan. Here's the secret. I'm not going to tell you what it is or when it's going to happen." "I am not arrogant enough to think that I can head off in a direction of doing something I've never done before and know exactly how I'm going to get there." "How many times have you spent your last money on a credit card and you got to make a billion dollars in 30 days or it's not going to work for you? It doesn't work." Scott's Three-Step Approach Build your peaceful present base. Get bills paid, relationships solid, and everything settled where you are right now before charging into the future. Draft your peaceful future base. Take classes, get certifications, expand your network — start building the other side even though it's just a draft. Construct the bridge between them. Create your roadmap, your steps, your framework that gets you from here to there without falling into the river. Chapter Notes 00:00 - Why everyone just wants the damn map already 05:30 - The Hoover Dam bridge that changed everything 09:45 - How we stumble into our passions without a plan 13:20 - Why most people are freaking out and messy 16:40 - Building the peaceful base you're standing on 19:15 - Drafting a future you've never seen before 21:50 - The credit card trap that destroys dreams Connect With Me Search for the Daily Boost on YouTube, Apple Podcasts, and Spotify Email: support@motivationtomove.com Main Website: https://motivationtomove.com YouTube: https://youtube.com/dailyboostpodcast Instagram: @heyscottsmith Facebook Page: https://facebook.com/motivationtomove Facebook Group: https://dailyboostpodcast.com/facebook Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

You've heard it before: listen twice as much as you speak. Two ears, one mouth. Makes sense, right? But I'm taking that advice to a whole different level. Because most people are so busy listening to everyone else — to Google, to AI, to social media, to the noise — that they've stopped listening to themselves. They can't move forward without social approval. They don't trust their own wisdom. They've lost permission to listen to what their heart is saying. I introduce the concept of "going dark" — choosing to listen to others less and listen to yourself more. Not ignoring the world, but giving yourself space to think, to ponder, to ask "what would I do?" If you're feeling stuck or down, it's probably because you haven't stopped to listen to yourself. This episode changes that. Featured Story I've got the gift of gab. Always have. As a kid, I was energetic, enthusiastic, excitable. My mouth got me into lots of problems. Then I learned to use it to get myself out of those problems too. But somewhere along the way, smart people taught me to listen twice as much as I speak. When I got into coaching, I became a really good listener. Kept my mouth shut. Paid attention. Then I learned something else. I needed to listen to myself too. To my own wisdom. To what my heart was telling me. I started using what I call "Scott logic." Asking "what would Scott do?" Not in an arrogant way, but as an accumulation of all the wisdom I've gathered over the years. That's when everything changed. Important Points You have two ears and one mouth for a reason, but most people listen to everyone else so much they've stopped listening to themselves. Going dark means giving yourself space to listen to your own wisdom twice as much as you listen to others around you. When you stop listening to what your heart is telling you, that's usually when you start feeling stuck or down in life. Memorable Quotes "Going dark means life is brighter. It means good stuff is about to happen." "We've lost permission to listen to ourselves and to do for ourselves. It's like we can't move forward without social approval of those around us." "If I didn't absolutely know where I stood, I didn't know what my values were and what was really important to me, I had no business talking to anybody else." Scott's Three-Step Approach Shut your mouth and pay attention to the world. Listen to others, be caring, interact — but don't just talk to fill the space. Listen to yourself twice as much as anyone else. Take time to think, ponder, and ask yourself what you really believe about the situation. Know where you stand before speaking. Get clear on your values and what's important to you, then operate from that place. Chapter Notes 00:00 - Why your mouth might be your biggest problem 04:20 - The two ears, one mouth principle revealed 07:45 - What "going dark" really means for your life 11:15 - When social approval replaces self-trust 14:30 - Scott logic and knowing what you would do 17:20 - Why feeling down means you stopped listening 19:40 - Finding your values before talking to anyone Connect With Me Search for the Daily Boost on YouTube, Apple Podcasts, and Spotify Email: support@motivationtomove.com Main Website: https://motivationtomove.com YouTube: https://youtube.com/dailyboostpodcast Instagram: @heyscottsmith Facebook Page: https://facebook.com/motivationtomove Facebook Group: https://dailyboostpodcast.com/facebook Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

You set a goal. You write it down. You're ready to go. Then life blows you off course. Your boss keeps you busy. Your spouse questions your plans. Your kids need you. And suddenly you're nowhere near where you wanted to be. Sound familiar? Pilots deal with this every single flight. The wind blows them off course, so they course correct. They crab into the wind. They adjust their heading. And they still arrive at their destination for that $375 hamburger. I break down why you need to stop expecting a straight path, start planning for the winds of life, and master the art of course correction. Plus, why the Krispy Kreme hot donut sign is the perfect metaphor for goal achievement. If you've been frustrated that life keeps getting in your way, this changes how you think about reaching your goals. Featured Story I live in Daytona Beach. We've got airplanes everywhere. Flight schools, banner towers, the whole deal. And when you look up, those airplanes are flying crooked. The nose is pointed off to the side because the wind is blowing from the west. Looks scary, right? But the pilot knows exactly what they're doing. They've set their course for Georgia, and if they don't correct for that western wind, they'll end up in Bermuda instead of getting that hamburger. So they crab into the wind. They course correct. They adjust their heading. That's how you hit your goals too. Life's going to blow you off course. Plan for it. Important Points The winds of life will always blow you off course — your boss, your spouse, your kids, your responsibilities — so stop expecting a straight path to your goals. Course correction is the skill you need, just like pilots do when wind pushes them sideways — adjust your heading and keep moving toward your destination. If your goal isn't sufficiently motivating (like a hot Krispy Kreme sign), you won't bother to wind correct at all and you'll end up somewhere else entirely. Memorable Quotes "The winds are going to blow. Life is not going to get easier. It was never designed to be easy." "You probably didn't think about it, but you thought that I set my goal, I'm going to go do it. But suddenly the winds blow you off course, and you can't figure out why you're not getting there." "If that donut sign is not on, if the goal is not sufficiently motivating, I am not going to wind correct at all. I'm going to end up somewhere else." Scott's Three-Step Approach Set a goal that's big and exciting enough. Make it so compelling that you'll actually do the work to course correct when life gets messy. Expect the winds to blow you off course. Your boss, spouse, kids, and responsibilities will push you sideways — that's just life, so plan for it. Master the art of course correction. Like a pilot adjusting their heading into the wind, keep making small corrections that get you back on track. Chapter Notes 00:00 - When life's winds blow you off your goals 04:30 - Why Daytona Beach airports teach goal setting 08:15 - The pilot's secret to reaching any destination 11:45 - Your spouse disagrees and now what happens 14:20 - Life was never designed to be easy anyway 16:40 - The Krispy Kreme hot donut sign principle 18:50 - Course correcting your way to what you want Connect With Me Search for the Daily Boost on YouTube, Apple Podcasts, and Spotify Email: support@motivationtomove.com Main Website: https://motivationtomove.com YouTube: https://youtube.com/dailyboostpodcast Instagram: @heyscottsmith Facebook Page: https://facebook.com/motivationtomove Facebook Group: https://dailyboostpodcast.com/facebook Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Law of Attraction isn't some mystical secret. It's actually dead simple: know what you want, believe you can get it, and get your ass to work. Three steps. That's it. So why does it fail for most people? Because they're focusing on the wrong thing. They're thinking about what they don't want instead of what they do want. They're maintaining vision boards without taking action. They're journaling about dreams without making them real. I break down why the Law of Attraction is really just the Law of What You Think About Most, share a story about divorced women who can't stop listing what they don't want, and reveal the Harley Davidson vision board disaster. If you've been wishing and hoping instead of believing and doing, this episode is your wake-up call. Featured Story I work with a lot of divorced people. Men and women going through transitions, looking for what's next. And every single time I ask a divorced woman what she wants in her next man, you know what she says? "I'll tell you what I don't want." Then she goes off for ten minutes. I could make coffee, pet my dog, throw the ball, come back — she's still listing what she doesn't want. What's happening? She's focused on the past. The bad stuff. What didn't work. So guess what she's attracting more of? That's the Law of Attraction at work. You get what you focus on. Every single time. Important Points The Law of Attraction boils down to three things: know specifically what you want, believe you can make it happen, and take massive imperfect action. Most people fail because they focus on what they don't want instead of what they do want, keeping themselves stuck in the past. Vision boards and goal lists are useless if you never take action — stop wishing and hoping, start believing and doing. Memorable Quotes "Know specifically what you want, believe you can go get it, not you deserve it, believe you can make it happen and get to work." "You get what you focus on. You ever wonder why somebody you know gets married, gets divorced, gets married, gets divorced to the same guy?" "He was so busy on his vision board, he forgot to go live the vision." Scott's Three-Step Approach Get clear on what you want, not what you don't want. Stop focusing on the past failures and start describing your ideal future in specific terms. Believe you can make it happen through action. Not because you deserve it, but because you're willing to do the work to get it. Take action today, not tomorrow. Pick one thing from your vision board or goal list and go do it right now. Chapter Notes 00:00 - Why the Law of Attraction fails for most people 04:20 - The divorced woman's attraction trap revealed 08:45 - Vision boards that never become reality 11:30 - The Harley Davidson dealership lesson 14:15 - Daily journaling versus daily awareness practice 16:40 - Making your future real today, not tomorrow 18:25 - Three steps to attraction that actually works Connect With Me Search for the Daily Boost on YouTube, Apple Podcasts, and Spotify Email: support@motivationtomove.com Main Website: https://motivationtomove.com YouTube: https://youtube.com/dailyboostpodcast Instagram: @heyscottsmith Facebook Page: https://facebook.com/motivationtomove Facebook Group: https://dailyboostpodcast.com/facebook Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Ever ask someone to hold you accountable, only to get annoyed when they actually do it? Yeah, I've seen that pattern destroy more goals than I can count. And that whole "announce your goals publicly" advice? That might be setting you up for failure. Because accountability isn't about crowdsourcing support from people who barely know you. It's about something way more powerful. I share why the best accountability partner you'll ever have is staring back at you in the mirror, plus the one type of accountability relationship that actually works. If you've been spinning your wheels with accountability buddies who let you off the hook, this episode changes everything. Featured Story I was talking to these ladies about their walking buddy system. Six o'clock every morning, they'd get each other out of bed. Great plan, right? I asked them what happens when the walking buddy doesn't show up. Maybe overslept. Maybe their kid's sick. Doesn't matter why. Most people? They'll sit down with coffee and a donut instead of walking solo. But the ones who say "I'm doing this whether you show up or not" — they'll be miles ahead. They become the boss of themselves. They stop depending on someone else to make them move. That's when accountability actually works. Important Points Crowdsourcing accountability on Facebook or to casual acquaintances puts pressure on everyone and rarely works for long-term goals. The most powerful accountability skill you have is taking responsibility for yourself and showing up whether your accountability partner does or not. Real accountability partnerships work when they're based on respect and sincere connection, and you empower that person to actually do their job. Memorable Quotes "You're the boss of you. You can tell yourself what to do. You can tell yourself not to do it." "Nobody trusts you and respects you more than you do. Nobody will be willing to call you out more than you will." "Life is difficult. Life gets in the way. Life is not easy. And if it is easy today, it won't be easy tomorrow or maybe next month or maybe next year." Scott's Three-Step Approach Accept you're the boss of yourself. Stop waiting for someone else to make you do what you already know needs doing. Choose accountability partners wisely. Find people who know you well, respect you, and will call you out when you're making excuses. Empower them to do their job. Give them permission to hold you accountable without beating them up when they do. Chapter Notes 00:00 - Why public goal announcements backfire on you 03:15 - The Facebook accountability trap that sabotages progress 06:30 - My client's brilliant insight about firing coaches 09:45 - The walking buddy test that reveals everything 12:20 - Why you're the only accountability partner you need 15:10 - How to build accountability relationships that work 17:30 - Being the boss of you in the messy middle Connect With Me Search for the Daily Boost on YouTube, Apple Podcasts, and Spotify Email: support@motivationtomove.com Main Website: https://motivationtomove.com YouTube: https://youtube.com/dailyboostpodcast Instagram: @heyscottsmith Facebook Page: https://facebook.com/motivationtomove Facebook Group: https://dailyboostpodcast.com/facebook Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

You're getting distracted and you don't even know it. Your attention gets grabbed, you become interested, and suddenly you're doing things that weren't on your plan. I'm going to walk you through two advertising principles that explain exactly how this happens. One shows how your mind naturally works. The other shows where you are right now. Understanding these will change how you move through your day. You'll see why you drift off course and how to use your own brain to stay focused on what actually matters. Featured Story The other day I was driving and the red lights came on my dash. Temperature dropped to 31 degrees here in Florida. I became acutely aware that I had a problem. Low tire pressure. So now I'm thinking about where to get free air. Because free air is hard to find these days. But I know one place that has it. That's the whole process right there. I went from completely unaware to taking action because I understood exactly where I was in the awareness stages. Important Points Your attention gets grabbed all day long by bosses, friends, and advertisers using the AIDA model—they get your attention, build your interest, create desire, and move you to action before you realize what happened. You can be in one of five awareness stages right now: completely unaware of your problem, aware something's wrong, looking for solutions, knowing which product or person can help, or actively implementing solutions across your whole life. The same mental process that distracts you can work for your benefit when you deliberately use it to grab your own attention and stay interested in what moves you toward your big-ass goal. Memorable Quotes "Something's going to get your attention today, and after that, you're going to become interested. You're going to go, oh, what's that?" "You can be interested and desire things that maybe aren't good for you or maybe take you totally off track, and now you find yourself going down that road instead of the other road you wanted to go down." "It's built into your brain. It'll make you sane." Scott's Three-Step Approach Track your awareness level daily by asking yourself what's grabbing your attention and whether those things align with where you want to go instead of drifting through your day on autopilot. Identify which awareness stage you're in for each area of your life—are you unaware, problem aware, solution aware, product aware, or most aware—so you know exactly what you need next. Deliberately use the AIDA model for yourself by choosing what gets your attention, staying interested in things that matter, building desire for your actual goals, and taking action on your terms. Connect With Me Search for the Daily Boost on YouTube, Apple Podcasts, and Spotify Email: support@motivationtomove.com Main Website: https://motivationtomove.com YouTube: https://youtube.com/dailyboostpodcast Instagram: @heyscottsmith Facebook Page: https://facebook.com/motivationtomove Facebook Group: https://dailyboostpodcast.com/facebook Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

It's the end of the year and you're thinking about what's next. But here's what most people get wrong about goals. I'm not talking about those 10-year vision things or tiny incremental goals. I'm talking about something so big it changes how you live right now. A goal that's actually worth your time has to grab your attention and redirect your entire day. And you don't build to it over months or years. You start living it today. Featured Story I just got off my 7 a.m. Wednesday morning call with my inner circle. Two years ago, I would've hated that idea. But this group? They're doing the work. We spent the whole call talking about what it means to set a goal that's actually big enough to matter. The holiday chaos is happening. We're all wrapping up the year, buying presents, eating too much, dealing with everything. But underneath all that noise, we're thinking about next year. And the question isn't just "what do I want?" It's "what am I willing to live right now?" Important Points Your big-ass goal isn't about your career or your health or your relationships separately—it's the whole picture of the life you want to live, and everything else has to support that vision. If your goal doesn't grab your attention and run with it, it's not big enough, because a real goal directs everything you do instead of waiting for leftover minutes at the end of your day. You don't build to your goal over time—you start living it today by doing only the actions that align with who you're trying to become, even if it's not perfect yet. Memorable Quotes "A goal so big that you see yourself living it today, even though it's not exactly what you want it to be, but you know you're on your way because you're doing it every day anyway." "I know you don't know, but if you did, what would it be? In that moment, hope and inspiration arrive. And that feeling arrives." "You might not know what to call it, you might not know exactly what it looks like. You don't even know how to spell it, man. You know what it feels like." Scott's Three-Step Approach Define your big-ass goal as the complete picture of the life you want—not divided into categories, but as one integrated vision that includes your career, relationships, health, and impact on the world. Make your goal big enough that it demands your attention every single day and start living it immediately instead of building a plan to get there eventually. Simplify everything else in your life by clearing out the clutter and complications that keep you from living in your goal right now. Connect With Me Search for the Daily Boost on YouTube, Apple Podcasts, and Spotify Email: support@motivationtomove.com Main Website: https://motivationtomove.com YouTube: https://youtube.com/dailyboostpodcast Instagram: @heyscottsmith Facebook Page: https://facebook.com/motivationtomove Facebook Group: https://dailyboostpodcast.com/facebook Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Ever meet someone who wants to be great at something but has no idea where to start? That was me in a sauna on Thanksgiving morning, talking to a young guy who wanted to be a motivational speaker. He had the passion but zero clue about the path forward. Sound familiar? I shared a classic Zig Ziglar lesson about the stages of competence that changed my life years ago. Turns out, knowing what stage you're in makes all the difference. Because you can't get where you're going if you don't know where you are. Featured Story Thanksgiving morning. My wife kicked me out of the kitchen, so I hit the gym. After my workout, I headed to the sauna. Young guy in there, polite enough to get off his phone. We started talking. He's a locksmith, but what he really wants? To be a motivational speaker. Problem is, he had no idea how to get there. No content. No roadmap. Just the desire and some friends who said he pumped them up. I've been there. I've done 12,000 podcasts. I knew exactly where he was stuck. So I spent the next 20 minutes in a hot sauna walking him through the stages every beginner goes through. We talked until our heart rates went crazy and we had to bail. I'll probably never see him again. But I got to do what someone once did for me. Pass it forward. Important Points You don't know what you don't know when you start something new, and that's perfectly normal—everyone around you gets it, even if you feel like a dummy. Admitting "I have no idea what I'm doing" changed everything for me, and it'll change things for you too because pretending to know blocks real learning. The final stage isn't just being competent yourself—it's recognizing and developing the unconscious competence in others, which is where real impact happens. Memorable Quotes "You cannot replace experience. You just can't." "Some of the best motivation I've ever had in my life, I did not like the person when they delivered that lesson." "The ability to recognize and develop the unconscious competence of others." Scott's Three-Step Approach Accept that you're an unconscious incompetent when starting anything new, and embrace that stage instead of pretending you know more than you do. Move to conscious incompetence by admitting what you don't know, which opens the door to real learning and removes the pressure of having all the answers. Work toward conscious competence where you know you're good, then use that knowledge to help others recognize their own unconscious competence. Chapter Notes 0:02 - Holiday happiness and one-finger waves 0:34 - When you need a kick in the butt, not blues 0:57 - Thanksgiving sauna wisdom with a future speaker 6:47 - Four stages of competence explained simply 8:14 - People who don't know how good they are 9:19 - The fifth stage: helping others figure it out Connect With Me Search for the Daily Boost on YouTube, Apple Podcasts, and Spotify Email: support@motivationtomove.com Main Website: https://motivationtomove.com YouTube: https://youtube.com/dailyboostpodcast Instagram: @heyscottsmith Facebook Group: https://dailyboostpodcast.com/facebook Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

I just hosted Thanksgiving for 15 people. Youngest was my grandson Evan at four months old. Oldest? That was me, cutting the turkey and saying the prayer. How did I get here? Same way you'll get where you want to go. By deciding what you want, paying the price, and taking massive imperfect action. As we head into year-end planning, I'm sharing the wisdom that separates dreamers from achievers. Less tactics, more framing for how to approach 2026 like someone who actually gets stuff done. Featured Story Picture this: I'm standing at the head of the table, carving the turkey, pouring the wine, saying the prayer. When did I go from sitting at the kids table to being the elder? Tick tock. That's what hit me hardest. Time doesn't wait. My son couldn't make it from Portland this year. The youngest at our table was four and a half months old. Beautiful boy, Evan. And somehow I became the beautiful man at the head of the table. The clock is ticking on whatever you want. There are benefits to getting older, sure. But the real benefit is learning that waiting costs you everything. Important Points The bigger your dreams, the bigger your problems you'll need to solve. If you want what nobody else has, you'll solve problems nobody else will. It feels hard because you're going against the herd, and that's exactly how it should be. The future value of your life depends on the current value of your effort. Most people fill their days with low-value activities like organizing their hard drive. High achievers focus on high-value work that actually moves them forward. Never ending massive imperfect action is the key to everything. People who really want something make a big mess. I make a terrible mess. Part of working with me is cleaning up after me, because I'd rather take imperfect action than perfect inaction. Memorable Quotes "The future value of your life and your business depends on the current value of your effort." "You are the boss of you and it's a problem. Because since we're the boss of ourselves, we don't have to listen to ourselves, do we?" "Learning feels like you're doing, but you're not. You're not getting stuff done. So learn what you need to learn, then go do something with it." Scott's Three-Step Approach Decide specifically what you want and own it completely. Don't ask ChatGPT about your goals. Don't wait for permission. Write down what's in your heart and say that's what you're going to do. Anything less is what ordinary people do, and you're not ordinary. Start early and do first things first. Get the most important work done before the day begins, before emails arrive, before the phone rings. Pick your first task, finish it, then move to the next. No multitasking. Just systematic progress until it's done. Take massive imperfect action without accepting your excuses. Make a mess. You can clean it up later or have someone else clean it up for you. The key is getting moving, not getting it perfect. Chapter Notes 0:00 - Post-Thanksgiving wisdom on massive action 2:45 - Why bigger dreams mean bigger problems to solve 4:20 - The mistake of not owning your goals completely 5:35 - Start early: doing important work before day begins 6:50 - Deep work changes everything: two hours daily 8:15 - Massive imperfect action beats perfect planning Connect With Me Search for the Daily Boost on YouTube, Apple Podcasts, and Spotify Email: support@motivationtomove.com Main Website: https://motivationtomove.com YouTube: https://youtube.com/dailyboostpodcast Instagram: @heyscottsmith Facebook Page: https://facebook.com/motivationtomove Facebook Group: https://dailyboostpodcast.com/facebook Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

My wife Joy is a creature of habit. She has a rule. After Thanksgiving, nobody goes to a restaurant for breakfast, lunch, or dinner until every single piece of Thanksgiving food is gone. Magically, it always lasts right through Sunday evening. One year we went to someone else's house for Thanksgiving. Joy brought leftovers home. The next day she went to the store, came back, and started cooking. I'm thinking you've been cooking for days. You brought leftovers home. What are you cooking? She said she's cooking leftovers. She purchased a small turkey and all the ingredients to keep her routine for the weekend. Featured Story I wanted a dog that looked good in my Jeep. Got an Australian Shepherd named Levi because Border Collies are crazy and Aussies are just stubborn. Turns out I should've gotten the crazy dog because the stubborn one is exactly like his dad. I made rookie mistakes training Levi. One day my trainer said something that changed everything. For a dog, one time means all the time. Every time you let them do something new, they're just going to keep doing it. That applies to more than dogs. Joi schedules everything. I literally schedule a spontaneous Saturday date for her. I tell my wife to put in her predictable routine that we're going to be spontaneous on Saturday so she's okay with it. Don't surprise her. A couple years ago we went elsewhere for Thanksgiving and Joy had a real problem. She has a routine. When a certain time of year comes, she gets the recipes out and does the thing. Now she's not doing the thing. The look on her face when I figured out what she was doing. Cheating leftovers. She was lying to me about leftovers. Important Points For a dog, one time means all the time, and that principle applies to building habits and routines in your own life too. What makes you happy might seem crazy to someone else, but if it brings you joy, just do what you do. Respecting other people's routines and quirks is easier when you understand they need those patterns to be happy. Memorable Quotes "For a dog, one time means all the time. Every time you let him do something new, they're just going to keep doing it." "I literally schedule a spontaneous Saturday date for her. She has to know we're going to be spontaneous on Saturday." "Do leftovers make you happy? What makes you happy? Do what you do. Just do what you do." Scott's Three-Step Approach Understand that consistency creates happiness for some people, even if their routines seem excessive to you. Figure out what actually makes you happy and build those patterns into your life without apology. If you're married to someone with strong routines, just go with it and maybe hide half the Thanksgiving food so everyone gets leftovers. Chapter Notes 1:15 - Holiday season stress and choosing to be happy 2:18 - Getting Levi: wanted a dog for my Jeep 3:17 - Dog training wisdom that applies to everything 3:50 - Joi is a creature of habit and routine 4:51 - The serious nature of the leftover problem 5:53 - She was cooking leftovers that weren't leftovers 7:05 - This year's solution: double the food, hide half Connect With Me Search for the Daily Boost on YouTube, Apple Podcasts, and Spotify Email: support@motivationtomove.com Main Website: https://motivationtomove.com YouTube: https://youtube.com/dailyboostpodcast Instagram: @heyscottsmith Facebook Page: https://facebook.com/motivationtomove Facebook Group: https://DailyBoostPodcast.com/facebook Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Happy Thanksgiving. My entire family comes over today. Four kids between us, six grandkids including a four-month-old. Some in-laws too. This is the place to come now and I'm so grateful for it. I also understand it won't go on forever. Guys miss the whole grateful thing sometimes. I wrote A Gratitude Journal for Men a few years ago because I kept seeing men treat gratitude like another task. Like something they have to go do. Just be grateful. That's all. But in our fast-paced world, the daily activities fly by and get forgotten. So today I'm sharing some of my favorite gratitude quotes and a little scotumtary in between. Featured Story I had a real feeling when I got up to record this. I was feeling very grateful. Maybe it's the time of year. But I wanted to dive into what I haven't thought about lately. Not just expand on all the things I'm grateful for, but recognize the ones I've been missing. Sometimes it's hard to admit you don't live in gratitude. That's why the wisdom of others is so cool. Little things we blow off turn out to be really big. I've got regrets. When someone tells me they have no regrets, I say liar. Maybe you've found a way to deal with them, but we all have them. Usually my regrets involve little things I didn't pay attention to that turned out to be really big. Important Points Enjoy the little things because one day you'll look back and realize they were actually the big things all along. If you're not thankful for what's in your hand right now, you won't be thankful for what you're going to get either. Gratitude must be produced, discharged, and used up for it to exist at all, like electricity that disappears if not actively generated. Memorable Quotes "Enjoy the little things. For one day, you may look back and realize they were the big things." "If a fellow isn't thankful for what he's got, he isn't likely to be thankful for what he's going to get." "Gratitude is a quality similar to electricity. It must be produced and discharged and used up in order to exist at all." Scott's Three-Step Approach Write three things you're grateful for before bed each night to reset your brain and build the gratitude habit. Stop treating gratitude like another task on your to-do list and just be grateful for what's already in your hand. Look for the little things today because they're probably the big things you'll remember years from now. Chapter Notes 1:14 - Family Thanksgiving and feeling grateful this morning 1:49 - Why guys miss the whole gratitude thing 2:34 - First wisdom: enjoy the little things quote 3:39 - Collection of gratitude wisdom from great thinkers 5:37 - Gratitude is like electricity, produce it or lose it 6:24 - Buddhist proverb: enough is a feast 7:11 - Transform common days into thanksgivings Connect With Me Search for the Daily Boost on YouTube, Apple Podcasts, and Spotify Email: support@motivationtomove.com Main Website: https://motivationtomove.com YouTube: https://youtube.com/dailyboostpodcast Instagram: @heyscottsmith Facebook Page: https://facebook.com/motivationtomove Facebook Group: https://DailyBoostPodcast.com/facebook Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

You have an ideology whether you know it or not. Not political. We're not going there. I'm talking about your personal rulebook. The boundaries you set. The values you stand for. Who you actually are when nobody's watching. If you haven't decided who you are, the world will decide for you. They'll tell you who you're going to be and that's how you'll get treated. I created something years ago called a Who I Am document. It's my operating manual. My personal constitution. It establishes what I believe and serves as my foundation for growth and change. Featured Story A client went political in the first 30 seconds of our group coaching call. What's a guy to do when that happens? I let it go for about 30 seconds then closed it off. But by the end of the call, something became clear. She's so stuck in who she thinks she is that she won't listen to anybody else. I don't understand that concept. I know who I am. I have my own values. But I'm open to just about anything. You have a better way to lose weight than mine? I'm not going to defend my way. I'll listen and take yours if it works better. That's the difference between knowing who you are and being stuck in who you think you are. Important Points If you don't decide who you are, the world decides for you and that determines how you get treated every single day. Your personal ideology is your rulebook for life including how you see yourself, how you respond to situations, and who you hang out with. Writing a Who I Am document forces you to be honest about who you really are, not who you think you are or want to be. Memorable Quotes "If you haven't decided what you're all about, then everybody else is just going to decide what you're all about and that's how you're going to get treated." "You hang out with somebody that doesn't share your values? You're compromising. You're now becoming them." "You can't be a grown ass adult if you don't know who you are, can you?" Scott's Three-Step Approach Document who you really are by writing down how you see yourself, how others see you, and how you'd like to be seen. Define your non-negotiables including the values people must share to be in your life and how you respond in different situations. Track yourself daily to discover who you really are versus who you think you are because the answers will surprise you. Chapter Notes 1:05 - Personal ideology: it's about you not politics 1:56 - Do you really know who you are? 3:04 - Ideology defined: what you stand for in the world 4:05 - Creating my Who I Am document years ago 5:03 - Three questions that reveal everything about you 7:12 - Who you hang out with defines who you become 8:43 - Daily awareness diary tracks the real you Connect With Me Search for the Daily Boost on YouTube, Apple Podcasts, and Spotify Email: support@motivationtomove.com Main Website: https://motivationtomove.com YouTube: https://youtube.com/dailyboostpodcast Instagram: @heyscottsmith Facebook Page: https://facebook.com/motivationtomove Facebook Group: https://DailyBoostPodcast.com/facebook Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

You're sitting around waiting for your shot. Someone else is losing sleep because they can't find you. They have a problem only you can solve. A gap only you can fill. But they don't know you exist yet. My mother-in-law taught me this years ago and it changed everything about how I approach opportunity. She didn't let me sit around hoping things would work out. She kicked my butt and told me the truth. Somebody needs what you have to offer right now. Your only job? Go find them. Featured Story I walked into my boss's office at the radio station and quit. I'd been working production, making commercials in the back room. Not my thing. I knew podcasting was coming and I had to get out. He asked me how I could just walk away from security, benefits, vacation time. How could I be so sure something better was waiting? I told him what my mother-in-law taught me. Between that radio station and my house, about 15 miles, somebody was sitting in their office right then with a problem. They were saying, "If I could just find someone to fix this for me." They were losing sleep because they didn't know I existed. My job was to go find them. Important Points Someone right now needs exactly what you have to offer but they're stuck because they don't know you exist yet. Waiting around hoping things work out is the opposite of understanding that people are actively looking for you to solve their problem. Your job isn't to hope or pray for opportunity but to go find the people who need you and let them know you're here. Memorable Quotes "Somebody out there needs what you have to offer. They don't even know you exist. So get out there and let them know you exist." "There is somebody right now in a business that has a problem. They're losing sleep because they don't know you exist." "When I want to grow my business, I just reach out to find people who need me and boy, they're out there." Scott's Three-Step Approach Stop waiting for someone else to lift your dreams or hoping opportunity finds you while you sit at home. Shift your mindset from "I hope this works out" to understanding that someone is actively looking for what you offer. Go find the people who need you by getting out there, banging on doors, talking to people, and making yourself known. Chapter Notes 1:09 - Survey results: you want mindset shifts not lists 2:29 - Movie theaters and roller rinks in the 70s 3:16 - Life gets in the way of fantasy dreams 5:15 - Mother-in-law's advice that changed everything 6:15 - Walking away from security at the radio station 7:46 - Simple concept: somebody needs what you have Connect With Me Search for the Daily Boost on YouTube, Apple Podcasts, and Spotify Email: support@motivationtomove.com Main Website: https://motivationtomove.com YouTube: https://youtube.com/dailyboostpodcast Instagram: @heyscottsmith Facebook Page: https://facebook.com/motivationtomove Facebook Group: https://DailyBoostPodcast.com/facebook Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Your morning routine is broken. Not because you're doing it wrong. But because you're doing what someone else told you works for them. I tried all the guru stuff. The ice baths, the 5 a.m. productivity sprints, the meditation marathons. Some of it worked. Most of it didn't. I spent years punishing myself with morning routines that looked perfect on paper but made my life worse. Then I asked myself one simple question that changed everything. It's not about what you should do. It's about what serves the life you're actually trying to build. Featured Story I wasn't always a morning person. When I started in radio at 18, I'd stand in the shower thinking about how long I could keep getting up at 4 a.m. Later in my career, I'd hit my desk by 5 a.m., pounding through my to-do list like my life depended on it. But I was miserable. Then I swung the other way. Spent a couple years doing the personal development morning. Reading, meditating, taking care of myself before heading to the gym. I got in better shape. My bank account shrank. My future goals felt unreachable. One day I got frustrated and asked myself one question. That question put everything in perspective. It wasn't about productivity or personal care. It was about something bigger. Important Points Traditional morning routines fall into two camps: personal development or productivity, but neither one serves everyone all the time. The magic isn't in following someone else's perfect morning formula but in asking what serves the life you're designing. Flexibility beats rigidity when your routine adapts to what matters most that day instead of following the same order forever. Memorable Quotes "Stand your butt up. Just stand up and then take a step in the direction you want to go and just keep going until you get it." "Everything works to some level, but does it work for you?" "What's the first thing I should do tomorrow morning that if I do, will allow me to live the life that I design?" Scott's Three-Step Approach Ask yourself the night before what one thing tomorrow morning will serve the life you're designing, not what's on your to-do list. Build flexibility into your routine so some days it's work, some days it's wind therapy on a motorcycle, some days it's grandkids. Stop punishing yourself with morning rituals that look perfect but make your life worse in the ways that actually matter. Chapter Notes 1:02 - Your habits are your life, choose wisely 1:33 - Andrew Huberman and why ice baths are stupid 2:24 - Two morning groups and the satisfying third option 3:18 - Confessions of a guy who hated mornings 4:34 - Little fairies running through my fingers at 5am 5:21 - The one question that changed everything for me 6:42 - My actual morning routine without the BS Connect With Me Search for the Daily Boost on YouTube, Apple Podcasts, and Spotify Email: support@motivationtomove.com Main Website: motivationtomove.com YouTube: youtube.com/dailyboostpodcast Instagram: @heyscottsmith Facebook Page: facebook.com/motivationtomove Facebook Group: Join the Daily Boost Community Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode Description Ever feel like you're stuck on repeat? I'm celebrating my birthday today and starting a new nine-year life cycle. Yeah, you read that right. About 25 years ago, a spiritual pastor taught me something that changed how I see patterns in my life. It's a nine-year cycle that repeats over and over. Once I learned it, I started seeing it everywhere. Not just in my life, but in every coaching client I've shared it with. Each year has its own energy and purpose. And knowing where you are in the cycle? That changes everything about how you approach your next move. Featured Story It's my birthday today and I'm in year three of my cycle. That means the resources I need are arriving. I've spent the last two years looking around, deciding I wanted to do things differently with the show. New theme music, new direction, all of it. And now? Everything I need is showing up. I'm excited. I want to go. But I've learned to trust the pattern because I've seen it work at least two and a half times in my life. This isn't woo-woo wishful thinking. It's practical wisdom wrapped in a spiritual truth. The kind that makes successful people like you take notice and say, "Wait, that actually makes sense." Important Points Life operates in repeatable nine-year cycles that start with seeking and end with clearing space for what's next. Each year serves a specific purpose from decision-making to intense focus to letting go of what no longer serves you. Understanding where you are in your cycle removes confusion and gives you permission to change everything when the time is right. Memorable Quotes "Stand your butt up. Just stand up and then take a step in the direction you want to go and just keep going until you get it." "I'm not the most woo-woo guy on the planet, but I got some woo-woo in me. I'm a very practical guy." "If you're asking for new and you haven't cleaned up your mess first, you're just going to get more mess." Scott's Three-Step Approach Identify where you are in your nine-year cycle by looking at what's naturally happening in your life right now. Stop fighting the patterns and work with them instead of wondering why things feel off or perfectly aligned. Use each year's energy intentionally whether you're deciding, building, intensifying, or clearing space for what's next. Chapter Notes 0:32 - World's simplest success recipe revealed 1:12 - Meeting Louis Gates changed everything for me 2:24 - Nine-year life cycles explained year by year 4:12 - Year three arrival: resources stack up fast 5:18 - Midpoint re-evaluation: keep what works only 6:27 - Years seven through nine: preparing for reset 7:50 - Complete cycle recap you can apply today Connect With Me Search for the Daily Boost on YouTube, Apple Podcasts, and Spotify Email: support@motivationtomove.com Main Website: motivationtomove.com YouTube: youtube.com/dailyboostpodcast Instagram: @heyscottsmith Facebook Page: facebook.com/motivationtomove Facebook Group: Join the Daily Boost Community Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Another year flying by? Another birthday that came too fast? I get it. Time feels like it's speeding up every single year. But what if I told you that you can actually slow time down? Not with some weird trick, but by understanding how your brain processes time. When you rush around all day, time flies. When you slow down and focus deeply on what matters, time expands. I've been studying Einstein's theory of relativity and Benjamin Hardy's work on extreme goals, and I'm going to show you how to take control of your time starting today. Featured Story My birthday's coming up. November 21st, if you're wondering. And like clockwork, I catch myself thinking the same thing I think every year. Is it my birthday again already? Didn't we just do this? When I was five years old, waiting for Christmas felt like forever. A year was an eternity. Now? A year feels like a month. But I've figured something out. When I'm rushing around all day, busy-busy-busy, trying to get everything done, time absolutely flies. Days blur into weeks. Weeks blur into years. When I slow down and focus deeply on the work that matters? Time stretches out. The day feels longer. I get more done and still have time left over. That's what relativity looks like in real life. Important Points When you run fast all day trying to get everything done, your entire life speeds up and years fly by before you know it. Slowing down and focusing deeply on essential goals actually makes time expand and gives you all the free time you'll ever need. Setting extreme goals with compressed timelines forces you into deep work mode where time slows down and you accomplish what matters most. Memorable Quotes "When you go fast, fast, fast, everything goes fast. The days, the weeks, the years, your life flies by when you do that." "When you slow down, when you hold space for yourself, things change." "Time slows down and you enjoy your day like you were born to." Scott's Three-Step Approach Set an extreme goal that's so big it almost scares you, then compress the timeline to force your focus on what actually matters. Stop rushing through your to-do list and start holding space for deep work on the essential things that move you toward your goals. Focus on results relevant to your dreams and watch as time magically slows down and you find free time you didn't know existed. Chapter Notes 0:03 - Time keeps slipping away faster every year 0:53 - Connect with me on social media and Facebook group 2:24 - Why birthdays come faster as you get older 4:15 - The speed trap that steals your life away 5:32 - Einstein's relativity applied to your daily schedule 7:07 - Benjamin Hardy's extreme goals strategy explained 8:25 - Deep work mode slows everything down perfectly Connect With Me Search for the Daily Boost on YouTube, Apple Podcasts, and Spotify Email: support@motivationtomove.com Main Website: motivationtomove.com YouTube: youtube.com/dailyboostpodcast Instagram: @heyscottsmith Facebook Page: facebook.com/motivationtomove Facebook Group: Join the Daily Boost Community Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices