The Importance of Giving More Than You Take | Monday Moments - Kreatures Of Habit Podcast

Summary4 min read

Kreatures Of Habit Podcast: Episode Summary

Title: The Importance of Giving More Than You Take | Monday Moments
Host: Michael Chernow
Release Date: March 31, 2025

Introduction

In this solo episode of the Kreatures of Habit Podcast, host Michael Chernow delves deep into the dynamics of personal energy and interpersonal relationships. Shifting from his usual interview format, Michael shares personal insights and experiences that emphasize the profound impact of our habits on our happiness and success.

Energy: Suckers vs. Providers

Michael begins by categorizing people into two distinct groups: Energy Suckers and Energy Providers.

Energy Suckers are individuals who drain positivity from their surroundings. They often focus solely on themselves, harbor negative thoughts, and prioritize personal gain over collective well-being.

Michael Chernow [00:18]: "There are energy suckers, people that just suck energy out of a room, out of a conversation, out of a business, out of others' lives."
Energy Providers, on the other hand, bring vitality and enthusiasm wherever they go. They focus on adding value, fostering positivity, and uplifting those around them.

Michael Chernow [00:18]: "There are energy providers, people that bring energy to a room, that bring energy to a conversation, that bring energy to a situation, that bring energy to a business."

Michael challenges listeners to introspectively assess their own behavior:

Michael Chernow [00:55]: "What kind of person do you want to be? What kind of person are you?"

He emphasizes the importance of consciously choosing to be energy providers to cultivate a more fulfilling and successful life.

The Pursuit of Happiness Over Money

A significant portion of the episode is dedicated to the relationship between money and happiness. Michael argues that prioritizing money over genuine happiness leads to a hollow existence, regardless of one's financial status.

Michael Chernow [02:05]: "If you are an energy sucker and your number one priority is money, you are not going to be happy. And it doesn't matter how much money you have in life, if you are not happy, what's the point?"

He contrasts his personal approach, which values long-term happiness and wealth accumulation through giving, with the detrimental "get rich quick" mindset.

Michael Chernow [02:30]: "I would much rather be happy and build wealth over a long period of time because I've provided and I've given more than I've taken."

Understanding and Transforming Takers

Michael delves into the psychology of Takers, individuals driven by ego and insecurity. These people often create superficial success by manipulating others but lack genuine fulfillment.

Key characteristics of Takers include:

Ego-Driven Behavior: Often masking insecurities by asserting dominance.
Conflict Prone: Frequently engage in arguments and prioritize their own opinions.
Defensiveness: Demonstrate immaturity through protective and antagonistic responses.

Michael Chernow [04:00]: "They tend to be driven through ego. And typically what ego means is ego is insecure people that put on a front to manipulate and win in a sneaky way."

Despite their potential for financial success, Michael underscores that Takers seldom achieve true happiness.

Michael Chernow [05:00]: "Money is not the key to happiness and success in life. Because if your whole life is about taking the people around, you are only there because of what you have financially, and that's fake."

However, Michael remains optimistic, suggesting that transformation from a Taker to a Giver is entirely possible.

Michael Chernow [06:00]: "If you're a taker, you can become a giver. I promise you, I've seen it happen a lot."

Surrounding Yourself with Givers

Emphasizing the importance of community, Michael advocates for surrounding oneself with Givers—individuals who contribute positively and supportively to their environment.

Michael Chernow [04:30]: "I like to surround myself with givers. I like to surround myself with givers."

He shares his strategies for dealing with Takers, highlighting the challenges but reaffirming his commitment to fostering positive relationships.

Michael Chernow [05:30]: "I know how to deal with them. It's not fun."

Conclusion and Final Thoughts

Wrapping up the episode, Michael reiterates the core message of embracing a giving mindset to achieve lasting happiness and success. He encourages listeners to reflect on their own habits and make conscious choices that contribute positively to their lives and the lives of others.

Michael Chernow [07:30]: "There are takers in this world and there are givers in this world. And if you're a taker, you can become a giver. I promise you, I've seen it happen a lot."

He closes with a heartfelt wish for his audience's success and happiness for the coming week.

Michael Chernow [08:30]: "I hope you have the best week ever. And until the next one, y'all, peace."

Key Takeaways

Self-Assessment: Regularly evaluate whether you are an Energy Sucker or an Energy Provider.
Prioritize Happiness: Focus on cultivating happiness over accumulating wealth.
Foster Positive Relationships: Surround yourself with Givers to build a supportive and fulfilling network.
Personal Growth: Recognize that transformation from taking to giving is achievable with intention and effort.

This episode serves as a motivational guide, urging listeners to adopt habits that prioritize giving, positivity, and genuine relationships as the foundation for true success and happiness.

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Transcript5 lines

[00:00]
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But I promise you that if you are an energy sucker and your number one priority is money, you are not going to be happy. And it doesn't matter how much money you have in life, if you are not happy, what's the point? What's going on?
[00:19]
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Podcast Family. My name is Michael Chernow and this is the Creatures of Habit 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 wanna share or.
[01:03]
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Quotes or activities that I've done over.
[01:06]
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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.
[01:16]
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Some big changes in your life. Let's go. What's going on, guys? Welcome back to another Monday moment. These are small little solo episodes that run anywhere from 10 to maybe 20 minutes max. These are just good little tidbits for you to kick your week off with or just tap into whenever you feel the need for a little bit of motivation, inspiration, and potentially some learning. Today's episode is about energy and people. From my experience over the last 44 years, I've learned that there are two kinds of people in the world. There are energy suckers, People that just suck energy out of a room, out of a conversation, out of a business, out of other's lives. And then there are energy providers, people that bring energy to a room, that bring energy to. To a conversation, that bring energy to a situation, that bring energy to a business. Now, hearing that, what kind of person do you want to be? What kind of person are you? I'm asking you to look at yourself honestly right now. Do you walk into a room and suck the energy right out? Because all you think about is yourself. Do you walk into a room and look around and see all the positivity in that room, all the opportunity, all the ways that you can bring life, all the people that you're excited to meet. Or do you walk into a room, look around and think about all the negative stuff, all the ways you're gonna. You're gonna win, all the ways that you're gonna, you're gonna, you know, get over all the people that don't look like they're gonna appreciate you. So you have to puff up two kinds of people. And I have, and I think inherently, you know, I'm a self proclaimed energy provider. I really do love to add to situations as opposed to take away from situations. And I think it's not impossible for people to go from energy suckers to energy providers. I've come across so many energy suckers along my journey. So many, so many, so many. And they tend to be driven through ego. And typically what ego means is ego is insecure people that put on a front to manipulate and win in a sneaky way. There's a lot of people like that in business and those people could very well be super wealthy. But I promise you that if you are an energy sucker and your number one priority is money, you are not going to be happy. And it doesn't matter how much money you have in life, if you are not happy, what's the point? I would much rather be happy and build wealth over a long period of time because I've provided and I've given more than I've taken. Then try my, try to win. Win every single thing I'm in and no matter what and take, take, take, take, take. And think about getting rich quick but hating myself and not, not having a life that I'm proud of. There are these two people in the world. There's two, there's, there's, you either are you, are you are providing or you're taking. And I ask you now to think about who you are because it's not too late to change. If you're a taker, and I promise you, if you're a taker, you know it and you're not proud of it. So I like to surround myself with givers. I like to surround myself with givers. And of course I run into takers all the time. And I know how to deal with them. I know how to deal with them. It's not fun. Typically they're in arguments often. Typically they need to hear their own voice all the time. Typically they're the most important person and the smartest person at the table. Typically it's, it's, it's almost like they're irrational when it comes to like having an opinion that doesn't align with theirs. Typically they're defensive. Typically that defensiveness ultimately ends up as being received from others as immature. And in a lot of cases, they have a lot of money. But what that shows to me is that money is not the key to happiness and success in life. Because if your whole life is about taking the people around, you are only there because of what you have financially, and that's fake. So I just wanted you or wanted to share this idea that there are takers in this world and there are givers in this world. And if you're a taker, you can become a giver. I promise you, I've seen it happen a lot. And if you're a giver, congratulations. I'm happy to be here with you little piece for you guys to just chew on for this week. I hope you have the best week ever. And until the next one, y'all, peace.