Daily Boost - Clarity for Life and Work

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

Motivation is great to get you going, but sometimes you need something more practical. What if I could give you a three-letter word that could change everything this year? Over the holidays, my toilet broke, my fireplace died, my wife's car battery drained, and the church audio system crashed right before service. Every single one had to be fixed. That's what 2026 is about. We're going to wire up your dreams and motivation, but mostly we're going to fix what's broken. Life meets us head-on, and sometimes you just need to get it done. Featured Story Two and a half minutes before church service, I'm running audio for 300 people. The computers went bad. The monitors went out. The audio started glitching. The band's coming on stage, everyone's ready to go, and we're looking at each other like, what are we going to do? Ten seconds to go and it wasn't working. But I only had one thing I had to do: fix it. Because when 300 people are waiting for an inspirational service to start, it has to work. Same with the toilet, the fireplace, and the car battery. Sometimes life isn't about more motivation. It's about meeting problems head-on and fixing what's broken so you can move forward. Important Points When your air conditioning goes out in August Florida, motivation won't cool you down. It has to be fixed now. Clients come to me for dreams and passion, but they run out of money or runway. We've got to fix that problem first. Years ago, my theme song started with "when life gets in the way." That's exactly where we are right now in 2026. Memorable Quotes "If it's broke, you've got to fix it. That's why people tell me life coaches say you're not broken. Something is." "Life is about meeting life right where it meets you. Head on moments and fix what's broken, get it done, move on." "We're going to take your aspiration and dreams, wire that up, and fix stuff so you can move on with a peaceful base." Scott's Three-Step Approach Identify what's actually broken in your life that's keeping you from moving forward and getting what you want right now. Stop waiting for motivation to fix it and start treating it like a practical problem that needs solving today. Get it done, create that peaceful base you need, then move on to all the dreams and aspirations you're really after. Chapters 0:03 - The three-letter word that fixes everything 0:49 - When life gets in the way (broken toilet edition) 2:35 - Five problems in 48 hours that had to be fixed 4:14 - Why passion projects fail without fixing first 5:18 - The 2026 plan: fix stuff, then dream big 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: https://instagram.com/heyscottsmith Facebook Page: https://facebook.com/motivationtomove Facebook Group: https://dailyboostpodcast.com/facebook Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

You made it to 2026. That's your do-over right there. Some people didn't get this chance. They got through 2025 and didn't make it across the finish line. But you did. So what are you going to do with it? I'm not one of those hype-y guys demanding you chase everything. I believe in building a peaceful base first. That's where control lives. That's where freedom starts. From that foundation, you operate at whatever level you want. Today, I'm giving you the MAP system I use with clients who want to design their year without the chaos. Featured Story Once a month, I run sound for my church. The first five times I was responsible for making the band sound good was brutal. Uncomfortable doesn't even cover it. I was mixing audio, sweating through every moment, second-guessing every adjustment. Now? It's like muscle memory. I show up, I know exactly what to do, and the band sounds great. What changed wasn't my talent. I built a system. I stopped having to think about every single decision and started following a repeatable process that works. That's what systemization does. It takes the hard stuff and makes it automatic. It frees up your brain for the things that actually matter. And once you have that kind of freedom, everything else gets easier. Important Points Building a peaceful base in every part of life gives you the control needed to become who you want to be. Accepting responsibility empowers everything, even when you're sitting in a corner feeling cornered by change. Planning 80% of your year ahead creates flexibility, not rigidity, because you know where you're going. Memorable Quotes "If you don't have a solid peaceful base built in, it's really hard to become the person you want to be." "Being accountable and accepting responsibility for the results will empower your success in every possible way." "Everything takes longer than you think. Make sure you set yourself up for the long haul, not the quick sprint." Scott's Three-Step Approach Start with motivation and planning. Know what you want, then map out how you'll get there with intention. Build systems that remove thinking. Systemize everything so you don't waste energy on decisions daily. Stack accomplishments for sustainable momentum. Your freedom rests on a stable foundation that repeats daily. Chapters 0:03 - You got a do-over (so what are you doing with it?) 1:30 - The MAP system for designing your year with clarity 2:46 - Why motivation comes from what you want, not why 5:09 - Building systems that remove the thinking from success 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: https://instagram.com/heyscottsmith Facebook Page: https://facebook.com/motivationtomove Facebook Group: https://dailyboostpodcast.com/facebook Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Happy New Year. Are you ready to stop waiting for permission to be yourself? I'm kicking off my 20th season with something different. Shorter shows during the week, deeper conversations on weekends. Six minutes of daily fuel Monday through Friday, then we go deep where it counts. Today, we're talking about the two things you were born with that nobody can take away—free will and your unique way of doing things. You're already using them whether you know it or not. The question is, are you doing it on purpose? Featured Story My son-in-law spends most of his time as a pharmacist. Good living helps people and does important work. But ask him what he does when he's doing him? Fishing and hunting. That's it. Most of us live in that gap. We spend our days doing what needs to be done, but when nobody's telling us what to do, when we're on our own to fill our own time, we become somebody different. Someone more real. I see it in my coaching work all the time. Successful business people, high-end professionals, and entrepreneurs running the show. They're crushing it by everyone else's standards. But they come to me because they're not doing it their way. Important Points You already have free will, and you're using it right now, even if you think someone else is calling the shots. When I do things somebody else's way in my writing, speaking, or coaching work, that's when I become ineffective. Ask yourself what you do when you're doing you, and something tangible will come to mind that you've been ignoring. Memorable Quotes "You're going to do every single thing in your life your way anyway. Accept that and start doing it on purpose." "When I get in trouble with my work, it's when I do it somebody else's way. That's when I'm not effective at all." "The whole world's waiting for you to show up as yourself. Nobody's judging you. They're waiting for the real you." Scott's Three-Step Approach Ask yourself what you do when you're doing you, when nobody's telling you what to do, and you're on your own time. Pay attention to what comes to mind immediately, because that's your true self trying hard to get your attention. Give yourself permission to bring more of that authentic self into everything you do, starting right now. Chapters 0:04 - Happy New Year, and the Monday excuse we all use 0:57 - Why I'm making shows shorter (and going deeper) 1:58 - What would happen if you dared to be your true self 3:11 - Free will and the choice you're making right now 4:26 - What do you do when you're being authentically you? 5:52 - Nobody's judging you (they're waiting for 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: https://instagram.com/heyscottsmith Facebook Page: https://facebook.com/motivationtomove Facebook Group: https://dailyboostpodcast.com/facebook Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Want to be happier in 2026? Most of us are chasing happiness whether we admit it or not. I'm breaking down the stoic approach to living a genuinely happy life. These aren't soft motivational ideas. They're practical rules that cut through the noise and get you focused on what actually matters. From managing your emotions like a badge of honor to finding your real purpose, I'm sharing the ancient wisdom that still works today. You'll learn why life isn't too short, how to stop pretending you know what's good or bad, and why being tied to the back of a cart isn't such a terrible thing. Featured Story I'm sitting here telling my wife about this band we love called Hayfire playing New Year's Eve down at North Turn on the beach. She looks at me and asks what time. I say New Year's Eve. She asks again. What time? New Year's Eve, I repeat. She says it again. What time? Midnight, I finally say. Twelve o'clock. And she looks at me like I'm crazy. They could be playing midday, she says. People go out in the middle of the day. She's right, of course. But man, I almost got myself in trouble there. Sometimes the simplest conversations remind you that happiness is in how you handle the little moments. Even the ones where you're clearly not reading the room. Important Points Don't enslave yourself to annoying people or situations. If something's draining your energy, move on from it. Choose reasonable expectations and think them through beforehand. Know what's coming so you're never surprised. Feel your emotions like a Stoic would. They're your power when you control them instead of letting them control you. Memorable Quotes "You are a mind operating in a bag of chemicals that you call a body. Stop pretending you know things are bad." "Life is not too short. Life is very long. It's long enough if you manage your time and use it to your best ability." "We are all dogs tied to the back of a really big cart. You can control your attitude about everything that's going on." Scott's Three-Step Approach Stop pretending you know if things are good or bad. Most of the time, you're just talking to yourself about it anyway. Once you stop judging, find what you're interested in and follow those breadcrumbs to discover your real purpose. After finding your purpose, control what you can control. Focus on your attitude and response to everything happening. Chapters 0:03 - The universal goal we all share (but don't admit) 0:43 - My New Year's Eve band mistake with my wife 1:03 - Ancient stoic wisdom for modern happiness 3:08 - Stop pretending you know what's good or bad 4:31 - Why I get angry and still control my emotions 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: https://instagram.com/heyscottsmith Facebook Page: https://facebook.com/motivationtomove Facebook Group: https://dailyboostpodcast.com/facebook Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode Description You're doing everything right. Following the plan. Staying between the lines. But somehow you're not moving forward. Sound familiar? Most people spend their time stuck in this exact spot—safe, comfortable, and completely frustrated. I learned this almost 20 years ago when I started preaching "life begins when you move." Turns out, life always gets in the way too. The real work isn't just starting. It's what you do when you're stuck between the lines with something blocking your path forward. Featured Story Yesterday I was riding my Harley Street Glide on a two-lane road heading back into Deland. I found myself stuck behind a slow-moving truck. You know that feeling—when you can see the dotted line and you could pass, but you're just sitting there between the lines, safe but going nowhere? I had a choice. Stay stuck behind the truck or assess the situation and find my opening. That's when it hit me. This is exactly where most people live their entire lives. Between the lines. Safe. Following all the rules. But stuck behind something that won't let them move forward. The question isn't whether you can stay safe. It's whether you're willing to look around and gun it. Important Points Life always begins when you move, but life will always get in the way too—that's where the real work happens. Being between the lines keeps you safe, but safety becomes a trap when you're stuck behind slow progress. Most people know exactly what's blocking them but won't admit it—pointing it out is often half the battle. Memorable Quotes Life begins when you move, but life will always get in the way—most of your time is spent between the lines. Between the lines keeps you safe, but safety isn't where life happens—it's where you get stuck waiting. You can't do anything if you don't know what you have to fix—awareness is always the first step forward. Scott's Three-Step Approach Become aware you're stuck between the lines and identify what's actually keeping you there in that spot. Take a complete inventory of everything around you—look honestly at what's blocking your path forward now. Find your opening and make your move—get out from behind whatever's slowing you down and gun it forward. Chapters 0:03 - When life gets in the way (and why it always will) 0:58 - The origin of life begins when you move 2:04 - Why most people live between the lines 3:19 - Stuck behind a slow truck on my Harley 4:08 - Finding your opening when you're blocked 5:16 - Taking inventory of what's keeping you stuck 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: https://instagram.com/heyscottsmith Facebook Page: https://facebook.com/motivationtomove Facebook Group: https://dailyboostpodcast.com/facebook Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

I've talked about goals for 19 years on this podcast. Got 5,200 episodes documented. I could pull every single mention of goals from my database and write a book. AI could probably do it for me. But after all that talking, I've gotten really simple about goals. Two types. Legacy goals that take your whole life. Living goals that happen every week, month, year. If your living goals don't lead toward your legacy goals, your spirit breaks. I've seen it happen. Your legacy is being written today. Some of you won't make it through 2026. What you leave behind is happening right now. One goal is all it takes. Everything else is just steps in the journey. Featured Story I didn't used to think about legacy goals for much of my life. Then one day I accepted something. No matter what I was chasing, it was the who I would become that got my attention. It was rolling around pretty fast at that time. I thought, how's this all going to come together? My internal Scott logic told me that if I'm thinking about something anyway, I might as well think about it purposely. That's when I figured out passion zones. Simple concept. Identify the things you like to do in different areas of your life. Then do more of them. If you do things you like and they're in alignment with big goals, life is more fun. Your legacy gets automatically written. Important Points A to-do list is not a goal list, even a bucket list isn't a goal, and most people don't understand the difference between busy work and actual goals. Legacy goals are lifelong, living goals happen every week or month, and if your living goals don't complement your legacy goals, you're building the wrong life. If you're chasing stuff all day that doesn't lead to something you find important and big, your spirit gets broken, not depressed, but actually giving up. Memorable Quotes "A to-do list is not a goal list. I'll say it again. A to-do list is not a goal list." "If you set a bunch of goals that have nothing to do with what you want your legacy to be, well, your legacy is going to be not what you wanted it to be." "One goal is all it takes. Everything else is just a step in the journey." Scott's Three-Step Approach Define your legacy goals first, the big stuff you'll spend your entire life achieving, because everything else needs to point toward this or you're wasting time. Create living goals that complement your legacy goals, not random busy work, but actual steps that build the life you want to leave behind. Focus on daily actions designed to get you to your legacy goals, because your legacy is being written today, whether you're paying attention or not. Chapter Notes 0:45 - Nineteen years of goal-setting wisdom in one place 1:58 - Why you're probably overdoing goal setting 2:46 - Legacy goals versus living goals explained 4:21 - Passion zones: do more of what you like 5:20 - When your spirit gets broken by misalignment 6:52 - The sobering truth about 2026 and legacy 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

I used to hate mornings. I was a morning DJ starting at 18. Up at 4 am every day. Hated it so much I quit. Then I met Joy. She gets up at 5:30 am every single morning like it's programmed in her DNA. Lights on, radio on, house awake. Didn't matter if I was sleeping. Her mindless persistence drove me bonkers. But I couldn't change her. So I had to find my own way. Turns out there's one question that makes mornings work: What's the most important thing I can do today that will make everything else possible? Some mornings it's the gym. Some mornings it's writing. Some mornings it's getting out of my wife's way. Featured Story Eighteen years ago I met Joy. It didn't take long to notice something. She got up at 5:30am every single morning. When she got out of bed, the house was going to be awake. Lights on. Radio on. Everything happening. I'm still sleeping? Didn't matter. I wasn't fond of it. Not at all. As a wildly creative, spontaneous, go-for-it kind of guy, Joy's mindless persistence drives me bonkers. She just does what works for her. Forever. Never thinks about it again. I had no choice but to find my way. And after working with tens of thousands of successful people, I can't deny that simple consistency and a simple morning routine is where success is born. So I figured out my own version. Important Points The early bird does get the worm, but instead of following someone else's morning routine rules, ask yourself one question that cuts through all the noise. What's the most important thing you can do first thing in the morning that will make everything else possible? The answer hits you like a brick to the forehead. When you take care of what's most important to you first thing, there isn't much else left to worry about for the rest of your day. Memorable Quotes "What's the most important thing I can do today that will make everything else possible?" "Unlike most folks in the world who are caught up in the drama of life, she operates on figure out what works, keep doing it forever, never think about it again mindset." "Here's my number one value. I boiled down all my values and everything in a very simple thing. I tried to do the right thing. And if I mess up, I'll say I'm sorry. And I'll try again until I get it right." Scott's Three-Step Approach Stop trying to follow everyone else's morning routine rules and instead ask yourself what's the most important thing you need to do first that changes everything else. Accept that the answer might be different tomorrow, and that's okay, because flexibility beats rigid routines when you're a creative, spontaneous person. Make the decision the night before when you can, but don't beat yourself up if you figure it out when your feet hit the floor in the morning. Chapter Notes 1:13 - Why Scott hated mornings as a DJ 1:35 - Meeting Joy and her 5:30am DNA programming 3:42 - The mindless persistence that drove him crazy 5:09 - The one question that changes everything 6:05 - Anti-routine revealed: it depends on the day 7:45 - What if you did the most important thing first? 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

I walk my dogs three times a day. Same times. Every single day. It started once. Now it's a tradition. My dogs look at me like it's the law. Traditions aren't just for holidays. They're the secret sauce that makes life special all year long. But somebody has to make them. My neighbor Janice spends weeks decorating her house for Christmas. She's not just doing it for herself. She's making Christmas for everyone in the neighborhood. Think about it. How many people are making traditions for you right now? And how many are you making for others? Featured Story My wife and I were walking the dogs when we stopped at Janice's house. She was finishing up her Christmas decorations. Everything perfectly placed. Lights everywhere. The kind of display that makes you wonder where she stores it all. I told her it looked like a lot of work. She said yeah, it takes a couple weeks. But it's her tradition. She loves doing it. Then I said something that caught her off guard: "Thank you for making Christmas for the rest of us." She didn't know what to say. She was out there doing what she loves, creating this tradition for her family. She wasn't thinking about the neighborhood waiting for her lights to go up. But that's exactly what we do. Important Points Traditions are the secret sauce that makes life easier and creates emotional connections, not just during holidays but throughout the entire year. Somebody has to make the tradition, and the makers are the ones who create special moments for everyone around them without even realizing it. Traditions are just like habits and rituals, they make our lives more fulfilling, but you have to decide to be the person who creates them. Memorable Quotes "Traditions are a secret sauce. And it's not just the holidays, you had traditions in almost everything." "Thank you for making Christmas for the rest of us." "Whether it's Christmas or New Year's or any other time of the year, traditions are the same as habits and rituals. They make our lives more fulfilling, but always remember somebody has to make that tradition." Scott's Three-Step Approach Notice who's making traditions for you right now and actually thank them for it, because most people don't realize they're creating something special for everyone around them. Decide to be a maker yourself and create traditions throughout the year, not just holidays, because that's where the real spice of life lives. Understand that one time becomes all the time, so start something worth repeating and let it become the fabric of your life. Chapter Notes 1:37 - Do you have traditions or change it up? 2:38 - Why traditions fuel emotional connection 3:26 - When the pandemic killed our traditions 4:29 - The makers who create everything special 5:34 - Walking dogs became a daily tradition 6:44 - Janice and the Christmas lights revelation 8:35 - Making traditions every single day 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

I used to be that guy wandering Walmart on Christmas Eve at midnight looking for a toaster. One year I stopped and looked around. There were a bunch of us. All guys. All looking lost in the kitchen section. The employees were looking at us with pity. That's when I decided never again. Decision-making is one of your most powerful personal growth tools. As we head into 2026, you're going to need it. The problem? We're human. We're emotional. And logic doesn't always win the battle when feelings show up. Time to figure out how to make that work for you. Featured Story I bought a motorcycle once without planning to. Stopped in for coffee. Left two and a half hours later with a brand new Harley. The salesman got me excited. I hadn't seen the new models up close. My wife was looking at me like I'd lost my mind. Then he said those magic words: "Want to talk numbers?" Emotions went away instantly. We spent the next hour going back and forth on logic and math. Some anger showed up too because that's how negotiations work. But I wanted that bike. Eventually we hit the right number. That's when emotions came rushing back. At least until we looked at the checking account. Important Points Decision-making is one of your most powerful tools in your personal growth toolbox, but most of us struggle with it because we're caught between logic and emotion. Almost everything in life should be easy because it's already been done, but being human means emotions mess with the logical equation every single time. Like a movie hero, you'll stay stuck until the situation forces action, then suddenly logic kicks in and you know exactly what to do. Memorable Quotes "Decision-making is one of your most powerful tools in your personal growth toolbox." "As much as we all can agree it should be easy, using logic to get what we want doesn't have a whole bunch to do with being a human." "I was one of several guys, all guys wandering around the store, aimlessly looking for something in the kitchen section because you forgot to get the good stuff." Scott's Three-Step Approach Recognize you're in the middle of an epic battle between logic and emotion, and stop pretending one will magically win over the other. Let yourself feel the emotions but commit to making decisions based on what actually works, not just what feels good in the moment. Take action like a movie hero who finally figures it out in the third act, because sitting around waiting for clarity just wastes time. Chapter Notes 0:29 - Christmas Eve shopping confession and life lessons 1:43 - Your past baggage and escaping into 2026 2:38 - Why decision-making should be easy but isn't 3:42 - The epic battle: logical versus emotional 5:10 - What movie heroes teach us about taking action 7:43 - The motorcycle story: emotions versus numbers 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

Ever feel stuck not knowing what you want next year? I'm sharing the brain science behind getting unstuck and excited about 2026. It starts with exploring possibilities without commitment. No announcements, no pressure. Just curiosity. Once you find something interesting, your anticipation engine kicks in. That's when everything changes. I'll show you how to use your brain's natural wiring to create a year you're genuinely pumped about. Featured Story Two days before Christmas, I asked my wife for a toaster. She said we're not doing gifts this year. But I know better. When she says no gifts, she doesn't mean no gifts. Our kitchen has 90 cabinets and 92 linear feet of counter space. Every appliance you can imagine. But that massive toaster oven? Doesn't make great toast. Sometimes the smallest things matter most. Like a simple toaster. Or knowing what you really want without overcomplicating it. Important Points Exploring possibilities is the gateway to inspiration. Get interested in things without commitment and see where curiosity takes you. Your anticipation engine is your most powerful motivational tool. Put at least one big thing per month on your calendar and watch your energy shift. Humans are uniquely built for prospection. You can create experiences that don't exist yet and make them real. Memorable Quotes "Scott said it was okay." "If you don't feel like you have hope, I can nine times out of 10, no 10 times out of 10." "The pure excitement of the fact that you're going to go after it is really what the payoff is." Scott's Three-Step Approach 1. Explore without commitment. Drive home a different way. Stop at that random store. Just look around and see what gets your attention. 2. Build your anticipation list. Put at least one exciting thing per month on the calendar and spend the year getting pumped about it. 3. Create using prospection. Make up experiences you've never done before and make them happen. Chapter Notes 00:00 - The Christmas toaster request that says everything 03:15 - Why I reinvent myself every holiday season 05:30 - The explore-interest-passion connection that changes everything 08:45- Your anticipation engine and why it's so powerful 12:20 - Prospection: the uniquely human superpower you're not using 15:10 - Building your 2026 list of things to anticipate 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 - https://dailyboostpodcast.com/facebook Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

You've set goals before and watched them fall apart six months later. Maybe you thought you had a solid foundation. Maybe you didn't. I'm pulling from 25 years of coaching experience and thousands of hours working with people just like you. What I've learned is this: you need a peaceful base before you chase any goal. Six domains of life that have to be balanced first, or everything crumbles. Think of it like an audio console. Get the levels wrong at the start, and everything downstream is a mess. Get them right, and you can reach for anything. Featured Story My daughter invited me to help with the audio at her church. I produce, I direct, I've got the background. So I stepped in. When you're the audio guy behind that big console, two things are true. You get all the blame. And if you lose control of the balance, you're in serious trouble. Every service starts the same way. You've got 8, 10, 12 people on stage. The very first thing I do is set the foundation - the input levels for every mic, every instrument. Get that wrong, and everything downstream falls apart. Feedback, hot mess, scary stuff. I started thinking about how this applies to life. What if we got the levels right from the beginning? What if we balanced everything before chasing the big goals? That's when the peaceful base concept clicked. Important Points Most people fail at goals because their foundation has cracks they don't even know about. Six domains need balance: time, body, mind, money, relationships, and spirit - in that order. Get these levels right first, and you can chase the biggest goals without upsetting your peaceful base. Memorable Quotes "Time is yours. It's limited in what you have. There's only so much time in the day, and everything you do will take time." "Financial security provides true choice. It's mobility in life." "Connections that are nurtured, not sacrificed." Scott's Three-Step Approach Take inventory of the six domains and identify where you're out of balance right now. Fix the small challenges first before setting any big goals for next year. Maintain that peaceful base as you grow so you don't mess up what you've got. Chapter Notes 0:35 - Why goals fail and foundations crack 1:26 - The peaceful base concept revealed 2:51 - Church audio story and the balance metaphor 4:28 - Setting levels and maintaining control 6:29 - The six domains that create balance 9:27 - Unity and keeping what you've built 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

My mom broke her hip at almost 94. You know what she said from the hospital bed? "I guess I needed a new adventure. I just wish I had finished cleaning my house." Then she asked if the cute physical therapist gives baths. Today I'm sharing what my mom's chili dog obsession taught me about what really drives us. Plus, the one question I asked my coaching group that left everyone speechless. It's about mastery, facing your passion, and paying attention to what naturally pulls you forward. Featured Story My sister texted me: "It's about mom, call me." My heart dropped. When your mom's almost 94, those texts hit different. Turns out she'd fallen taking her cat to the vet—something she wasn't supposed to do alone. Broke her hip. Needed it replaced. But my mom? She saw it as an adventure. Said she liked hospital food and was glad someone else did the dishes. Put in a request for the cute physical therapist to come to her house. Then she told me what really threw off her plans—she was on her way to Hardee's for a chili dog when she fell. First thing she wanted when released? That chili dog. My sister picked her up from the hospital and stopped at Hardee's before taking her home. The girl had her priorities. Important Points Mastery comes from clinical hours—I've logged 1,232 hours of individual coaching in 22 months, 220 hours of group calls. The question that stumped my group: What's the one thing you'd do next year that would change everything about who you are? What naturally drives you is probably giving you the most joy—pay attention to your version of the chili dog. Memorable Quotes "I guess I needed a new adventure. I just wish I had finished cleaning my house." "Pay attention to what you're naturally driving yourself to do. It's probably what's giving you the most joy." "If you want to live long and prosper, eat more chili dogs, or your version of it." Scott's Three-Step Approach Track your clinical hours in whatever you want to master—stop waiting and just start doing it. Ask yourself what would change everything if you faced it—not fancy stuff, just the thing lingering inside you've been avoiding. Notice what you naturally drive yourself toward—that's probably where your real joy lives, not where you think it should be. Chapter Notes 0:50 - Mastery through 1,232 hours of coaching calls 2:07 - The question that stumped everyone on the call 3:08 - What would change your character completely? 4:39 - Mom's almost 94 and doesn't care who knows it 6:27 - Hospital adventures and cute physical therapists 7:41 - The chili dog that changed everything 8:41 - What your natural drives reveal about joy 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 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The holidays slow everything down, don't they? But next year's coming fast. I'm sharing the simple rule I use every single day with my clients. It's the one that cuts through the chaos and gets you focused on what actually moves your life forward. You've got goals and dreams. The world's going to try sucking the motivation right out of you. Time to figure out what works for you, what doesn't, and just do that. Simple as that. Featured Story My daughter called me out last night. Said my voice sounded raspy from too many holiday parties. Then she offered to teach me to sing. Me. The guy who won't even touch karaoke. Next thing I know, she's buying me a vocal training program and planning to come over. I've always had this weird goal to learn, but I've never been willing. Now I'm probably doing it because sometimes the craziest goals are the ones worth going after. This whole thing sparked a question on my coaching call today that blew everyone's mind. Nobody had an answer. That question tomorrow might do the same for you. Important Points Motivation feels like injecting dopamine, but it doesn't last when chaos rules your life. Transformation only comes after stability—your nervous system can't handle change when you're scattered. Your regrets reveal your real values—track what you wish you hadn't done to find what matters most. Memorable Quotes "You can't have transformation without stability." "This works, that doesn't, do this." "What you really want to do in your life usually shows up in your regrets, in the things you wish you hadn't done." Scott's Three-Step Approach Notice what actually works for you and take responsibility for doing more of it. Write down your biggest distractions and build discipline to eliminate them completely. Use your regrets as a map—inverse them to discover your real values and priorities. Chapter Notes 0:28 - Holiday motivation and the year ahead 1:09 - Raspy voice reveals holiday parties and singing dreams 2:30 - Fisher Passion Inner Circle coaching insights 3:59 - Figure-it-out-itis and the motivation trap 6:18 - The "This works, that doesn't" system explained 7:20 - Phone discipline and deep work transformation 8:44 - How regrets reveal what you really 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 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Are you hanging on so tight to what you have that you can't grab what's waiting for you? I've watched this play out with dozens of clients. They work hard, build something solid, then white-knuckle it into the ground. The irony? That death grip creates the exact scarcity they're trying to avoid. Twenty years into this podcast, I've learned something counterintuitive. The path to more often requires letting go of what you've got. Not destroying it. Not abandoning years of work. Just completing it and moving forward. Featured Story I started the Daily Boost five days a week on January 1st, 2006. People ask if that was some master plan. Big goal. Fresh start. New year energy. Nope. My first wife died on December 6th after a terminal cancer diagnosis. I took a couple weeks to grieve, lifted my head up, and thought, "Well, what am I going to do now?" May as well go back to the podcast thing. May as well start January 1st. That's it. That's the origin story. Sometimes the biggest moves forward come right after the hardest moments of letting go. Important Points Holding onto what you have often keeps you from getting more. Your fear of ending up with less becomes the very thing holding you back from the abundance you want. Most people describe scarcity as not having enough of what they want. But I'd challenge you to consider whether your death grip on what you already have is the real scarcity problem. Time is your friend in this kind of transformation. People expect instant results, but real change takes time to marinate. Every day you move a little closer, but only when you let go of the scarcity mindset. Memorable Quotes "I'm like a pitbull with a ribeye. I hold on. The favorite iteration, but it gets in the way of bigger change." "What if the only requirement for getting what you want is to let go of what you have now? What if your path to success opens up the minute you release?" "You don't lose all the work you've done. You don't lose the knowledge. You don't lose the IP. It's just not active in your life anymore." Scott's Three-Step Approach Ask yourself honestly: Am I hanging on so tight I can't get what's really out there waiting for me? Identify what you're white-knuckling that might be holding you back from bigger change. Complete something instead of iterating it forever. You don't have to destroy years of work. Just seal it, put it over there, and let it become something else while you move forward. Give yourself time to marinate. This isn't an instantaneous transformation. Move a little closer each day toward the abundance you want, but understand that real change takes longer than you think. Chapter Notes [00:00] - Twenty years of the Daily Boost and the unexpected origin story [03:45] - What abundance and scarcity really mean beyond the surface [06:20] - The pitbull problem: when holding on becomes the issue [09:15] - The coaching question that makes everyone start taking notes [12:40] - Why letting go is the path to getting more [15:30] - Time is your friend (even when you hate this answer) 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

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