Michael Chernow: The Long Game

Summary

Kreatures Of Habit Podcast: Episode Summary – "The Long Game"

Podcast Information

• Title: Kreatures Of Habit Podcast
• Host: Michael Chernow
• Episode: "The Long Game"
• Release Date: October 7, 2024
• Description: Michael Chernow delves into the significance of daily routines and habits, illustrating how steadfast commitments can pave the way to success. In this episode, he shares his personal philosophies, routines, and the transformative power of consistent habits.

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Overview

In the episode titled "The Long Game," Michael Chernow challenges the conventional wisdom that "life is short," advocating instead for the perspective that life is a prolonged journey filled with opportunities for growth and transformation. By emphasizing the importance of consistent, positive habits, Michael illustrates how small daily commitments can lead to profound personal and professional success.

Challenging the "Life is Short" Narrative

Michael begins by disputing the commonly held belief that life is fleeting. He posits that viewing life as long provides a broader canvas for personal development and recovery from setbacks.

“I don't believe that life is short. I believe that life is long.”
[01:16]

He underscores that a longer perspective allows individuals to cherish every moment, even the challenging ones, by recognizing them as opportunities for growth and improvement.

The Importance of Long-Term Perspectives

Delving deeper, Michael compares life's trajectory to investing in the stock market. Just as monitoring daily market fluctuations can lead to unnecessary stress, assessing daily life metrics can result in perpetual dissatisfaction. Instead, he advocates for monthly or yearly evaluations to maintain emotional stability and long-term focus.

“You cannot look at the stock market every single day if it impacts how you feel... You have to look at it on a monthly basis, on a quarterly basis, on a yearly basis.”
[01:16]

Commitment to Daily Habits

Central to the episode is Michael's emphasis on the power of daily habits. He shares his own rigorous morning routine, highlighting how waking up early provides him with uninterrupted time for self-care and preparation for the day ahead.

Personal Morning Routine

Michael outlines his morning practices, which include:

• Early Rising: Waking up between 5:00 and 5:20 AM to gain a head start on the day.
• Spiritual Connection: Engaging in daily prayer to establish a foundation for the day.
• Physical Exercise: Performing 50 push-ups consistently, regardless of location, to build physical resilience.
• Stretching: Incorporating simple stretches like downward dog and cat-cow exercises to maintain flexibility and reduce muscle tension.

“I really try to wake up early in the morning, ideally before the sun rises... It gives me more time to myself.”
[01:16]

“Push ups right after my prayers. I do 50 push ups every single morning... I do them. I do them.”
[01:16]

These habits are not merely routines but commitments that provide Michael with consistency and positivity, regardless of external circumstances.

Balancing Personal and Professional Life

Michael shares his belief in prioritizing family time over professional obligations when necessary. He expresses joy in spending mornings with his wife and children, valuing these moments above extended gym sessions.

“I would much rather be sitting at the breakfast table with my wife and my kids at 6:30 in the morning than working out in the gym...”
[01:16]

This balance ensures that personal relationships remain a cornerstone of his daily life, contributing to overall happiness and fulfillment.

Overcoming Adversity Through Habits

A poignant moment in the episode is Michael's revelation of his past struggles with heroin addiction. He credits his disciplined habits and spiritual connection as pivotal in overcoming this life-threatening challenge.

“I have lived on both sides of that coin where my habits nearly killed me. I overdosed on heroin. I was dead.”
[01:16]

This testimony underscores the transformative power of positive habits, illustrating how they can rescue individuals from dire circumstances and foster unprecedented personal growth.

Philosophy on Life’s Challenges

Michael candidly acknowledges that life is inherently hard, regardless of one's external circumstances. However, he maintains that a positive and consistent habit framework can help individuals navigate these challenges more effectively.

“Life is hard. There’s no way around it. Life is hard.”
[01:16]

He praises individuals like Rob Dyrdek for embodying a positive mindset, capable of appreciating life's complexities even during tough times.

“Rob Dyrdek is the one guy I think I've ever met in my life that says his life is not hard.”
[01:16]

Building a Brand Around Habits

Michael discusses the inception of his company, Creatures of Habit, which extends beyond products like high-protein overnight oatmeal and sleep support supplements. The brand's core mission is to remind individuals that their habits are pivotal in shaping their destinies.

“Your habits will make you or break you. It’s just that simple.”
[01:16]

He emphasizes that the brand is a manifestation of his belief in the power of consistent, positive habits to transform lives.

Encouragement to Listeners

Towards the end of the episode, Michael encourages listeners to adopt a long-term perspective on life, maintain consistent habits, and share the podcast to help others benefit from these insights. He passionately advocates for the idea that with time and commitment, anyone can reshape their life.

“Life is long, y’all. We got time.”
[01:16]

Notable Quotes

1. On Life's Duration:
   “I don't believe that life is short. I believe that life is long.”
   [01:16]

2. On Consistency:
   “Consistency in a positive way.”
   [00:00]

3. On Habits Shaping Destiny:
   “Your habits will make you or break you. It’s just that simple.”
   [01:16]

4. On Overcoming Challenges:
   “I overdosed on heroin. I was dead.”
   [01:16]

5. On Life's Hardships:
   “Life is hard. There’s no way around it. Life is hard.”
   [01:16]

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Conclusion

In "The Long Game," Michael Chernow masterfully conveys the significance of viewing life through a long-term lens, leveraging consistent and positive habits to navigate its inherent challenges. By sharing his personal routines, struggles, and the foundational beliefs that drive his success, Michael offers listeners actionable insights into cultivating habits that can transform their lives. This episode serves as a compelling reminder that with time, commitment, and the right habits, individuals can achieve lasting success and fulfillment.

Transcript

[A]

I do 50 pushups every single morning. It doesn't matter if I'm in China, if I'm in Dubai, or if I'm in my bathroom at home. I do them. I do them. Sometimes I don't want to do them, but I do them. Consistency in a positive way. I stretch right after I do that, and it's a simple stretch. I do downward dog, upward dog. I do that five times and then I go right into cat, cow, and I do that five times. And that's just something that I just do because I use my body a lot and I like to stretch it out early in the morning.

[B]

I'm Michael Chernow and this is the.

[A]

Creatures of Habit podcast.

[B]

Our habits will make us or break us. It's just that simple. I've lived on both sides of the tracks and have learned that the decisions we make on a consistent basis truly define who we are as human beings. On this show, I will be interviewing some of the most inspiring, motivating and high performing humans I've encountered to share their daily habits, routines and rituals that help them stay on top of their game and ultimately happy. So sit back, relax, and pay attention because what you hear over the next 30 to 45 minutes could potentially change your life.

[A]

Let's go, family. Today's gonna be a quick hitter. I want to talk to you about the long game. Life is, in my opinion, you know, you hear all the time, life is short. Life is long. It just is. I don't believe that life is short. I believe that life is long. And we have an opportunity to cherish every moment of it, even if it sucks at the very, in this very moment. If you are thinking to yourself, life sucks, that's an opportunity. It's an opportunity because life is long. You're gonna have so much time to unfuck yourself in life, to unsuck life. And so I want to share a few things, you know, a few examples of what I'm talking about. You know, if you have money in the stock market and you look at the market every single day, and the success or the lack of success in the stock market dictates how you feel as a human, but also about your money, you are going to be living in a world of pain, friends. You cannot look at the stock market every single day if it impacts how you feel or if it impacts how you feel your money is going to do in the market. You have to look at it on a monthly basis, on a quarterly basis, on a yearly basis. And I also believe that that should be how life is reviewed. If every single day is going to determine whether you feel like you've won or you lost in life, it's gonna be a hard road. However, if you can commit to a handful of habits throughout your life on a day to day basis. Meaning for me it is I really try to wake up early in the morning, ideally before the sun rises so that I and it's not. I don't do that because I want to post on social media that oh yeah, I'm one of these early risers. I do that because waking up early in my family gives me an opportunity to get up before everybody else and have more time to to myself. Because I also believe that like once my family is up and that typically happens around 6:30, 7:00 in the morning, if I'm not with them, giving them my attention, I'm also taking away from my life. I would much rather be sitting at the breakfast table with my wife and my kids at 6:30 in the morning than working out in the gym because I get so much joy hanging out with my wife and kids every single morning. I genuinely do. It is really what I look forward to. However, I also look forward to working out and doing my breath work and doing my meditation and doing all those things. So waking up early in the morning for me around 5:15 or 5:15, between 5 and 5:20 is typically when I wake up, I got a strong hour to do whatever it is I want to do in the morning and that typically is filled with self love action. Whether it's training, whether it's breath work, red light or cold plunging or sitting in my sauna praying medit. You know, all those things that I do in the morning I get to do because I wake up early. So that is a commitment and a habit that I have really really stuck to and it genuinely makes me feel better. It doesn't matter what's going on in the world or it doesn't matter like how my life is on a hill or in a valley at the moment. I do know that these commitments, these little habits are going to create some semblance of consistency in my life and typically positive consistency. Waking up early in the morning, I pray every single day. That's for me. It doesn't have to be for you, but it could be. But prayer for me is a massive part of my morning routine. It is something I never ever skip, I never ever miss. It doesn't matter where I am and that connection to God, it could be the universe, it could be Jesus, it Could be whatever it is for you, for me, it's just straight up. God. That connection for me is a commitment, a consistent decision that I make every single day to feel a sense of consistency in a positive way in my life. Push ups right after my prayers. I do 50 push ups every single morning. It doesn't matter if I'm in China, if I'm in Dubai, or if I'm in my bathroom at home. I do them. I do them. Sometimes I don't want to do them, but I do them. Consistency in a positive way. I stretch right after I do that, and it's a simple stretch. I do downward dog, upward dog, I do that five times and then I go right into cat, cow, and I do that five times. And that's just something that I just do because I use my body a lot and I like to stretch it out early in the morning. So I'm giving you these things because I want you to understand from my perspective that life is long and we have so much time, we have so much time to change whatever's happening or to allow for change in whatever's happening or to just genuinely appreciate the awesomeness that you're experiencing right now. Because I'm speaking to you as if, like, things aren't going well. By the way, congratulations. If you're sitting in your car or walking on the treadmill or out on a run and you're like, I am so fired up about where I am in my life today, like, that is the best possible outcome or circumstance that we can, that you can be listening to this podcast in. It is a long game. And if you think about it on a day to day basis as how awesome or not awesome your life is, it's going to suck. Because life is hard. Life is hard. There's no way around it. Life is hard. It doesn't matter how much money you have, how much love you have, how much support you have, how little support you have. Life is hard. And I have yet to meet someone who says to me, outside of maybe one person, I think Rob Dyrdek. Rob Dyrdek is the one guy I think I've ever met in my life that says his life is not hard. But I'm sure it was, you know, and maybe it's because he's got such a positive mindset that like, he really has conditioned himself to, even when things are going in a rough direction, to appreciate that. And I think that is like the ultimate when you can really sort of be comfortable in the shit. I felt passionate about sharing that with you guys today, because I hate hearing life is short. I don't believe it. I believe life is long and all of us have a lot of time. It doesn't matter how old you are, you know, to really shift things around if you feel like you have to. And it's as easy as the commitments that you make, the habits that you uphold. That is why I am so passionate about habits. That is why I created a business called Creatures of Habit. Yes, we sell Meal One, which is a high protein overnight oatmeal with a bunch of benefits. Yes, we sell Creature Sleep, which is a sleep support product that helps you relax, fall, and stay asleep. But I'm telling you, I promise with all my heart, I didn't open up an oatmeal and sleep support company. That's not what I intended on doing here. My intention with Creatures of Habit was to create a brand to help you remember that your habits will make you or break you. It's just that simple. Your habits will make you or break you. And I have lived on both sides of that coin where my habits nearly killed me. I overdosed on heroin. I was dead. I don't know how I made it through that, but I did. And that's why I have such a strong connection with God. But now the habits that I uphold on a daily basis have constructed this human that I never thought was possible to be in the skin of. And I am, and I'm fucking proud of it. And I want nothing more than to share that with you guys because it's possible for everyone and anyone. Life is long, y'all. I should get that tattooed on my. My hand, because I really do believe it. We got time. If this podcast helped you in any way, please share it with a friend and family member. Share it with an old friend, someone that you haven't spoken to in a long time. Give us a five star rating and a review. I would really. I mean, I say that in every episode and, you know, not a lot of people take the time to do it. Subscribe. Five star review and a rating or five star rating and a review. It would mean so much to me if you could just take two minutes out of your day and do it, because it really, really, really does help us grow this thing. I'm desperately trying to grow this podcast. And it, you know, you. You listening means everything. You sharing it means everything. But giving us a review and a rating really does help us grow it and help in front of more people. So that would mean the world to me. I love and appreciate you guys a lot. I really am grateful for the feedback that you give me and the DMs and the emails and stuff. And if you have not tried Creatures of Habit products, pop over to creaturesofhabit.com and see what we're doing over there. We've got a bunch of cool things that are really sort of catching, you know, gaining traction. I love you. I appreciate you. There will be more of these podcasts until the next one, y'all. Peace.