Welcome to The Growth Log

For those that know me, it may be hard to believe that I got this idea from something I read. Yes, Benny does read. If you would look at my library, the bulk of the books are either theology/religion focused or self development focused. I have Bibles, commentaries, books from acclaimed pastors that I listen to and learn from and then I also have books on business, productivity, and personal skills.

Personal growth is my hobby. It is what I do with my free time, and so often I just go from podcast to podcast, book to book - okay, maybe not as often from book to book - but I go from one thing to the next and I don’t keep track of my takeaways or have a log about what I have or have not watched. Thus, The Growth Log was born.

I had a friend of mine that also asked me to send him some things I’m currently learning from and so I see this newsletter or blog as the answer. It’s here to document my thoughts on podcasts or books and to share those resources with you.

Watch History

Start Here

I found a list of podcasts recommendations as I was scrolling on Tiktok - because how else do you learn in 2024? As I started to make my way through the list, I got to this episode of the Daily Stoic Podcast. I first wrote it off because I thought “it was just another podcast about Atomic Habits” (quotes added for sarcastic emphasis).

I’ve owned the book for years but because I had done a report in college about Charles Duhigg’s Power of Habit, I told myself that I understood the gist of what there is to know about habits. “Yeah, yeah. Habits are powerful things that can dictate a persons character. I get it.”

I didn’t get it.

I’ll tell you more in the next section where I elaborate on the books I’m reading. But start here by watching this episode and then go buy Atomic Habits.

Takeaways from the Episode

The fundamental basis for Atomic Habits comes from the idea of building habits that may be small, but have an ‘explosive’ effect or larger impact over the long term. The question becomes “what are small habits that you can build that set up grander habits and frameworks in the future?”

As the host, Ryan Holiday, discusses the main premise for Atomic Habits with Clear, they hit on a belief that resonated with me and the way my habits work. Many times, habits are outcome focused. Lose 30 lbs. Read 10 books. Run a Marathon (okay, let’s be real) a mile. These goals are good goals. People speak to the importance of having well-defined goals or mile markers (recurring theme? Oh no). By having a defined goal, it gives you a clear marker of success. However, according to Clear and Holiday, habits become “Atomic” when you start from the core, start from the identity you seek, and then work your way out.

Three Layers of Behavior Change

When striving to reach a goal, I can agree, have a set definitive goal. It gives you that clear marker of success. But what if that wasn’t the definition of success? What if the definition of success was becoming the person you said you would be?

I remember talking about rewards systems in the past. The common system is to complete the task (typically one that you hate or are putting off) and then reward yourself with something you enjoy. Finish your homework before you play video games. That whole idea.

My mind never worked that way. If I wanted to or needed to do the hard thing, I should just do it because it’s the right thing to do. It’s what needs to be done in order to be the person I want to be. I don’t work under the idea “but you get to have fun afterwards!” Yeah, maybe. But having fun afterwards does not achieve the goal. Because the goal was not to have fun afterwards. The goal was to do the thing. The goal was to be the kind of person that the task fosters.

Take this newsletter. I mentioned before that one of the goals of The Growth Log is to have a log of what I’m learning and to be able to share that with you, the audience. Another goal is for me to become a writer. It’s something I’ve always shied away from, ever since doing terrible in High School English. But over the years I had to write articles for the church I served at and I wrote small, almost devotional pieces for Instagram posts. These were small instances of writing but recently I’ve been wanting to build that skill; to become a writer. So if we go back to Clear’s behavior change model, I want to be a writer, so therefore I need to write articles (or really any kind of content), and so the outcome becomes starting a newsletter. If I would go the other way - “I want to start a newsletter” - but I don’t have that intrinsic goal to be a writer, then chances are high that I won’t keep up with the newsletter after maybe a few weeks.

Well, that pretty much covers the first 15 minutes of the podcast and first couple chapters of the book. There’s so much in the podcast on top of this. Here’s a list of some things to look for in the episode:

• A story about President Jimmy Carter centering on the question, “did you do your best?”

• It’s important to remember the things you have achieved vs. always just looking towards the next milestone

  • Can’t look at the next milestone if you haven’t ran the first mile.
    Sorry. That’s not in the episode. That was just another jab at me not being a runner. That’s for later. A future goal. Maybe.

  • Also, now that I think about it, that joke comment is surprisingly deep.

• Ask yourself “What do I want my day to look like?” Then build your life back from there.

• “No” is a decision, “Yes” is a responsibility.

All in all, this episode has a lot of great takeaways and I’ve only scratched the surface. I hope I was able to convey why I got so excited and went on to start reading the book.

Add to Watch Later:

• Joe Rogan Experience #1309 - Naval Ravikant

• Jordan Peterson - How To Destroy Your Negative Beliefs

• 23 Harsh Truths Nobody Wants To Admit - Alex Hormozi

Reading List

Atomic Habits by James Clear

Atomic Habits by James Clear is a fantastic book not for understanding the Power of Habits - that was Charles Duhigg’s book. Clear writes his book showing the frameworks for how he builds habits. I’ve made it through the first section where we learn how habits start - the cue. He provides such a great explanation to how the habit process works and I’m really enjoying learning the specific details.

We Who Wrestle With God by Jordan B Peterson

I gave you a list of videos to watch later. In that list, you’ll see an interview of Jordan Peterson on the Modern Wisdom Podcast. Fair warning, first half of that episode had my brain spinning. They talk through some very, and I mean VERY, philosophical beliefs and thought processes. Peterson is thorough to say the least. But the second half of the episode I warmed up and was able to follow it all much better.

He ends the episode talking about his new book. He says “I've been having quite a good time writing this book, actually, it's very difficult to write but it's been extremely exciting and interesting… You asked me earlier what would I consider success with this book. I don't think that you'll be able to read this book and understand it and be atheistic. I think I can demolish the atheistic argument permanently.” 

As soon as he said that. I had to go get the book. I’ve read just the foreshadowing section but already I know this will be the most difficult book I’ve ever read. I’m so excited.