Don’t leave crumbs, dissect your success, and give your obstacles credit!

It’s the end of February – arguably the most difficult time of year (in Western Pennsylvania, at least) to stay motivated. We’ve crawled out of the thick of post-holiday blues, kicked off New Year’s resolutions, and tried to celebrate an early spring prediction by Punxsutawney Phil on Groundhog Day. I’m certainly guilty of keeping weather in my small talk when kicking off meetings, because it can take a toll on our mental health this time of year as we are teased by warm days and sunshine followed by frigid nights or storms.

By now, 2 months into 2024, some have kicked old bad habits and are on their way to forming permanent and positive lifestyle changes. You may know what your friends and family set out striving for this year, but how are we doing? Inevitably there are barriers and setbacks, but are you celebrating incremental successes with each other? Dwindling motivation is the #1 reason new habits are difficult to establish to replace the old. That’s why converting “habits” into lifestyle changes is the ultimate goal as the initial self-control wanes and what is fun and easy sticks, studies claim in this Peloton blog. We often hope for the best and prepare for the worst, when in reality, there are ways we can prepare for the best that make success so much easier for us.

Staying open and honest is one approach. I tried to scoop up a copy of Matthew McConaughey’s book Greenlights before Christmas but kept striking out. It’s still on my list, but until I get my hands on one I always love an occasional listen to his commencement speech at the University of Houston from 2015 (here). He shares 13 “truths” that he has learned along his journey.

Ideba embraces many of these paradigms in our everyday work helping clients understand who they are as a company and the many ways to refine that identity to offer the best products and services to their own clients long term. My favorite (and one of my first lessons learned at Ideba): “Do not leave crumbs, make decisions today that will have an ROI, and customize your future”.

1. “Life is not easy”
2. “The word Unbelievable is the stupidest word in the dictionary”
3. “Happiness”
4. “Define success for yourself”
5. “Process of elimination is the first step to our identity”
6. “Don’t leave crumbs”
7. “Dissect your successes, and practice the art of gratitude”
8. “Make voluntary obligations”
9. “From can to want”
10. “A roof is a man made thing”
11. “Turn the page”
12. “Give your obstacles credit”
13. “How to know when we cross the truth”

My reflection won’t do the speech justice so please take a listen – even if you’ve heard it before, even if it’s while you are washing dishes or folding laundry, even if you don’t agree with these observations of truths. I promise it will prompt you to think and revive some of that much needed motivation this time of year to improve yourself, your relationships, your business, and your drive for continuous improvement in all aspects of life.

Which one resonates with you? Drop me a line in the comments or at leahm@idebamarketing.com, please! Let’s keep helping each other this year.

Leah McQuillan, Research Manager