Michael Chernow on How To Be The Last Man Standing | Monday Moments

Summary

Kreatures Of Habit Podcast: Michael Chernow on How To Be The Last Man Standing | Monday Moments

Host: Michael Chernow
Release Date: March 10, 2025
Episode Type: Solo Episode
Duration: Approximately 7 minutes

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Introduction

In this compelling solo episode of the Kreatures of Habit Podcast, host and founder Michael Chernow delves deep into the themes of endurance, patience, and the relentless pursuit of personal potential. Departing from his usual format of interviewing guests, Michael shares his personal experiences, insights, and motivational thoughts aimed at inspiring listeners to persist through challenges and uncover their true capabilities.

Life is Long: Embracing Endurance and Patience

Michael begins by challenging the often-heard notion that "life is short." He emphasizes that "life is long. Don't give up. Don't stop pushing forward because you've had a bad day, a bad week, maybe a bad year" (01:19). This perspective shift encourages listeners to view setbacks as temporary and to maintain resilience over the long haul.

Key Points:

• Resilience Over Time: Life offers ample opportunities to make mistakes, learn, and grow. Michael reassures listeners that enduring through tough times leads to eventual success.
• Personal Struggle with Podcasting: Michael shares his own nearly failing experience with the Kreatures of Habit podcast, highlighting the importance of sticking with it despite uncertainties: "There were moments where I'm like, oh, man, are we gonna make it through this?" (01:19).

The Power of Endurance and Patience

Michael underscores that those who exhibit the most endurance are typically the ones who last the longest. "Endurance. Typically the ones with the most endurance end up lasting the longest because most people throw in the towel." (01:19). He attributes his persistence not to innate intelligence or strategic prowess but to his unwavering commitment:

"I am not the smartest guy in the room... But I am willing to stick with it no matter what. Because I just know that life is long." (01:45)

Key Points:

• Commitment Over Skills: Michael admits that he may not excel in areas like strategic marketing or algorithm understanding, but his dedication ensures his continued progress.
• Being the Last Man Standing: His steadfastness is encapsulated in his resolve to be the last one standing, a testament to his belief in perseverance.

Taking Risks to Uncover Potential

Transitioning to the concept of life as a game, Michael encourages taking calculated risks to realize one's full potential.

"Life is a game. You've got to take risk if you want to see what you're made of." (04:35)

He reflects on conversations with his past podcast guests, noting a common drive to "see what I'm made of" and "what I'm capable of." (05:15). This internal motivation, rather than external validation, propels individuals toward excellence.

Key Points:

• Embracing Failure: Michael advocates for embracing failure as a learning tool, stating, "You have a lot of time to make mistakes, fall on your face, try again." (05:45).
• Self-Discovery: The journey to uncovering one's potential is framed as a personal quest, urging listeners to make self-improvement their "North Star." (05:15).

Encouragement and Call to Action

As the episode concludes, Michael passionately urges listeners to share the podcast to help others navigate their struggles:

"Share it with someone that you think could use it. Share it with someone who you think is down in the dumps." (06:56)

He delivers a heartfelt message of solidarity and hope:

"This too shall pass. And you've got lots and lots of time." (06:57)

Key Points:

• Community Support: Emphasizing the importance of mutual support, Michael encourages the audience to spread positivity and encouragement.
• Personal Well-being: He reassures listeners that challenging times are temporary and that enduring them leads to personal growth and better days.

Notable Quotes

• On Perseverance:
  "Life is long and endurance. Typically the ones with the most endurance end up lasting the longest because most people throw in the towel." (01:19)

• On Commitment:
  "I am not the smartest guy in the room... But I am willing to stick with it no matter what. Because I just know that life is long." (01:45)

• On Taking Risks:
  "Life is a game. You've got to take risk if you want to see what you're made of." (04:35)

• On Self-Discovery:
  "I want to see what I'm made of. It's not for you. It's not for my mother, it's not for my wife, my husband. It's for me." (05:15)

• On Community Support:
  "This too shall pass. And you've got lots and lots of time." (06:57)

Conclusion

In this motivational solo episode, Michael Chernow delivers a powerful message about the importance of endurance, patience, and the willingness to take risks to discover one's true potential. By sharing his personal struggles and emphasizing the long journey of life, Michael provides listeners with actionable insights to navigate their own challenges. His heartfelt encouragement serves as a reminder that persistence and resilience are key to achieving lasting success and personal fulfillment.

Listeners are left with a profound sense of empowerment to embrace their journeys, face challenges head-on, and strive to be the last ones standing in their pursuits.

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Subscribe, Rate, and Share:
Michael encourages listeners to subscribe to the podcast, leave a five-star rating and review, and share the episode on social media to help others who might benefit from the message.

Contact Information:
For more insights and updates, listeners can visit the Kreatures of Habit Podcast website or follow Michael Chernow on his social media platforms.

Transcript

[A]

But I am telling you that you have a lot of time to make mistakes, fall on your face, try again, and there's no reason why you shouldn't try to uncover what you're made of. The world wants to know. I want to know. I want to know what you're made of.

[B]

What's going on? Podcast family. My name is Michael Chernow, and this is the Creatures of Habits podcast. Our habits will make us or they will break us. I've lived on both sides of the tracks and have experienced some of the best and the worst that habits have in store. The decisions we make on a consistent basis truly define who we are as human beings. This episode will be a solo episode where traditionally I interview guests. This is a solo episode where I share with you guys experiences that I've had, things that are relevant in my life today that I think could potentially be interesting for you to hear, things that I simply just want to share or quotes or activities that I've done over the last few weeks that have inspired me. So sit back, relax, and get out your pen and paper, because what you hear in this podcast could potentially make some big changes in your life.

[A]

Let's go. Life is long. Life is long. Especially if you're healthy. Life is super long. We've always heard the term life is short. It's just not. And I've got a reason why I'm highlighting this today. If you're going, if you're having a bad day, if you're having a bad week, if this month has sucked for you, maybe you're dealing with a bad year, and there's just a string of things that have just not gone your way. I'm here to tell you that life is long. Don't give up. Don't stop pushing forward because you've had a bad day, a bad week, a bad month, maybe a bad year. You've got so much time, so much time. Maybe you've started a business and it's not going the way you want it to go. Maybe you've been. You're in a relationship and it's just not doing what you want it to do. I'm just here to tell you that, like, I could speak to business. You know how many times I thought creatures of Habit was gonna not make it? And it was so hard. A lot. So many times. You know, I mean, not. Not a. You know, a lot. A lot. There was moments where I'm like, oh, man, are we gonna make it through this? Or do we have enough money to get through this? And I'm just here to tell you that like, life is long and no matter what happens, it's going to be okay. You just gotta put the right foot in front of the left. Keep going. Life is long and endurance. Typically the ones with the most endurance end up lasting the longest because most people throw in the towel. So if you now know that life is long and whatever you're going through is going to be okay, because you've got a lot of time, a lot of time to make, to make better decisions. And you also know that the longer you hang in, the. The higher chance you have to succeed. Now you've just got two things that could change everything for you. Patience. Endurance, and knowing that life is long is what I have hung my hat on. I'm here to tell you that I am not the smartest guy in the room ever. I'm just not. I can make friends with just about anyone. I can create culture. When it comes to smart guy stuff, P. Ls and projections and super strategic marketing strategies, understanding algorithms and things like that, I'm not. I'm not the smartest guy there. Nowhere near. I'm just not. But I am willing to stick with it no matter what. Because I just know that life is long. And I also know that endurance and patience is everything. I will be the last man standing. I just will. I'm committed to that. I have been in my life in a number of different ways and I am not unique. I am no, you know, Bobby Fischer. I'm just not. I'm just willing to stick around and continue fighting. So whatever you're going through, or if you've got something that you really want to do, but you've been afraid to do it because life is short, kick that to the curb, you've got a lot of opportunity to take the leap and fail and try again and fail and try again. Someone said to me not long ago, you know, at the end, at the end of it all, life is a game. It's a game. It's a game we're playing. And when you play the game safe all the time, you don't hit your potential. You won't hit your potential. Life is a game. You've got to take risk if you want to see what you're made of. And not a single human on the planet, they might not admit it, but not a single human on the planet doesn't, deep down inside, want to know what they're really made of. I've interviewed so many people over the years. I mean, before the creatures Of Habit podcast. I had the Born or Made podcast. I've interviewed hundreds of people and really, when I asked them, what is it that drives you to want to be elite? Typically, it's because they say, I want to see what I'm made of. That's it. I want to see what I'm capable of. I want to see what I'm made of. It's not for you. It's not for my mother, it's not for my wife, my husband. It's for me. I want to see what I'm capable of. Make that your North Star. You have an opportunity to do that. No one's stopping you. There's probably people that would try to convince you to play it safe more than not. But. And I'm not telling you to go out and be irresponsible and make crazy decisions and, you know, do do something that's gonna hurt you or someone else. But I am telling you that you have a lot of time to make mistakes, fall on your face, try again. And there's no reason why you shouldn't try to uncover what you're made of. The world wants to know. I want to know. I want to know what you're made of. And then you'll get through places, moments in life where you take a break and you don't have to fight every single day. And you don't have to power through the pain every single day. There's going to be some cruisy times for sure, but if you're not challenged ever, something's wrong and you're not living life in a way that could potentially really reward you. I hope you're having a great Monday. You might not be listening to this on a Monday, but I hope you're having a great one, no matter what day it is. Please subscribe to the podcast. Please give us a five star rating and a review. It goes a very, very long way. I appreciate you guys.

[B]

Share the podcast.

[A]

Post it on social media. Share it with someone that you think could use it. Share it with someone who you think is down in the dumps. What I'm saying is real. We all go through hard times. We all probably go to the darkest place when we're in those hard times that it's, you know, it's over. I'm never gonna be able to do this. My life sucks. I promise you, this too shall pass. And you've got lots and lots of time. I love you. Peace.