In this short yet powerful Five-Minute Quickie episode, we're diving into a question that could seriously supercharge your personal development journey: "How often do you check your progress—and why?" Cloughie explores the sweet spot between over-checking (hello, obsession and lost motivation!) and under-checking (hello, complacency and drifting off-course). Whether it's your personal goals, weight, mindset, career, or even podcast stats, finding your ideal review rhythm is the key to staying on track, boosting motivation, and making real progress. You’ll learn:   Why too much checking can destroy momentum   Why not checking enough can cost you time and energy   The hidden fears behind your review habits (fear of failure or fear of success?)   A simple mindset shift to help you course-correct without self-judgment   How to schedule reviews that actually work for you   👉 This is your wake-up call to review with intention, stay aligned with your goals, and grow with purpose. Please share:  Got a fear of failure or success story to share? Want help turning it around? Email me at:  And remember, this is all about learning to use your skills, energy, and focus to move forward with confidence. Oh! And the video link is here: h Shine Brightly 🌟 Paul  Hey there! I’d love to hear from you—questions, feedback, requests—all welcome. Drop me a line or leave a comment. If you've enjoyed this episode or any other, please share and subscribe! You can reach me at .  Subscribe to the Podcast Ready to subscribe?  to explore your options. Or, if you're on Apple Music or iTunes, you can go straight to subscribe or leave a review .  Special Programs for You For tools on developing Supreme Inner Confidence, finding Freedom from Anxiety, or specialized Hypnosis Tracks, visit .  Free Hypnosis Tracks Want access to my FREE hypnosis tracks? Head over to .  Connect with Me Follow me on Twitter:  Remember: I'm a therapist, but I'm not your therapist. This podcast and any of my online resources are for educational purposes only. Never use the hypnosis tracks or exercises if you're operating machinery, driving, or if you have epilepsy or psychiatric conditions. Always consult a healthcare provider if you're unsure.  Find Us on Other Platforms Catch the podcast on , Castbox, , YouTube, or on our . Stay tuned, and keep shining brightly. ✨  Music Credits Music by Wataboi, DreamHeaven, ccjmusic, and others from . And the transcript WARNING if you're a lover of the written word this may make you frustrated, or angry - you have been warned - is it an 'ism &nbsp;  Hey, 5 Minute Muse and I've got a question for you. &nbsp;  I always ask, when we're setting our goals, we're thinking of our week, setting out our day. I always ask, how often do you review? Or do you review? Do you review what you've done? How far you've come? But I want to take this 5 Minute Muse just a little bit deeper. Just something to think about. &nbsp;  Because I'm sure you do. I'm sure you do review. Do you? I'm sorry about that. &nbsp;  But think about it. Do you check and review your progress? Daily? Weekly? Monthly? Quarterly? Yearly? Maybe never. You see, and it depends what it is, obviously. &nbsp;  Could be a project. It could be your weight. It could be, if you do a podcast or a video and all this stuff. &nbsp;  You know, how many likes, how many downloads, whatever it is. We set our targets, how close we are to the goal. Or we have a goal, we have targets and the review is where are we? Where are we from where we were to where we're going? Let's just take a snapshot so we know what we're doing. &nbsp;  Now, if you do it too often, say you did it daily. Some people, when they're checking things like likes, downloads, might do it hourly. What a waste of time. &nbsp;  It might not be a waste of time. That's me. But it is a waste of time. &nbsp;  You see, if you're checking things too often, then you become obsessed. It's like OCD. You become obsessed by just looking...

FMQ 508 An Important Question Why and How Often do you check your progress

Trying to leave this little old world and the people I meet in a better place then when I first met them.

Who am I and what do I do?………Paul Clough.

I now love helping making changes in people and guiding them to create the life they really want.
 
A personal look at me:
 
The above sentence was not always the case and being the best in the financial realms of the building industry was my aim and getting there by any means. I now know this is, and was, the worst way ~ even if I did make director of one of the largest building companies in Cambridge by the age of 30.
 
One of the major realisations came on my first ever training in hypnosis. I found that it’s not a win lose world and that a win win is only a low basis to live.
 
Being true to your beliefs and coming from a place of integrity where service is paramount. This understanding together with lots of NLP skills helped create my last partnership in the building industry grow from a turnover of £800k to £16m in less than twelve years and that can only be done with giving more than expected.
 
Another shaping of me came from two traumatic events in my life that happened within six months of each other which created a number of major changes in me and by beliefs in what is possible. I have written about my experience and how I dealt with it but more importantly it really showed me my love for my three boys and theirs for me and resulted in the step up to become a trainer of NLP (which I never intended) and my close and exciting work with two of my sons. In supporting Joseph and help create change in people in our training’s and his wonderful life changing ‘Be your potential weekend’ and with Luke the continuing development of Cambridge Hypnotherapy and Hypnosis processes. My relationship with my third son Daniel just keeps getting better and better too.
 
Not knowing how good I had become in change work in the beginning I generally studied, practiced and saw clients then things started to happen when I started to work following just my instincts. Two clients come to mind both in effect dying from the effects of what was happening to them and the way they felt and within one and two sessions respectively not only won the will to live they changed virtually in front of my eyes and being apart of that process was and is the best feeling alive.
 
The above are just three of many brilliant learnings I have had in my life.
The more formal bit

 
Paul Clough

I am a Trainer and Master Practitioner of NLP and Hypnosis and am passionate in assisting those who want to reach their full potential and his special skills form a unique foundation for success. I constantly seek and develope new skills and learning’s – through advanced levels of Neuro Linguistic Programming (NLP), Time Line Therapy ™, Hypnosis and to improve everyone I work with.

I have an understanding of the mind/body connection which enables me to create in my clients the difference that makes the difference ~ from excellence to outstanding.

For those that want qualifications:

Certified Trainer and Consultant of Neuro-Linguistic Programming

Certified Master Practitioner of NLP & Time Line Therapy

Certified Master Hypnotist and Hypnotherapist

Together with Luke and Joseph I have consistently strived and succeeded to create ways to improve peoples lives and give new beliefs of what’s possible. Our potential is without limits ~ infinite in every way.
