Take Command: A Leadership Podcast

Episode: Miracle Morning: The Way to Take Command of Your Day
Host: Joe Hart
Guest: Hal Elrod
Release Date: April 22, 2025

Introduction

In this compelling episode of Take Command: A Leadership Podcast, host Joe Hart welcomes Hal Elrod, the internationally renowned author of The Miracle Morning. Hal shares his extraordinary journey of overcoming severe adversity, including a near-death car accident, the collapse of his business during the 2008 financial crisis, and a diagnosis with an aggressive form of cancer. Through resilience and the implementation of the Miracle Morning routine, Hal transformed his life and built a successful brand that has inspired millions worldwide.

Hal Elrod’s Early Life and Entrepreneurial Spirit

Hal Elrod’s story begins at the age of 15 when he started a DJ business in his hometown of Oakhurst, a small town with a population of 30,000. Inspired by his friend's brother, a professional DJ, Hal transitioned from working a minimum wage job at a grocery store to earning $100 an hour for his DJ services within months. This early success ignited his passion for entrepreneurship and demonstrated the power of aligning passion with income.

Hal Elrod [00:19]: “When I was 15, my first DJ gig got me a hundred dollars for four hours of playing music. It wasn't even work for me. My mind started to expand, and I realized that I could earn significantly more doing something I loved.”

Surviving a Near-Death Car Accident

At 19, Hal’s life took a dramatic turn when he was struck by a drunk driver traveling at 70 mph. The accident resulted in him dying for six minutes and spending six days in a coma. Upon waking, doctors informed him that he had broken 11 bones and might never walk again. Despite the grim prognosis, Hal leveraged a principle he learned from his sales training—the Five Minute Rule—to navigate his recovery.

Hal Elrod [02:35]: “Set your timer on your phone for five minutes to process your emotions, and when it goes off, acknowledge you can’t change the past and focus on what you can control.”

Hal’s application of the Five Minute Rule was pivotal. It allowed him to accept his new reality without succumbing to prolonged despair. Remarkably, his body began to heal faster than expected, leading him to take his first steps in therapy just two weeks after the accident.

The Five Minute Rule and Emotional Resilience

Joe Hart draws parallels between Hal's approach and Dale Carnegie’s principles, emphasizing the difficulty of maintaining such resilience in the face of catastrophic events.

Joe Hart [05:33]: “What would you say to somebody who said, ‘That sounds easy, but it's not’?”

Hal acknowledges the challenge and explains that the Five Minute Rule evolved into what he calls the Five Day Rule in more severe situations. He elucidates that emotional pain often stems from resisting reality rather than the events themselves.

Hal Elrod [06:11]: “Every painful emotion is self-created by our resistance to reality. It's our wishing and wanting things to be different that perpetuates suffering.”

He emphasizes that recognizing and minimizing resistance can significantly reduce emotional distress, allowing individuals to focus their energy on constructive actions.

Developing the Miracle Morning Routine

During the 2008 financial crisis, Hal faced another severe challenge when his coaching business began to collapse. Unlike his car accident, this was a gradual decline, making it harder to pinpoint the bottom. Utilizing the Five Minute Rule initially, Hal found it insufficient in this prolonged struggle. This realization led him to develop the Miracle Morning, a comprehensive morning routine designed to enhance personal development and resilience.

Hal Elrod [13:19]: “I studied what the world's most successful people do for personal development and assembled six of the most timeless, proven practices into what I call the Miracle Morning.”

The Miracle Morning comprises six practices, remembered by the acronym S.A.V.E.R.S:

1. Silence: Meditation or quiet reflection to calm the nervous system.
2. Affirmations: Positive, committed statements tailored to individual goals.
3. Visualization: Mentally rehearsing desired outcomes and actions.
4. Exercise: Physical activity to boost energy and health.
5. Reading: Engaging with educational or motivational material.
6. Scribing (Journaling): Writing to reflect on goals, gratitude, and actions.

Hal credits this routine with transforming his financial situation during the Great Recession, doubling his income within two months despite worsening economic conditions.

Hal Elrod [17:38]: “Within two months of doing this morning practice, my income doubled. This was during the height of the Great Recession.”

Overcoming the Great Recession

Hal explains that while the Five Minute Rule was effective during sudden crises like his accident, the Miracle Morning provided the structure needed to navigate gradual and prolonged challenges such as the financial downturn. By committing to personal development through the S.A.V.E.R.S practices, Hal was able to reconstruct his business and achieve remarkable financial growth.

Hal Elrod [26:11]: “I focused all six of my savers on doubling my income. This focused approach, combined with personal development, allowed me to overcome the financial crisis.”

He highlights the importance of aligning personal development with specific goals, using measurable commitments and actionable steps to create substantial progress.

Facing a Cancer Diagnosis with Resilience

Despite overcoming significant challenges, Hal's resilience was further tested when he was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukemia at age 37. With a survival rate of only 10-30%, Hal applied the same principles that had guided him through previous adversities.

Hal utilized the Miracle Morning to maintain unwavering faith and optimism. He personalized his affirmations to reinforce his commitment to beating cancer and outlined clear reasons for his determination, ranging from his love for his family to a sense of responsibility towards others battling similar illnesses.

Hal Elrod [33:17]: “I'm committed to beating cancer and living to be 100 plus years old alongside my family, no matter what. There is no other option.”

Hal’s dedication to his daily routines—ambitious physical regimens, extensive supplementation, holistic treatments, and focused visualization—played a crucial role in his recovery. By reframing his mindset and maintaining a structured approach to personal development, Hal successfully overcame his cancer diagnosis.

Hal Elrod [39:07]: “My affirmations were the anchor. They were my lifeline. I went from being afraid of death to being committed to beating cancer.”

Practical Application and Overcoming Obstacles

Joe Hart and Hal discuss common objections to adopting a morning routine, particularly for those who are not naturally morning people. Hal shares strategies to ease into the Miracle Morning, such as gradually waking up 15 minutes earlier and integrating one S.A.V.E.R.S practice at a time.

Hal Elrod [22:52]: “Start with the S. Silence. Meditate every day to calm your nervous system and gain clarity to move forward.”

He also provides practical tips, like placing the alarm clock across the room to avoid the snooze button and ensure immediate action upon waking.

Hal Elrod [31:28]: “Keep your alarm clock across the room. When you get out of bed, you're more alert and awake, reducing the temptation to snooze.”

Hal emphasizes the importance of intention, commitment, and incremental action in building and maintaining a successful morning routine.

Key Takeaways and Conclusion

Hal Elrod’s journey underscores the profound impact of mindset and structured personal development routines in overcoming life's most daunting challenges. The Miracle Morning serves as a powerful framework for individuals seeking to take command of their day, fostering resilience, clarity, and sustained success.

Hal Elrod [40:01]: “The difference between successful people and unsuccessful people is that we all feel the same limitations and emotions, but successful people choose to act despite them.”

By embracing intentionality and committing to daily growth practices, anyone can unlock their potential and navigate adversity with grace and determination. Hal’s story is a testament to the transformative power of positive habits and unwavering faith in one’s ability to overcome.

For those interested in implementing the Miracle Morning, Hal directs listeners to MiracleMorning.com, where they can access resources such as the Miracle Morning documentary, an app, and additional literature to begin their journey toward personal and professional excellence.

Notable Quotes:

• Hal Elrod [00:19]: “When I was 15, my first DJ gig got me a hundred dollars for four hours of playing music. It wasn't even work for me. My mind started to expand, and I realized that I could earn significantly more doing something I loved.”

• Hal Elrod [02:35]: “Set your timer on your phone for five minutes to process your emotions, and when it goes off, acknowledge you can’t change the past and focus on what you can control.”

• Joe Hart [05:33]: “What would you say to somebody who said, ‘That sounds easy, but it's not’?”

• Hal Elrod [06:11]: “Every painful emotion is self-created by our resistance to reality. It's our wishing and wanting things to be different that perpetuates suffering.”

• Hal Elrod [17:38]: “Within two months of doing this morning practice, my income doubled. This was during the height of the Great Recession.”

• Hal Elrod [26:11]: “I focused all six of my savers on doubling my income. This focused approach, combined with personal development, allowed me to overcome the financial crisis.”

• Hal Elrod [33:17]: “I'm committed to beating cancer and living to be 100 plus years old alongside my family, no matter what. There is no other option.”

• Hal Elrod [39:07]: “My affirmations were the anchor. They were my lifeline. I went from being afraid of death to being committed to beating cancer.”

• Hal Elrod [40:01]: “The difference between successful people and unsuccessful people is that we all feel the same limitations and emotions, but successful people choose to act despite them.”

Hal Elrod's narrative is an inspiring exemplar of how structured personal development and a resilient mindset can empower individuals to transcend immense challenges and achieve extraordinary success.