Coffee Chat with Eric #16: How to Change a Habit
- Eric Thiegs
- May 21
- 2 min read
May 22, 2025: Want to Change a Habit? Start Small and Reward Yourself.
I'm live from the Mall of America / Minneapolis this week.
We all have habits we’d love to break—or build. But change is hard… unless there’s perhaps a little incentive involved. This week, while I’m on the road as a speaker at the Gift Card Education Forum, I will share how I’m using a personal reward to kick a nagging habit—and you’re welcome to join me.
According to a study by University College London, it takes an average of 66 days to form a habit, and BJ Fogg, PhD of Stanford University, shares that the power of “tiny habits” done consistently “leads to lasting change”.
I liked that last part. A lot.
So here’s my plan:
Make one small habit change
Stick to it for 66 days
Earn a reward at the end
Reap long-term benefits
Can I do this? I’ll let you know.
And if you’ve got a habit you’re working on (and yes, even if that habit is coffee), hit play on this week’s chat. Let’s start this 66-day journey together.
P.S. I filmed this coffee time at the Mall of America (where I used to wait tables at Planet Hollywood International to put myself through college). I was in town for the Incentive Gift Card Coalition & Retail Gift Card Association Gift Card Education Forum hosted by Best Buy. Excellent speakers, smart takeaways, and great to see so many industry experts in one room: Jim Schulz, Joe Vasterling, Laura Parker, Elizabeth Forsberg, Erin Wood, Gabriel Resendez, Daisy Dederick, Tom Balboni, Rich Killian, Bethany Wood, Tim Pechmann, Donnalee Silletti, Waisze Lam, Tom Boucher, Amber Schletty, Steve Bradbery, Martha Weaver, Kim Sobasky, Anne Jetter, Peter Friend, Lauren Loudenslagel, Eric Manno, Kathleen Anderl, Amanda Nipper, Christine Snow, Scott Silver, Laura Velasco, Steven Kane, Jen Becker, Sina Pelleymounter, Paul Kelly, Regina Spielmann, Shawn Howard, Pete Davison, Eric Olsen, Jordan Wiseman, George Bousis, Miguel Herrera, Jeff Weatherly, Ben Jackson, Bianca Carr, Rahul and Greg, Frank, and so many more.
