What if the biggest thing standing between you and your next income breakthrough isn't the economy, your competition, or even your business strategy?
What if it's something you're doing every single day without realizing it?
Maybe you've built a successful business, but your income has hit a ceiling. You're bringing in good money, yet that next big income leap always seems just out of reach.
Or maybe you've spent years building a successful career, but you're starting to wonder whether there's a much bigger opportunity waiting for you.
Either way, you've got ambition, and you're willing to put in the work.
So what's holding you back?
In Episode #88 of The 30-Day Year Podcast, Dave and Jacq Conway tackle a subject that might make you look at your own behavior a little differently.
The eight bad habits Dave had to overcome before achieving his first 30-day year goal.
And here's what makes this so interesting…
These aren't necessarily the obvious bad habits you'd expect. Some are things that might seem perfectly normal, even sensible, especially when you've been doing them for years.
For example:
Operating without a clearly defined financial target. You might know you want to earn more, but do you know exactly how much more, and by when?
Letting other people's thinking influence your decisions. Whose opinions are shaping what you believe you're capable of earning?
Making decisions based primarily on price. Could trying to save money actually be costing you opportunities to make considerably more?
Those are just three of the eight habits Dave identifies in this episode.
And some of the others might surprise you.
Like the unusual rule he followed when booking hotel rooms. Or the eye-opening amount he invested in his own personal development during his first year.
Then there's the fascinating system of three invisible walls he built around his mind. And the reason he won't allow anyone past the innermost one.
What's the thinking behind those decisions? And what did changing these habits make possible for him?
Whether you're trying to take your business from six figures to seven, break through an income plateau, or make a major career change, this episode offers you a chance to examine some of the habits that may be influencing your results.
The question is, how many of these eight habits do you recognize in yourself? 👀
Listen to episode #88 now!
Key Takeaways
1.) Do You Have A Clear or Vague Income Goal? (0:00:43)
Ask ten entrepreneurs what their next financial goal is, and you'll probably hear some version of “I want to grow my business” or “I want to make more money.”
But how much more? And by when?
Dave admits that for years, he didn't have a clearly defined financial target either.
And after thousands of coaching conversations, he's noticed how often ambitious people make the same mistake.
Here's something worth trying: Write down your specific income goal and the date you intend to achieve it. Then ask yourself whether that target is actually guiding your daily decisions.
Dave explains why having a clearly defined goal does more than give you something to work toward.
It can also change what gets your attention and what doesn't.
2. Are The People Around You Setting Your Income Ceiling? (0:07:45)
You've probably heard that you're influenced by the people you spend the most time with.
But have you considered how their beliefs about money, business, and success might be influencing your own?
Maybe you've got a bold plan to double your revenue, but the people around you keep reminding you why it probably won't work.
Or you're considering a career pivot, but everyone you talk to thinks you should play it safe.
Dave learned to be extremely selective about whose opinions he allows to influence his thinking.
In fact, he developed a system involving three invisible walls around his mind.
Who gets through those walls? And why is the innermost one completely off-limits?
His explanation offers an interesting perspective on protecting your mind, thoughts, and ambitions.
3. WARNING: Your Environment Could Be Working Against Your Next Big Breakthrough (0:10:11)
Here's a question worth considering.
Does your everyday environment support the income you're trying to achieve, or does it keep reinforcing the results you're already getting?
You might have the right business strategy, the right goals, and plenty of motivation.
But if you're constantly surrounded by conversations, expectations, and influences that pull you back toward your old ways of thinking, making a lasting change can be really difficult.
Dave believes environment plays an enormous role in whether someone successfully transforms their results.
And after mentoring more than 1,600 people, he's seen how easily it can interfere with even the most ambitious goals.
So what has he done to protect his own environment for nearly a decade?
Some of his choices might surprise you. Tune in to the full episode now to hear what they are!
4. You're Investing in Your Business. But Are You Investing in the Right Person? (0:14:14)
Business owners routinely invest in better systems, new technology, marketing, training, and professional expertise.
And those investments can be incredibly valuable.
But Dave makes a clear distinction between professional development and personal development.
He shares the story of a successful client who believed he was already doing plenty of personal development.
Except there was something important he was overlooking.
Once he recognized the difference and started addressing it, his income changed dramatically over the following twelve months.
What was he missing?
And just how much did Dave invest in developing his own mind during his first year?
Tune in to find out! The answer might challenge the way you think about investing in yourself.
5. Are Your Money Habits Helping You Grow or Holding You Back? (0:23:18)
Making more money is one thing.
Knowing how your financial decisions affect your ability to build wealth is another.
Dave explores some of the less obvious ways people can work against their own financial goals, including how they make purchasing decisions and how they think about money over time.
It's worth asking yourself whether you're making financial decisions based on what something costs today or what it could make possible tomorrow.
Because the cheapest decision isn't necessarily the one that creates the most value.
Dave also discusses two financial forces that can have a surprisingly powerful effect on your wealth over time.
Understanding how they work could change the way you approach your financial future.
6. Why Trying Harder Might Not Be Enough to Break a Bad Habit (0:34:38)
Have you ever promised yourself you were finally going to change something?
Maybe you'd stop procrastinating on an important business decision.
Start taking bigger opportunities seriously.
Or stop second-guessing yourself every time you were about to make a bold move.
And then, before you knew it, you were right back where you started.
Dave says there's a reason that happens.
The habit itself may not be the real problem. The belief driving it could be.
That's why simply deciding to behave differently isn't always enough.
In the final part of this episode, Dave and Jacq walk through a proven and effective three-step approach to identifying and replacing unwanted habits.
It's a practical process that starts with recognizing what you want to change and examining the thinking behind it.
And it's one you can begin applying to your own goals starting today!
What to Do Next…
You don't have to be struggling financially to have habits that are holding you back.
You could be running a very profitable business, earning a great salary, or doing better than you've ever done before.
And still feel like you’re capable of so much more.
That's what makes listening to this podcast episode well worth your time.
Dave had to take a hard look at these eight specific habits that were negatively influencing his own financial results. And some of the changes he made weren't what you'd expect.
Could one of those same habits be standing between you and your next income breakthrough?
There's only one way to find out!
Listen to Episode #88 of The 30-Day Year Podcast now to discover all eight habits and hear how Dave overcame them… and how YOU can too!
FREE Resources Mentioned In This Episode to Help You Break These Bad Habits:
Dave and Jacq don't just identify the 8 habits that could be holding you back in Episode #88. They also share practical ways to start changing them. Here are three free resources that connect directly to what they discuss in this episode!
🎯 FREE 30-Day Year Goal-Setting Guide
Bad habit #1? Operating without a clearly defined financial target. Dave says your goal should do two things: protect your mind from outside influences and direct your thinking toward what you want. He considers this so important that he stops the conversation to encourage listeners to download this FREE Goal-Setting Guide. If you haven't set a specific financial target yet, this is where to start.
Download the FREE 30-Day Year Goal-Setting Guide now and start building your next big goal today!
🧠 FREE Visualization Checklist
When Jacq asks Dave whether a goal should spark a picture in someone's mind, his answer is an emphatic yes. In fact, he says that if you can't describe your goal clearly enough for someone else to picture it, chances are you haven't pictured it clearly yourself. This Visualization Checklist helps you turn a vague ambition into a clear mental image of what you're working toward.
Download the FREE Visualization Checklist now!
🚀 FREE 21-Day Money Momentum Challenge
Bad habit #6 is one Dave considers essential to overcome: never having a systematic savings plan. He and Jacq explain why increasing your income is only part of the equation. You also need a wealth goal and the discipline to consistently put money aside. This 21-Day Money Momentum Challenge is a great place to start building those everyday financial habits!
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In Episode 88 of the 30-Day Year Podcast, Dave and Jacq Conway walk through the eight bad habits Dave had to break before his first 30-day year, including letting your environment set your attitude and never investing in yourself. You'll learn why you need a wealth goal alongside your income goal, plus a simple three-step process for replacing any habit that's holding you back.