Reboot Your Business Development with Habit Science and the “Fresh Start Effect”

As we step into July 1st, we're not just flipping a calendar page — we're entering the second half of the year, a perfect opportunity to reboot ambitions and reignite goals. Behavioral scientists refer to this mid-year milestone as a temporal landmark — a psychological "fresh start" that can supercharge your motivation for behavior change and habit formation. But here’s the key: as you embrace this fresh start, give yourself permission to be imperfect.?

That’s right, you might need to be bad at it.

The Power of the Fresh Start Effect

The fresh start effect is a fascinating phenomenon where people feel more motivated to pursue their goals and make positive changes following certain temporal landmarks. These landmarks can be the start of a new year, a birthday, the beginning of a new month, a holiday, or even the start of a new week. They provide a mental reset, allowing individuals to distance themselves from past setbacks and focus on new beginnings with renewed energy.

Think Progress, Not Perfection

Let's take the example of starting a new business development (BD) habit for the second half of 2024. The common misstep for high achievers is to write a lengthy BD plan and expect yourself to spend an hour every day implementing the plan. A better approach could be to think: what's better than nothing?

You don't have to build confidence before taking action. You build confidence by taking action. Standing still breeds rumination and seeds self doubt. Motion fuels progress and elevates efficacy. Never let doubts about your ability undermine your faith in your ability to learn. — Adam Grant

Start with a small, daily act — ridiculously minimal, a tiny step that's better than nothing. Your goal is repetition, not high achievement. Think progress, not perfection. The habit change scientists say this tiny act will create a new neural pathway in your brain — starting to form the "groove." A groove... as in hardwiring a good habit into your brain that you can build on later. Also, a groove... as in an enjoyable rhythm.

Implement the 5-Minute Favor

What does this look like for an aspiring rainmaker? Get into the groove of doing a 5-minute favor for someone in your professional network. Every day, think of a key contact or client and reach out. Do someone a small favor: follow up, check-in, reconnect, show care, and spend just five minutes adding value to deepen the relationship.

This brief daily practice helps you consistently show up for the people most important to your future self. They will appreciate your thoughtfulness, and you’ll feel a sense of accomplishment because it's better than doing nothing at all.

And don't overthink the word "favor." It can be as simple as remembering what someone said and asking them about it or sharing something that reminded you of them. There’s often no need for grand gestures. People don’t care how much you know until they know how much you care.

Small Acts of Connection

To help you get started, here are some ideas for 5-minute favors you can incorporate into your daily routine:

• Make a call instead of email
• Share a recipe, life hack, travel tip
• Invite them to lunch or coffee
• Recommend a book, podcast, show
• Celebrate a milestone
• Make an introduction
• Donate to their cause
• Recommend a job candidate
• Offer to co-write, co-present
• Extend a firm event invite
• Comment on their LinkedIn post
• Send a voice memo
• Ask about a sick loved one
• Send flowers or a small gift
• Schedule a nature walk, playdate
• Text a meme, song, cartoon
• Mail a handwritten note
• Forward an article with your insights

Build Your BD Muscle with a Visual Tracker

Start with one 5-minute favor every day to build your BD muscle. Keep track of your outreach with a pipeline or people list. Visual tracking can be particularly effective — habit scientists suggest that seeing your progress visually can reinforce the habit and keep you motivated. A simple method is to use a calendar and mark off each day you stick with your routine. Consider how this simple act will compound in one month, six months, a year. Start small and scale the time you spend on BD outreach when ready.

As James Clear wrote in Atomic Habits, "a habit is a lifestyle to be lived, not a finish line to be crossed. You are looking to make small, sustainable changes you can stick with for years. And a habit tracker is one tool in your toolbox on the road to behavior change. It is an effective way to visualize your progress and motivate you to show up again tomorrow."

Your Fresh Start Awaits

Embracing the fresh start effect offers a unique opportunity to reset and refocus your business development efforts. By starting small and maintaining consistency, you can build sustainable habits that will significantly impact your professional growth. Remember, the key is to make progress, not to be perfect. So, take that first step, no matter how small, and watch your business development skills flourish over time.

Read more at our Gladsights Blog .