Want to Make 2026 Great? Be “Useful”!

Mindset Made Simple Tip #284

It’s that time of year again. The stretch between reflection and resolution. The moment when we start thinking about who we want to be in the New Year and what will finally make us happier, more productive, more competitive…better.

As I looked back on 2025…and whew, it’s been a year…a quote kept finding its way back to me.

Then, almost on cue, on Christmas Day, I found myself standing in my kitchen talking with my Aunt Sue about influence. Not the flashy kind. The quiet, life-shaping kind.

As we talked, she mentioned my cousin Bob. Bob is amazing. He’s a master carpenter with unreal talent. She paused and said, “Thank goodness for that shop teacher at Manchester High School who brought out Bob’s talent.”

The quote that had been tugging at me suddenly made perfect sense. Ralph Waldo Emerson once said, “The purpose of life is not to be happy. It is to be useful, to be honorable, to be compassionate, to have it make some difference that you have lived and lived well.”

When I think more about how influence can change the trajectory of a life, I immediately think about Jensen and music. Had we not landed in a school district with incredible band directors…had Mr. Foster not pulled me aside in 5th grade and said, “Julie, he’s a good musician”…we might never have known to nurture that part of him. Jensen might never have felt that spark.

And thinking back to Emerson’s words, that line hit me. I equate “useful” with “influence” and making “some difference”!

I see the same thing in one of my former players and assistants, who is now an art teacher. She does not just teach art. She uncovers it. Kids walk into her classroom unsure and unaware of what they’re capable of. They leave seeing themselves differently.

From a psychological standpoint, this is a classic example of how belief and identity shape performance. When a respected adult names potential, it influences self-efficacy…the belief that I can do this. Decades of research show that self-efficacy affects effort, resilience after mistakes and willingness to persist when things get hard. That shop teacher didn’t just teach skills. He changed how Bob saw himself.

The same thing is happening to Jensen and the students lucky enough to have JJ as their art teacher!!

And once identity shifts, behavior follows.

Talent doesn’t always announce itself loudly. Sometimes it needs someone else to name it first…and that can change EVERYTHING!

That’s influence.

Life is not about being happy, but about being useful.USEFUL.

We chase HAPPY—but will that really make us fulfilled?

This is a great question, especially as we turn the calendar and start thinking about New Year's goals and resolutions.

And here’s the performance-science connection…

Studies on purpose and contribution show that when people connect their effort to helping others grow, their motivation becomes more durable, stress is reduced and effort is sustained over time. Purpose-driven goals activate what researchers call approach motivation, which improves focus, persistence and adaptability, all key ingredients for high-level performance, especially under pressure.

In other words, usefulness is not a distraction from performance. It stabilizes it.

Zoom this out to teams and organizations and the impact multiplies. Teams with leaders who consistently invest in developing others show higher trust, stronger commitment and better communication. Research on servant leadership and psychological safety tells us that when people feel seen and supported, they take more productive risks, recover faster from failure and perform more consistently together.

That’s culture. And culture is a performance system.

Usefulness is the key…and influence is not soft. It is not extra. It is not separate from performance.

It is performance. It’s a competitive advantage!

Helping others become more of who they are doesn’t just change them…it changes the standard, the environment and the results for everyone involved. It changes YOU, too!

I am so proud of Bob and grateful for the teacher who, through their “usefulness” and influence, nurtured his talent (my house is grateful, too…his work is flawless!).

I am so proud of JJ (and many other former players) for making a difference and bringing out talent that kids can’t see in themselves.

And I am SO grateful for Jensen’s teachers, whose influence has nurtured his love for music and bring out the best in him! (Shout out to his coaches, too, btw!)

All these people are living examples of Emerson’s philosophy…and the funny thing is, I bet their usefulness makes them happy!

So, as we head into the new year, maybe the most powerful resolution isn’t about doing more or achieving more…or striving for “happy”!

Maybe it’s this: In 2026, be useful. Use your influence and be someone who notices potential, names it out loud and creates space for others to grow.

Because “useful” people who quietly bring out the best in others don’t just change individual lives.

They change cultures…and themselves all at once!

Happy New Year to you all! I look forward to a “useful” 2026!

Julie

P.S. I’d love to be “useful” for you in 2026. If you or your team could benefit from practical, research-backed tools to make the most out of the New Year, let’s get you on the books. Athletes, teams, coaches and leaders are all in play. Reach out now, and let’s design something that fits exactly what you need. Shoot me an email or text – juliej@ssbperformance.com or 234-206-0946

Julie Jones

Mental Performance Coach

SSB Performance

www.ssbperformance.com

juliej@ssbperformance.com • 234-206-0946