Podcast Summary: Your Daily Real Estate Podcast with Tristan Ahumada

Episode 708: The 6-Step Morning Routine That Actually Works (MARVEL Method)
Date: November 7, 2025
Host: Tristan Ahumada

Episode Overview

In this episode, Tristan Ahumada shares a powerful yet practical morning routine, the MARVEL Method, designed specifically to help real estate professionals and anyone aiming for personal growth. Inspired by Hal Elrod and practices from successful people worldwide, Tristan breaks down each component of his morning routine, explaining why each step matters and how it contributes to improved mindset, productivity, and well-being.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Why Morning Routines Matter

• Tristan emphasizes the transformative impact of a consistent morning routine, both for business and personal well-being.
• He shares that his own routine draws on years of research into what the most successful people do daily.

“If you would implement this to your daily life... I hope I inspire you to create one for yourself, or at least use this one.”
— Tristan Ahumada [00:20]

2. Introduction to the MARVEL Method

• MARVEL is an acronym for the six essential elements of Tristan’s morning ritual:
  • M: Meditation (or prayer)
  • A: Affirmations
  • R: Record your previous day
  • V: Visualization
  • E: Exercise (motion)
  • L: Learning

MARVEL Method Breakdown

M – Meditation [01:19]

• Purpose: Start with silence, mindfulness, relaxation.
• How-To: Just be still, breathe deeply for 2–20 minutes, tailored to your schedule.

“For me, it’s starting with silence, mindfulness, just relaxation of the mind and reconnecting with myself.”
— Tristan [01:27]

A – Affirmations [02:00]

• Purpose: Replace negative self-talk with positive truths about who you want to become.
• Personal Anecdote: Tristan recalls learning about affirmations at a 2006 Tony Robbins event.
• Practice: Recite statements that reinforce desired qualities and resilience.

“This is me speaking the truths about who I want to become and partially who I am, too.”
— Tristan [02:24]

R – Record Your Previous Day [02:51]

• App Mentioned: Day One (used since 2011).
• Purpose: Document thoughts and events for self-reflection.
• How-To: Write, dictate, or record video entries.
• Benefit: Occasional look-backs provide perspective and family reminiscence.

“It’s important to kind of piece it together. I don’t usually look back. I write it down and I never look at it again unless I’m reminiscing.”
— Tristan [03:20]

V – Visualization [03:39]

• Purpose: Picture the day ahead, focusing on self, family, and business.
• Guidelines: Assess physical, mental, emotional, spiritual readiness; anticipate business focus areas.

“Visualize it. Who do you need to be today to show up as your best self for that?”
— Tristan [04:32]

E – Exercise [04:36]

• Purpose: Wake up the body; use motion to stimulate emotion and energy.
• How-To: Quick activities like pushups or jumping jacks; just 1 minute counts.
• Notable Quote:

“Motion creates emotion. I would say it enhances it.”
— Tristan, referencing Tony Robbins [04:41]

L – Learning [05:08]

• Purpose: Feed your mind with something new every morning.
• Tristan’s Practice: Reads from “The Daily Stoic” by Ryan Holiday.
• Insight: Avoid mental stagnation by consistently exposing yourself to fresh ideas.
• Shout Out: References Jim Kwik and his book “Limitless.”

“Jim Kwik told me... most people are regurgitating their same thought that they had last week and they’re not ingesting new thoughts...”
— Tristan [05:40]

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• “I did a lot of research and I said, what do the most successful people in the world do routinely in the morning and in the evening? And I extracted that and I added that to my life.”
  — Tristan [00:49]

• “Sometimes we do as a family. It’s kind of nice.”
  — Tristan, on reviewing Day One journal entries [03:35]

• “It’s not going to replace your full on exercise, but at least it gets you into the right state quickly.”
  — Tristan [04:53]

Additional Resources

• PDF of the MARVEL Method is available; listeners can request it by messaging Tristan on Instagram. [05:58]

Episode Flow with Timestamps

• 00:00 – 01:18: Introduction, inspiration, and purpose of morning routines
• 01:19 – 01:57: Meditation (M)
• 02:00 – 02:48: Affirmations (A); Tony Robbins anecdote
• 02:51 – 03:37: Recording your previous day (R); Day One app
• 03:39 – 04:34: Visualization (V); structure and benefits
• 04:36 – 05:07: Exercise (E); quick movement and its purpose
• 05:08 – 05:57: Learning (L); books, quotes, and mental freshness
• 05:58 – End: PDF offer and final encouragement

Takeaway

Tristan’s MARVEL Method is an efficient, actionable morning routine crafted for busy professionals who aim to grow—personally and professionally. The episode is a quick masterclass in starting your day with clarity, intention, and purpose, tailored for real estate agents but valuable for anyone looking for structure and inspiration.