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James Clear: Forget Your Goals, Focus on Systems

Please Note: This episode is a re-run. The original air-date was on December 5, 2019. 😊     

Building on from Episode 482, where we explored why progress tracking is key to healthy financial habit formation, we’re bringing back an old episode where we uncover… 

The 4-step framework from James Clear on how to build good habits and break bad ones – for good!  

For those unfamiliar with this best-selling author of Atomic Habits, James applies a unique blend of scientific research and practical life to breaking and building habits. His website receives millions of visitors each month, and he is a regular speaker at Fortune 500 companies.  

We’ll explore his distinctive perspective on habit-building, decision-making and continuous improvement from creating environmental design to the “scaling down” strategy.  

It’s an episode about creating lasting behaviours, overcoming setbacks and what encompasses true behavioural change. Tune in now!

 

Free Stuff Mentioned

  • Make Money Simple Again: Download our best-selling book that breaks down our MoneySMARTS money management system for FREE here >>    
  • Moorr App: Check out our money management platform (available on Desktop and Mobile) that automates the system from Make Money Simple AgainCreate your free account or login >>  

 

Additional Resources

Timestamps

  • 0:00 – James Clear: Forget Your Goals, Focus on Systems    
  • 3:56 – Welcome James!  
  • 5:44 – His backstory… 
  • 10:40 – Why focus on daily habits?  
  • 12:58 – The downsides to goal setting 
  • 15:03 – Why systems always trump goals  
  • 16:49 – How habit formation and MoneySMARTS relate 
  • 18:10 Scaling Down: How to sustain good habits  
  • 20:05 – Why does the entry point matter more than the end?  
  • 21:27 – What is true behaviour change? 
  • 23:58 – What common habits can you move the needle on quickly? 
  • 26:36 – The 4-step Framework to Build Good Habits and Break Bad Ones 
  • 31:51 – Environment design: Why it matters!  
  • 34:33 – Why you need to Master the Art of Delayed Gratification 
  • 36:32 – What is The Valley of Death? (And how do you get through it?) 
  • 38:00 – GOLD! 
  • 43:10 – What does James recommend? 
  • 44:33 – How does James get so much done?? 
  • 48:32 – How to deal with disappointment and setbacks  
  • 52:04 – James’ book recommendations 

 

482 | Why Your Financial Habits Aren’t Sticking

 

We all know money is simple, but behaviour is hard. 

So what can we do to create lasting financial habits and behaviours instead of falling back into old money habits?   

Folks, in today’s episode, we’re sharing a scientifically backed solution that’ll reveal how to achieve your goals financially and in life.  

From introducing feedback loops to creating accountability (and that’s just the tip of the iceberg), we’re uncovering how these can be used to boost goal achievement, motivation, self-efficacy, and more!  

It’s a revolutionary episode where we dive beyond the waters of investing psychology and into the deeper, murkier waters of why humans act the way we do. Give it a listen now!   

 

Free Stuff Mentioned

  • It’s our 9th Birthday! Our Present to You: Free Suburb Report
    Time’s running out to get your Suburb Report for free. Learn how your suburb has performed and its changing community and properties.  
  • “Make Money Smart Again” Book: Our MoneySMARTS money management that’ll reduce your decision fatigue, teach healthy financial habits, and (as the name suggests) simplify your money management. 😊  
  • “The Armchair Guide to Property Investing” Book: The simple steps to invest in property and how to achieve your passive income goals. 
  • Moorr Money Management App: Our platform automates the money management system from “Make Money Simple Again” (available on mobile and desktop). We’ve just introduced MyFinancials and Historical Tracking to help you easily track your progress towards your financial goals!  
  • Read James Clear, Author of Atomic Habits, Ultimate Habit Tracker Guide  
  • Episodes 261 | How to Hack Your Habits to Make You a Better Money Manager – Chat with James Clear 

 

Events Mentioned

  • The Property Investors Council of Australia (PICA) Webinar:
    Melinda Jennison, REBAA Chair, will share insights into the 2024 market outlook, key elements to watch out for as property investors and uncover what buyers’ agents bring to the table. 7-8pm, 27th February AEDST.  
  • Investing for Doctors: Financial Independence Career Optionality Conference
    Ben will be the first speaker on Saturday, 9 March! Tune in to hear a range of speakers from the property world sharing information to assist doctors in everything they need to succeed in their financial and wealth creation journey. The event runs 9-10th March in Sydney. 

 

Timestamps

  • 0:00 – Why Your Financial Habits Aren’t Sticking    
  • 1:21 – It’s our 9th birthday & upcoming events 
  • 8:07 – Mindset Minute: Saving vs. Investing  
  • 9:39 – “Money is simple, behaviour is hard”  
  • 12:00 – The secret behind motivation and goal achievement  
  • 14:00 – How to implement goal tracking  
  • 16:32 – Why financial goals are no different from any other goals 
  • 20:18 – Finding evidence to increase your Self-Efficacy 
  • 22:21 – Be, Do, Have   
  • 26:02 – Habit formation and behavioural change  
  • 29:14 – How Ben quelled his financial anxiety 
  • 33:15 – C_ _p_r_s_n is the thief of joy 
  • 36:05 – Keep it simple!  
  • 40:10 – How to overcome decision fatigue 
  • 43:44 – THIS can be used for the power of good or bad  
  • 49:37 – If you see the progress, it makes you… 
  • 52:37 – Perception of t___ and e____ 
  • 54:27 – This is the 2nd most important thing to be successful  
  • 56:21 – How to track your progress easily  
  • 1:06:16 – Recap 
  • 1:07:20 – Sustained Consistency!   

And… 

  • 1:08:15 – Lifehack: Small action to motivation. Take action today.  
  • 1:22:54 – WMPN: Interest rate cuts in the later part of year… 

 

Why an Abundant Mindset is the Formula for Financial Freedom

 In this week’s episode, Ben makes a guest appearance on The Australian Property Investment Podcast, hosted by Aaron-Christie David.  

From dissecting why money isn’t as simple as “in and out” bank transactions to exploring why home ownership is still possible for new investors and generational renters, this week’s episode is all about the power of an Abundance Mindset.  

Here’s a sneak peek of what else we cover…
🇦🇺 Is the Great Australian Dream dead? 
🏠 The #2 biggest mistakes Ben made in property
💡 How Ben and Michael designed a revolutionary money management system
🕰 Building money habits for long-term success
📈 How an investor’s wealth-building speed affects their psychology
📚 PIPA’s pivotal role in property investing
🚩 The Red Flags a property spruiker will show   

Listen now!  

 

Free Stuff Mentioned

  • Make Money Simple Again: Download our best-selling book, for FREE here >>   
  • Manage your money in 10 minutes a month: Check out Ben and Michael Pope’s revolutionary money management platform (available on Desktop and Mobile) that automates the system from Make Money Simple Again. Create your free account or login >>  
  • Get Qualified Property Investment Advice: Learn more about The Property Investment Professionals of Australia (PIPA) and how they can help you to avoid being spruiked. Find out more >>  

 

Timestamps

  • 0:00 – Why an Abundant Mindset is the Formula for Financial Freedom 
  • 4:05  Ben’s 3Ps 
  • 6:40 – The #2 biggest mistakes he’s made  
  • 8:35 – Adopting an “Abundance Mindset”  
  • 12:49 – From coffee to empowering others  
  • 15:09 – Why Money Isn’t Simple!  
  • 18:15 – A client focused approach to property investing 
  • 21:19 – Designing revolutionary money management  
  • 26:27 – Is the Great Australian Dream dead?   
  • 32:15 – Should generational renters be worried?  
  • 36:27 – “The Market Rewards Action Takers and Decision Makers” 
  • 39:54 – Why does the speed of your wealth-building matter?   
  • 43:12 – PIPA’s Pivotal Role in Property Investing  
  • 46:22 – Watch out for these property spruiker red flags! 

 

477 | How This Expat Family Built a 5 Property Portfolio: Escaping Property Price Crashes, Off the Plan Problems & Open Money Conversations – Chat with Emer

 

Folks, if you’re searching for a great property investing role model, then Emer, today’s Summer Series guest, is your person! ⭐🙌     

Today, she and her husband, Rod, own a five-property portfolio and are looking towards a future with a comfortable retirement and legacy piece to leave two kids.    

Getting to this stage, however, hasn’t come without its ups and downs.    

Tune in to hear Emer’s story as she swings from living paycheck to paycheck in Galway to meeting her future husband in sunny Australia to the property market crash they narrowly escaped. 

This is just the beginning of the story.      

We’re diving deep to uncover how they overcame getting stung by a spruiker, why they decided to go borderless, and the positive transformative process they underwent by getting a financial plan.  

It’s another motivational, heart-warming story with an awesome guest. Tune in now! 

 

Free Stuff Mentioned

 

Timestamps

  • 0:00 – How This Expat Family Built a 5 Property Portfolio: Escaping Property Price Crashes, Off the Plan Problems & Open Money Conversations 
  • 1:18 – Welcome Emer!  
  • 2:10 – Generational Differences: Envy & Magazines 
  • 8:58 – She spent everything in those first weeks?! 
  • 11:41 – Trailblazing to Accounting & Australia  
  • 13:34 – The bullet they dodged with Property #1!  
  • 16:07 – Starting life again with just 6 boxes and 1 qualification😮  
  • 18:11 – First steps on the property ladder in Sutherland  
  • 20:13 – Emer’s efficient money management system  
  • 23:41 – So, why did she “U-turn” on a bigger house?  
  • 26:22 – They got burned by THIS textbook mistake 🙁  
  • 29:23 – Be wary of conversations like these…  
  • 33:15 – Pay off your home loan in 7 years: Why this tax strategy is dangerous 
  • 35:06 – Going borderless!  
  • 37:07 – Why did she want a financial plan? (From an accountant’s perspective)  
  • 39:22 – “Everyone makes the assumption when you’re an accountant that you can do everything… 
  • 41:00 – The seamless process behind Property #3  
  • 42:37 – How Emer & Rod invest in property AND keep their cool!  
  • 47:32 – THIS should give everyone confidence!  
  • 49:11 – What’s next on her property journey?  
  • 50:53 – Would she have taken the jump as a DIY investor?  
  • 52:57 – Here’s why Emer is the perfect property model… 
  • 56:09 – The inspirational reason she came onto the Couch 
  • 59:48 – What a remarkable story! Thank you Emer 😊  

 

476 | From $30k Debt to a $2.78M Portfolio: How He Rebuilt His Finances and Confidence After a Failed Business Venture – Chat with James

 

Imagine waking up to find yourself $30,000 in debt with a restaurant business turned bad and a great deal of self-doubt left in its wake.

Now fast forward a decade or so to find… 

You’ve amassed a $2.78 million property portfolio; you are now confident on your path to helping others and you are financially empowered.  

This is the rollercoaster ride of James, today’s articulate and inspirational Summer Series guest. 

From growing up “material poor but experience rich” in the heart of Canada (You’ll have to tune in to find out how this Aussie family found themselves in the remote province of Manitoba) to running a successful bar business that ended in disaster, we’re tracing the peaks and troughs in James’ career and financial life. 

Together, we unpack how he snowballs out of this debt, the advantages that come from having a wonderful accountability partner and wife, and his passionate pathway to self-development. 

Plus, we’ll dive into that heart-dropping moment that this self-professed “enthusiastic amateur” realised HE was working alongside spruikers 😮  

Yet another fantastic story that highlights the importance of smart money management, resilience, the power of financial education and so much more!  

Thank you for coming to the couch to share your story, James! Listen now folks.

 

Free Stuff Mentioned

 

Timestamps

  • 0:00 – From $30k Debt to a $2.78M Portfolio: How He Rebuilt His Finances and Confidence After a Failed Business Venture – Chat with James  
  • 1:22 – Welcome James!  
  • 2:43 – Travelling Family and Two-Dollar Chores  
  • 7:09 – “Materialistic poor but experience rich”  
  • 8:16 – A 6L tub of ice cream for dinner?!  
  • 11:11 – What happened when Mum took the reins financially?  
  • 15:50 – Pivoting from AFL to Events 
  • 18:20 – Money management…on a business level  
  • 19:53 – The Mistake Venture  
  • 23:25 – The financially transformative career he swapped into 
  • 27:25 – How he got out of $30k of debt 😮  
  • 31:37 – What did it feel like being financially free?  
  • 32:13 – Next Steps & Self Development    
  • 34:44 – …and then he realised he had been working with spruikers 🙁  
  • 39:43 – A warning from a self-confessed enthusiastic amateur  
  • 44:08 – THIS is how they decided where to buy  
  • 47:49 – Construction Grants & COVID 
  • 52:16 – Their first cottage investment property 
  • 56:32 – The perks of an accountability partner  
  • 58:10 – What has it been like being a landlord? 
  • 59:40 – Pulling the trigger (again) in Perth  
  • 1:03:19 – He now owns a $2.78M property portfolio  
  • 1:06:58 – What security means to James  
  • 1:11:51 – The card game that inspired him to share his story  
  • 1:16:10 – Folks, look at your skillsets  
  • 1:18:52 – Thank you, James! What a fantastic conversation  
  • 1:24:52 – We’re giving away some exciting stuff very soon…  

 

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