Today’s Thought of the Day and Question of the Day tackles two truths: one about how real success sneaks in through the back door of daily routine, and another about how My Cousin Vinny manages to be both hilarious and just a touch too much (for me, anyway). We’re talking about the unglamorous work of forming good habits—and whether Joe Pesci yelling in a courtroom ever gets old. Spoiler: kind of.
Thought of the Day: The biggest opportunities are found in good habits, not good ideas.
We love a good idea. They sparkle. They make us feel like we’re on the verge of greatness. But most of them don’t change anything. Know what does? Brushing your teeth. Answering emails. Showing up when you said you would. Drinking water. Turning off your phone. Writing every day even when you’re tired and your brain is mush and all you can think about is ice cream.
That’s where the magic lives. In the mundane. In repetition. In the thousand little things we do that nobody claps for.
I’ve had a lot of good ideas. Some of them were even great. But the ones that turned into anything real? They had to hitch a ride on a good habit. The daily rhythm. The routine. The boring stuff that builds trust—in others and in yourself.
And if you want a related reminder from a completely different angle, check out this post on what happens when we stop just pulling people out of the river. That upstream work? It’s habit too.
Question of the Day: What are your feelings on the movie “My Cousin Vinny”?
Here’s where I land: My Cousin Vinny is one of those movies I never seek out, but I’ll always flip to if I see it on TV. It’s comfortably quotable. Marisa Tomei on the witness stand is a genuinely iconic moment. The tire tread monologue? Chef’s kiss. Her Oscar was well-earned.
But I’ll be honest—some of the comedy is just a bit over the top for my taste. The exaggerated Brooklyn accents, the loudness of it all, the slightly-too-long bits. It rides the line between “timeless” and “OK, that’s enough now.”
Still, it holds up better than most courtroom comedies. And I appreciate that it actually makes some legal sense, which is saying something for a movie that’s technically a comedy and not a training video for public defenders.
I feel the same way about My Cousin Vinny that I do about leftover birthday cake. I don’t need it—but I won’t say no.
For more movie-related honesty, take a look at this post where I talk about the scariest movie I’ve ever seen—very different vibe, but same kind of movie confession.
Let’s Hear from You:
What movie do you always flip to when it’s on TV, even if you wouldn’t start it on purpose? And what habit have you formed that’s quietly made the biggest difference in your life?
Drop a comment—or better yet, join the daily email and start your own streak of good habits. It’s low pressure and high reward. Kind of like flipping to a movie you secretly love.