Army of Normal Folks

Forget the Life Hacks. These 7 Habits Actually Matter

Army of Normal Folks

Show Notes

In this Shop Talk, Bill and Alex take on the nine million self-help books promising to fix your life, from 4:17 a.m. ice baths to journaling and cutting carbs, and go back to the one that has stuck around for decades: Stephen Covey's The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People. Bill walks through all seven, from quitting the complaining about what you can't control to learning to listen to someone without preparing a rebuttal. His case is that your calendar is a more honest statement of your priorities than your mouth. That opens a bigger conversation about being a good neighbor: why generosity is a habit and not one check, why curiosity is becoming a radical act, and why character gets built in ordinary decisions, not giant moments. Plus Alex's idea for a yearly seven-habit scorecard and why he's heading to Vegas to sharpen the saw. ARMY ACTIONS Sign up for the newsletter: https://normalfolks.org/#newsletter-cta Join or start a local service club: https://normalfolks.org/service-clubs/ Take the 10 Level Challenge, "the hero's journey for service": https://normalfolks.org/10-level-challenge/ Have an idea for a Shop Talk or a guest for the show? Write Bill anytime at [email protected] Follow us on all socials: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/armyofnormalfolks/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@armyofnormalfolks Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ArmyofNormalFolks X: https://x.com/armynormalfolks LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/an-army-of-normal-folks/ — 0:00 Welcome to the Shop: 9 Million Self-Help Books 0:32 What Are Stephen Covey's 7 Habits? 1:25 How to Stop Worrying About What You Can't Control 3:03 Why Your Calendar Shows Your Real Priorities 6:24 How Small Habits Build Character 9:29 How to Avoid Burnout and Sharpen the Saw

Support the show: https://www.normalfolks.us/#join See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

More from Army of Normal Folks

Oct 20, 2026

During COVID, Maryam Banikarim posted a photo of a long table full of neighbors sharing a meal and asked a simple question: what if we did this? 500 people showed up. In this episode, Maryam shares how that one potluck grew into The Longest Table, a movement that has touched over 150 communities, and how something as simple as a shared meal can restore our neighborhoods. ARMY ACTIONS Subscribe to the podcast and rate & review us! Signup to join the Army, visit NormalFolks.org Join or start an ANF local service club at https://normalfolks.org/service-clubs/ Take The 10 Level Challenge, “the hero’s journey for service” at 10LevelChallenge.org Record a testimonial or recommend a guest here - https://army.storytap.com/906/start/anf-listeners?epdescription Follow us on all socials: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/armyofnormalfolks/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@armyofnormalfolks Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ArmyofNormalFolks X: https://x.com/armynormalfolks LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/an-army-of-normal-folks/ Support the show: https://www.normalfolks.us/#join See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Oct 20, 2026

During COVID, Maryam Banikarim posted a photo of a long table full of neighbors sharing a meal and asked a simple question: what if we did this? 500 people showed up. In this episode, Maryam shares how that one potluck grew into The Longest Table, a movement that has touched over 150 communities, and how something as simple as a shared meal can restore our neighborhoods. ARMY ACTIONS Subscribe to the podcast and rate & review us! Signup to join the Army, visit NormalFolks.org Join or start an ANF local service club at https://normalfolks.org/service-clubs/ Take The 10 Level Challenge, “the hero’s journey for service” at 10LevelChallenge.org Record a testimonial or recommend a guest here - https://army.storytap.com/906/start/anf-listeners?epdescription Follow us on all socials: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/armyofnormalfolks/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@armyofnormalfolks Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ArmyofNormalFolks X: https://x.com/armynormalfolks LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/an-army-of-normal-folks/ Support the show: https://www.normalfolks.us/#join See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Oct 16, 2026

In this Shop Talk, Bill breaks down what a concussion actually is, why repeated hits on an unhealed brain lead to CTE, and why he believes today’s players - armed with the data his generation never had - aren’t victims when they choose to play. He makes the case for why football still matters, from the teamwork and sacrifice it builds to the toughness our culture needs more of, and lays out real solutions to play safely. ARMY ACTIONS Subscribe to the podcast and rate & review us! Signup to join the Army, visit NormalFolks.org Join or start an ANF local service club at https://normalfolks.org/service-clubs/ Take The 10 Level Challenge, “the hero’s journey for service” at 10LevelChallenge.org Record a testimonial or recommend a guest here - https://army.storytap.com/906/start/anf-listeners?epdescription Follow us on all socials: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/armyofnormalfolks/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@armyofnormalfolks Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ArmyofNormalFolks X: https://x.com/armynormalfolks LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/an-army-of-normal-folks/ Support the show: https://www.normalfolks.us/#join See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Oct 13, 2026

In this episode, James Whitford, co-founder of Watered Gardens and True Charity, breaks down why most well-meaning charity accidentally traps people in dependency instead of helping them be self sufficient. He’ll walk us through what true charity looks like. This one will change how you think about giving, volunteering, and what it actually means to believe in someone. ARMY ACTIONS Subscribe to the podcast and rate & review us! Signup to join the Army, visit NormalFolks.org Join or start an ANF local service club at https://normalfolks.org/service-clubs/ Take The 10 Level Challenge, "the hero's journey for service" at 10LevelChallenge.org Record a testimonial or recommend a guest - https://army.storytap.com/906/start/anf-listeners?epdescription Follow us on all socials: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/armyofnormalfolks/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@armyofnormalfolks Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ArmyofNormalFolks X: https://x.com/armynormalfolks LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/an-army-of-normal-folks/ Support the show: https://www.normalfolks.us/#join See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Oct 13, 2026

In this episode, James Whitford, co-founder of Watered Gardens and True Charity, breaks down why most well-meaning charity accidentally traps people in dependency instead of helping them be self sufficient. He’ll walk us through what true charity looks like. This one will change how you think about giving, volunteering, and what it actually means to believe in someone. ARMY ACTIONS Subscribe to the podcast and rate & review us! Signup to join the Army, visit NormalFolks.org Join or start an ANF local service club at https://normalfolks.org/service-clubs/ Take The 10 Level Challenge, "the hero's journey for service" at 10LevelChallenge.org Record a testimonial or recommend a guest - https://army.storytap.com/906/start/anf-listeners?epdescription Follow us on all socials: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/armyofnormalfolks/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@armyofnormalfolks Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ArmyofNormalFolks X: https://x.com/armynormalfolks LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/an-army-of-normal-folks/ Support the show: https://www.normalfolks.us/#join See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

See all episodes →