The idea for this course — in many ways — was ignited years ago when someone wrote a review of The Habit Factor® app and declared:

“This app got me unstuck."

It stands to reason that if this course is based upon The Habit Factor®, truly understanding what The Habit Factor is, where it came from, and how it works is essential.

First, The Habit Factor (THF) is a framework, a proven methodology to help anyone develop and align positive habits that support their goals to make goal achievement more effective.

One of the reasons The Habit Factor has been so effective is because it's a very simple process to follow.

THF is about taking perhaps the most vital "superpower" each of us has been endowed with — the ability to craft positive habits — and then using those habits to carry us toward our desired destination — our goal!

In some ways, this is analogous to a term used in sailing, "running with the wind," where the wind literally comes over the back of the boat and pushes it forward!

The Habit Factor was written after nearly seven years of studying and refining the process and applying it to help me with some of my own breakthrough goals. Then, I began teaching the methodology and coaching others, and the rest is history.

So, you may be thinking, "What type of goals did you use this for?"

Perhaps the most notable one worth sharing would be writing The Habit Factor book itself. I used the process to write a book, something I'd never, ever expected to do, yet it changed my life and then helped so many others. I sincerely felt an obligation to share this process, write the book and teach this methodology.

In 2003 I was overworked, stressed out and felt like I wasn't going anywhere — or anywhere I wanted to go — and crazier than that, I wasn't even sure where I did want to go!

I was confused, frustrated and probably a bit angry.

I was 35 and felt like life was slipping away. I had a small startup company and two young daughters and was attempting to keep my lovely wife happy. ; ) (She edits this stuff!)

On top of that, trying to balance work, family, health, happiness, fitness — the juggling act wasn't going too well for me. I felt like I wasn't meeting the needs of others and, most importantly, wasn't meeting my own needs or expectations.

Among the few things I had going for me at the time was a voracious appetite for personal development programs. This was largely because I felt there was an "answer" out there, something that would work for me. So, I kept buying programs and going to workshops and seminars. I kept searching . . . just kept looking for something that would work!

As you might guess, I tried every "best practice" for goal achievement, such as SMART goals, and yet still couldn't seem to get anywhere.

In fact, it was a Tony Robbins program that I encountered that sparked the process and pushed me over the edge.

Tony emphasized an important thought experiment: Imagine you are 90 years old, sitting on a porch. As you reflect upon your life, what's the list of great things you've done and/or have accomplished?

What a great thought experiment! It was a great visual and a great question, and I genuinely thought about it.

In fact, I carried that question even further and asked myself the following question:

"If you were to die tomorrow, what experience/accomplishment would you most regret not having?"

That got my emotions flowing.

"Sh*t!!! I thought, there is so much more I want to do and so little time!

At the very top of my list, I wrote "The Catalina Classic," which is a 32-mile paddle-boarding race from Catalina Island to Manhattan Beach (Los Angeles). You lay on your chest or sit on your knees and paddle with your arms. The event can take anywhere from 5 1/2 hours to 12 hours, depending on the conditions and how strong a paddler you are.

So, THF was born out of my ambition to solve that problem and achieve that goal!

I was seriously terrified after signing up — the event was in just six months and I didn't even own a paddle-board!

Out of panic I devised a plan that included a simple tracking spreadsheet, and I committed to tracking my behaviors — the related habits — each day. Then, each week I would summarize my tracking results/progress!

This was the breakthrough; over the years the process has been refined, but that was its essence and inception.

The bottom line is that the momentum I experienced was unlike anything I'd ever encountered — and I completed the paddle-board race in approximately 7 hours and 22 minutes.

However, the real prize was the method!!!

I sensed that I MIGHT be on to something, so I tested it again.

Next on my bucket list was an Ironman triathlon (2.4-mile swim, 112-mile bike ride, and 26.2-mile run). I'd never even run in a 5K race and didn't own running shoes or a road bike. And, I allowed myself just nine months to train.

Once again, my daily habit-tracking spreadsheet proved to be the difference-maker. By following the exact same method, I completed my first Ironman triathlon.

With two successful goals in the rearview mirror, my enthusiasm and confidence were high and friends would ask about what I was doing. I began to help others, mostly entrepreneurs, (already high-achievers/go-getters), and they were floored with the results and impact. Then, I started to teach and coach the process to others. Ultimately, the methodology proved so helpful I was encouraged to create the app (the book at this point was already in the works).

Today, it is humbling and no exaggeration to say that the entire productivity and personal-development landscapes have been altered and widely influenced by The Habit Factor and its unique goal-achievement methodology. Since their publications (2009 and 2010, the app and book respectively), there have been nearly 100 habit-tracking apps and dozens of "Habit" books created — all following The Habit Factor's release.

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