People often say that motivation doesn’t last. Well, neither does bathing, that’s why we recommend it daily.” —Zig Ziglar
“How do you stay so motivated all the time?” my friend recently asked me over a glass (or two) of Pinot Noir.
While I could go on and on about my to-do list strategy, my time management tricks or my afternoon coffee runs—the truth is that I have a secret weapon.
Podcasts!
They can slot into your life as easily as your Spotify app. Whether you’re driving to work, grabbing a latte or huddled among human traffic during rush hour—the perfect podcasts will put you in the right frame of mind to conquer your goals.
And before you say that you’re not a “podcast” person or that you’re not into the second season of Serial, let me say that I’m convinced there’s a series out there for everyone. In fact, I’m so convinced that I’ve made a list of the top six for motivation, advice and even a little zen. Plus, I’ve include the best episode to start with for each one. Because unlike TV, you don’t always have to go in order.
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As a former hedge fund manager turned bestselling author, Altucher thinks differently. His interviews are blunt, refreshing and honest and include thought leaders like Tim Ferriss, Seth Godin and Austin Kleon. Throughout every episode he asks hard questions and challenges conventional wisdom. Tune in to hear his thoughts on why business school is a scam, ideas are the most valuable currency and even how to make seven figures a year on YouTube. Not only will you be inspired to create, but you’ll laugh out loud.
Best Episode To Start With: Episode 36, Ramit Sethi—What Does It Mean To Have A Really Rich Life?
2. The School Of Greatness With Lewis Howes
Jam-packed with inspiring stories from business minds, celebrities and athletes, Lewis, a former athlete and New York Times bestselling author explores common qualities that make people successful. His focus on resilience is particularly inspiring if you’re currently experiencing some negative criticism from your boss or a rejection from a job you really wanted.
Best Episode To Start With: The 10 Success Principles To Create Abundance With Jack Canfield
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3. The Charged Life With Brendon Burchard
A high performance expert and New York Times bestselling author, Burchard taps into the human drives that make us feel alive—which he refers to as living a “charged” life. He’s the best to tune into when you need a real boost or an attitude adjustment. Personally, I use this as a Monday morning energy injection that gets me pumped for the week ahead.
Best Episode To Start With: How Incredibly Successful People Think
4. Tara Brach
Stressed at work? Infuriating boss? Disappointing start to the year? Barch has you covered. As a western teacher of Buddhist meditation, her meditations and talks center you and help you just breathe. So if you’re operating on adrenaline and finding it hard to relax or focus (a.k.a., everyone), this podcast will help you relax, reframe and just be more present, wherever you are.
Best Episode To Start With: Real But Not True
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5. This Is Your Life With Michael Hyatt
Hyatt, a former publishing house CEO, gives highly practical tips on how to boost your energy, become a morning person, escape perfectionism, delegate effectively (even without a team!) and say no with ease. Sounds amazing, right? His podcast is now in its sixth season so you can scroll through and find an episode for almost any current career challenge.
Best Episode To Start With: Season 5, Episode 5—How To Finally Achieve Work-Life Balance
6. Being Boss With Emily Thompson And Kathleen Shannon
This podcast has a large following of creative entrepreneurs, but it also has plenty of practical advice for everyone out there trying to create their dream jobs, whatever that may be. In short, it’s for leaders who want to be the boss of their own lives and careers—and don’t want to wait any longer to get started. Needless to say, it’s a must-listen for anyone with a side hustle or dreams of one day running their own business.
Best Episode To Start With: #42 Brene Brown
Improving your career starts with your mindset. So tune in to the wisdom, tune out the noise and get ready to dial up the volume of your impact this year.
This article was originally published on The Daily Muse.
Susie Moore is a British-born writer and Confidence Coach based in New York City.
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