Summary: This month’s Insight podcast is an encore broadcast from January 2015 that investigates how to get off to a strong start in the new year. Blake McShane, an associate professor of marketing at the Kellogg School, explains that when faced with paying off multiple debts, those who tackle the smallest debt first are more likely to succeed in paying off everything. Eli Finkel, a professor of management and organizations at the Kellogg School, cautions that relying on others to reach our goals can undermine our own efforts. Miguel Brendl, an associate professor of marketing at the Kellogg School, underlines the importance of setting intermediate goals to avoid that motivational lull in the middle of longer tasks. Finally, Sunil Chopra, a professor of managerial economics and decision sciences at the Kellogg School, explains why the best possible outcome for many retailers come January is to have nothing to do.
