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7 Habits of People Who Make Other People Better (w/ Jon Gordon)

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Jun 1, 2026

Guest

Jon Gordon

Jon Gordon, bestselling author and leadership speaker known for The Energy Bus and The Power of Positive Habits, shares seven habits that uplift others. Topics include the ideal ratio of positive to negative interactions, rituals that build connection, praising publicly while correcting privately, an abundance mindset that makes the pie bigger, and teaching as a way to learn.

01:16:26

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ANECDOTE

The Hard Hat Story Preserved A Teammate's Legacy

Jon wrote The Hard Hat about George Boyardee and gave proceeds to charity, choosing not to profit from the story.
The book preserved George's legacy and inspired young athletes who still write to Jon about its impact.

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INSIGHT

Positive Interaction Ratios Drive Connection

Teams need a positive to negative interaction ratio to connect and perform.
Aim for about 3-to-1 on teams and 5-to-1 in marriages; too much positivity (e.g., 13-to-1) hides real issues.

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ADVICE

Shout Praise Whisper Criticism

Praise publicly and criticize privately to build trust and call people up not out.
Use judgment: call out coachable public mistakes immediately, but pull aside personal or lifestyle issues for private correction.

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Jon Gordon's background and book focus

00:54 • 1min

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The Hard Hat story and legacy

02:18 • 6min

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Episode structure: Seven habits to help others

08:21 • 1min

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Positive-to-negative interaction ratios

09:42 • 2min

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Rituals to build positive interactions

Shout praise, whisper criticism

20:16 • 2min

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Distinguishing coaching from criticism

22:22 • 6min

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Be a giver and a receiver

27:53 • 4min

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Avoid scorekeeping in relationships

Make the pie bigger (abundance mindset)

41:50 • 10min

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Win the person, not the argument

51:54 • 4min

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When truth outweighs harmony

Be a lifelong learner and teacher

01:04:00 • 5min

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Teaching as a way to internalize habits

01:09:11 • 6min

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Identity, habits, and starting small

01:15:13 • 2min

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Serve with a caring trademark

• Mentioned in 10 episodes

The Coffee Bean

A Simple Lesson to Create Positive Change

Jon Gordon

Damon West

The Coffee Bean is an illustrated fable that follows Abe, a young man facing stress and fear, as he learns a life-changing lesson from his teacher. This lesson empowers Abe to transform his environment instead of being changed by it, leading him on an inspirational journey through various life stages. The book encourages readers to adopt a positive mindset and transform challenges into opportunities for growth.

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• Mentioned in 30 episodes

The Energy Bus

10 Rules to Fuel Your Life, Work, and Team with Positive Energy

Jon Gordon

In 'The Energy Bus', Jon Gordon tells the story of George, a man who, after a series of setbacks, finds himself on a bus driven by Joy, a positive and energetic driver. Through their journey, Gordon outlines 10 rules to help individuals and teams boost their energy and achieve success. The book emphasizes the importance of positive thinking, teamwork, and leadership in creating a productive and fulfilling work environment.

#8419

• Mentioned in 8 episodes

The Power of Positive Habits

Jon Gordon

Jon Gordon's The Power of Positive Habits presents 93 practical habits aimed at reshaping mindset, relationships, and daily actions to foster lasting personal growth. Drawing from his own transformation and positive psychology, Gordon focuses on habits that promote gratitude, consistency, faith over fear, and servant leadership. The book emphasizes replacing destructive behaviors with constructive routines and highlights small changes that compound into exponential improvement. It includes tactical suggestions like the 'thank you walk' and the 'habit before the habit' to make new practices easier to adopt. Designed for leaders, entrepreneurs, and anyone seeking renewal, the book ties spiritual restoration with behavioral change.

#8715

• Mentioned in 8 episodes

The carpenter

A Story About the Greatest Success Strategies of All

Jon Gordon

The book follows Michael, who after collapsing due to the stress of building his business, meets a Carpenter who saved his life. The Carpenter is not just a skilled craftsman but also a builder of lives, careers, people, and teams. As the Carpenter shares his wisdom, Michael learns valuable lessons on overcoming adversity, rejection, fear, and failure. The story emphasizes that there is no overnight success but rather timeless principles that can help one stand out, excel, and make a positive impact on people and the world.

#10750

• Mentioned in 6 episodes

The Seven Commitments of a Great Team

Jon Gordon

Jon Gordon's "The Seven Commitments of a Great Team" explores the principles and practices that contribute to the success of high-performing teams. The book emphasizes the importance of commitment over mere goal-setting, highlighting the daily actions and dedication required to achieve collective success. It delves into the significance of positive leadership, fostering strong relationships, and maintaining a positive mindset even in the face of adversity. The book offers practical strategies and exercises to help teams build stronger bonds, improve communication, and enhance overall performance. Ultimately, it aims to inspire readers to create teams that not only achieve their goals but also thrive in the process.

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• Mentioned in 2 episodes

The Hat

Jan Brett

In 'The Hat', Jan Brett tells the story of Hedgie, a curious hedgehog who gets his head stuck in a sock. As he encounters various farm animals, they laugh at his predicament, but Hedgie cleverly turns the situation into a humorous adventure. The book is a companion to 'The Mitten' and features Jan Brett's signature Scandinavian-themed illustrations, celebrating themes of acceptance and self-identity.

In 'Relationship Grit', Jon and Kathryn Gordon share their personal journey of overcoming marital challenges and building a lasting love. The book emphasizes the importance of commitment, hard work, and embracing the principles of G.R. I. T. (God, Resolve, Invest, Together) to strengthen relationships. It provides readers with practical tools and real-life lessons to navigate difficult times and foster deeper connections.

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• Mentioned in 2 episodes

Energy Bus for Kids

Jon Gordon

Korey Scott

Energy Bus for Kids adapts Jon Gordon’s core messages about positivity and leadership into a child-friendly story with memorable rules and characters. The book provides parents and educators with practical ways to teach optimism, resilience, and teamwork to young readers. Using simple language and illustrations, it encourages children to adopt empowering habits and to support others positively. The approachable format makes it useful in classrooms, sports teams, and family reading time. The children’s edition aims to instill lifelong habits of constructive thinking and collaborative behavior early on.

What if becoming extraordinary isn't really about your own habits — it's about the habits you build that make everyone around you better?

In this episode, we sit down with Jon Gordon, author of 33 books and 18 bestsellers, to explore seven habits that transform ordinary people into the kind of person others genuinely want to be around.

We explore how the ratio of positive to negative interactions determines whether your relationships thrive, why shouting praise and whispering criticism builds deeper trust than you'd expect, and how the abundance mindset — giving freely, making the pie bigger, winning the person instead of the argument — creates energy that lifts everyone in your orbit.

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