Are you ready to discover the keys to greater productivity and lead your life and team with principles that stand the test of time? Welcome to The Franklin Planner Podcast, your weekly guide to achieving your best life through proven strategies, timeless values, and expert insights. Whether you’re looking for ways to boost your personal productivity, lead your team to new heights, or find lasting success, this podcast is your trusted companion on the path to intentional living.
For more than 40 years, Franklin Planner has helped millions infuse their lives with meaning and clarity. Inspired by the principles of Dr. Stephen R. Covey and his groundbreaking work, The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People, this podcast builds on that enduring legacy. Hosted by Franklin Planner Board Member and Owner John Harding, alongside industry expert George Wright III, each episode dives deep into the essential habits, disciplines, and leadership principles that transform both individuals and teams.
Together, John and George bring decades of experience, combined with interviews from accomplished business leaders, productivity experts, and success coaches, offering valuable lessons you can apply today. From overcoming roadblocks and staying focused on the “Big Rocks” in your life to fostering collaboration and trust in your team, the discussions are rich with actionable takeaways and practical wisdom.
The Franklin Planner Podcast is more than a tool for learning; it’s an invitation to a community committed to growth, purpose, and intentional living. If you’re ready to take charge of your time, lead with integrity, and craft a legacy of success, this is the podcast for you. Tune in weekly, and let’s unlock your full potential—one timeless principle at a time.
Co-hosts George Wright III and John Harding revisit why goal setting is one of the Franklin Planner podcast’s most popular topics, emphasizing that the greatest power of goals is not what they accomplish but what they awaken and change in the person pursuing them. They discuss why writing goals down and reviewing them matters amid digital overload, citing research on handwriting, sustained attention, interruptions, and the value of uninterrupted “deep work.” Using examples from NASA checklists, the brain’s filtering of attention (including noticing opportunities once a goal is set), Roger Bannister’s four-minute mile, and Churchill’s purpose-driven leadership, they connect goals to belief, executive functions, and self-coaching. They invite listeners to write down what matters most, choose 2–3 goals, and review them for three weeks, and they preview an upcoming member event with Stephen M. R. Covey on building and restoring trust.
00:00 Welcome and Topic Setup
01:41 Why Goals Matter
02:45 Goals Change You
05:22 Why Write It Down
08:30 Reflection vs Technology
11:18 Paper Protects Focus
14:25 Brain Filters Attention
17:37 Belief and Possibility
21:07 Leadership and Purpose
26:07 Daily Review Practice
28:10 Self Coaching Research
30:59 Two Part Goal Exercise
33:20 Events and Closing
Thank you for joining us on this Journey to create your best life and to lead your Life and Teams. Please share this show, and we look forward to the journey we will take together.
Check out the New Membership Program Here: https://store.franklinplanner.com/lps/membership/
The Franklin Planner Team
Co-hosts George Wright III and John Harding revisit why goal setting is one of the Franklin Planner podcast’s most popular topics, emphasizing that the greatest power of goals is not what they accomplish but what they awaken and change in the person pursuing them. They discuss why writing goals down and reviewing them matters amid digital overload, citing research on handwriting, sustained attention, interruptions, and the value of uninterrupted “deep work.” Using examples from NASA checklists, the brain’s filtering of attention (including noticing opportunities once a goal is set), Roger Bannister’s four-minute mile, and Churchill’s purpose-driven leadership, they connect goals to belief, executive functions, and self-coaching. They invite listeners to write down what matters most, choose 2–3 goals, and review them for three weeks, and they preview an upcoming member event with Stephen M. R. Covey on building and restoring trust.
Episode Timeline
00:00 Welcome and Topic Setup
01:41 Why Goals Matter
02:45 Goals Change You
05:22 Why Write It Down
08:30 Reflection vs Technology
11:18 Paper Protects Focus
14:25 Brain Filters Attention
17:37 Belief and Possibility
21:07 Leadership and Purpose
26:07 Daily Review Practice
28:10 Self Coaching Research
30:59 Two Part Goal Exercise
33:20 Events and Closing
Thank you for joining us on this Journey to create your best life and to lead your Life and Teams. Please share this show, and we look forward to the journey we will take together.
Check out the New Membership Program Here: https://store.franklinplanner.com/lps/membership/
The Franklin Planner Team
