Habits and Hustle - Episode 506: The Success Skill Everyone Overlooks

Episode Date: November 28, 2025

Have you ever wondered why some people shoot ahead while others, equally talented and equally driven, keep hitting invisible walls? It is almost never about capability. It is about how they show up, how they are perceived, and how they make people feel in the first five seconds of entering a room. In this Fitness Friday episode, I break down why likability is one of the most underrated success advantages and how small habits like a real smile, remembering someone’s name, or actually listening can change the way people respond to you instantly. I also talk about the mindset traps that keep high performers stuck: over-talking, people-pleasing, and trying to impress instead of connect. If you know you are capable of more but feel like something small keeps blocking your momentum, this conversation is going to click everything into place. Tune in and take notes. This one is simple, actionable and a total game changer. What we discuss: (01:51) Why likability gets you ahead (03:29) How smiling and body language change everything (04:11) Why remembering someone’s name is a power move (05:11) The 70/30 rule and the power of asking questions (06:09) How to give genuine compliments (07:16) Why listening is a secret weapon Thank you to our sponsor: Therasage: Head over to therasage.com and use code Be Bold for 15% off  Air Doctor: Go to airdoctorpro.com and use promo code HUSTLE40 for up to $300 off and a 3-year warranty on air purifiers. Magic Mind: Head over to www.magicmind.com/jen and use code Jen at checkout. Momentous: Shop this link and use code Jen for 20% off  Manna Vitality: Visit mannavitality.com and use code JENNIFER20 for 20% off your order  Prolon: Get 30% off sitewide plus a $40 bonus gift when you subscribe to their 5-Day Program! Just visit https://prolonlife.com/JENNIFERCOHEN and use code JENNIFERCOHEN to claim your discount and your bonus gift. Amp fit is the perfect balance of tech and training, designed for people who do it all and still want to feel strong doing it. Check it out at joinamp.com/jen  Find more from Jen: Website: https://www.jennifercohen.com/ Instagram: @therealjencohen   Books: https://www.jennifercohen.com/books Speaking: https://www.jennifercohen.com/speaking-engagements

Hi guys, it's Tony Robbins. You're listening to Habits and Hustle. Crush it. You know I'm all about finding an edge, the small daily habits that give you more energy, focus, and resilience. But that's why I am hooked on mana vitality. Most people are mineral deficient, and that means low energy, brain fog, slow recovery, and dull skin. But mana flips the switch by giving your body a complete. spectrum of minerals, it actually knows how to use. We're talking Shilajit from the Himalayas, Ormos from the Dead Sea, and marine plasma from the ocean, plus amino acids and 88 other trace minerals. The benefits are real. We're talking steady all-day energy, sharper focus, faster recovery, a stronger immunity plus glowing skin. But the biggest win, it fuels your cells

for real longevity. Think of it as a like a cellular switch on formula, not as a stimulant, but the raw power your body needs to create energy and repair itself. Try it now, and I bet you'll be hooked to. Go to manavitality.com and use code Jennifer 20 for a discount. That's manavitality.com. M-A-N-N-A-vitality.com and use code Jennifer 20. Hi, everyone. Welcome to another episode of Habits and Hustle. And today we're diving right into something that might surprise you. The secret success skill nobody talks about enough. And that's being likable. You could be the most talented, hardworking, brilliant person in your industry. But if people don't like you, they won't want to work with you, won't want to promote you, and definitely not collaborate with you. Likeable people, get called back faster. They get invited to the rooms. Others don't get invited to. And they get opportunities. So let's break down why likability matters more than ever and five simple ways to instantly become more likable. Are you ready? All right. So let's get going. First of all,

I want to say that a question that I get a lot is, let's be real. Why do some people, with less skill, less talent, less experience, keep getting ahead? And is it really just because they're more likable? And the answer is, hell yeah. Likeability builds trust and trust creates opportunity. Simple as that. People do business with people they actually want to be around that they actually like and can kind of stand their company. Being competent, gets you noticed, but guess what? Being likable gets you chosen. Emotional intelligence often outperforms the technical skill. You don't have to be everyone's best friend. That's absolutely the contrary. Just someone others want in the room. In fact, people dislike people

pleasing, which we'll get into later. Another major question that I get all the time is you say, one of the easiest ways to be more likable is to smile more. But come on, can someone that's simple, something that simple actually make a big difference? Guess what? Yes. The answer is yes. Smiling changes your energy and people mirror instantly what you do. It's a visual cue for warmth, confidence, and approachability. Non-verbal communication shapes people's experience. and first impressions more than actually words do. A genuine smile disarms people. It takes away the tension and build a quick rapport.

Likeability starts before you even open your mouth. Your body language speaks first. In fact, body language is more important than actually the words coming out of your mouth. And another question I get a lot is, why is remembering someone's name such a powerful move? It feels small, doesn't it? But it really matters so much. Number one, everybody likes hearing their name. It makes people feel special and it makes them feel close to you. Using someone's name activates reward sensors in the brain. It makes people feel seen, valued, and actually, most importantly, respected. Most

people don't do it. That's why it stands out so much. It shows attention to detail and actually genuine connection. I know on this podcast, when people say my name in mid-sentence, I always feel closer to them. And I'm always like, oh, we're actually friends. It kind of like creates much more of a lubricant in the dynamic and in the relationship than just kind of skating by. I'm all about finding sustainable ways to optimize performance, the kind of work that actually moves the needle on how you feel and function. And that's why I really need to tell you about Prolon's five-day program. Most of us are chasing quick fixes that never get to the root of the problem.

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Cohen to claim your discount and bonus. That's prolonlife.com slash Jennifer Cohen and use code Jennifer Cohen. Another big one I get is, okay, here's a big one. You tell people to stop talking about themselves and ask more questions. Why is that such a game? changeer. Guess what? Curiosity is confidence. It shows you're not self-absorbed. That's really what it does. Number one. It also builds connection. It builds opportunity. And guess what? It also shows that you have bigger and broader interests. The best conversationalists do less talking and way more listening. In fact, my rule is a 70-30 rule. Listen to 70% of the time and talk 30% of the time. Asking questions builds not only the connection faster than just trying to impress them,

but like I said, it actually makes people feel connected to you. Number five, compliments can get weird fast. How do you give one without sounding fake or like you're sucking up? That's another great question. I think you've got to be very specific. Great job is forgettable. when you say, yeah, great job or how are you? I love how you handled that call sticks out way more.

When you're more specific and you are saying something that is kind of not what they would expect. Another thing is authenticity is much different than flattery. People can feel the difference. Focus on effort, skill, and also mindset. Don't focus on appearance. genuine compliment strength and relationships and boost morale the more observance you are the more meaningful your praise becomes and one more question that I get a lot especially after I did this likeability talk is listening sounds so simple but you say it's actually a secret weapon well and

they ask me why that is because true listening is very rare most people are waiting for for their next turn to talk. Presence is power. It signals confidence and respect. People open up more when they feel that being heard. It builds trust faster than any sales pitch. In a world addicted to distraction, your full attention is your competitive edge. And guess what, guys? Likeability isn't about being fake. It's actually about being smart. Smile more. Remember people's names. ask real questions and give genuine compliments. And listen like it matters. It's pretty common sense, but sometimes they say common sense isn't so common. These are just small little actions that compound into massive results. Because no matter how talented or skillful and smart you are, guess what? If people don't

like you, it doesn't matter. And one other thing I want to leave you with is likability amplifies. So whatever you do have as your skill set or as your intelligence or your talent, it actually gets magnified when people actually like you and want to be around you. So just remember that. Have a good one. Guys, don't forget to subscribe and comment because that's how we keep the show as a show. Have a good one. Bye-bye.