ColumnistsDec 28, 2023
On Data: In December, A Tale of Two MarketsColumnistsJan 02, 2024
12 Quotes to Start 2024 on a Positive Note
Peter Smith has picked a dozen of his favorite expressions to help readers start the new year off right.
Peter Smith is an industry consultant, speaker, sales trainer, and author. He can be reached via email at TheRetailSmiths@gmail.com.
As we kick off a new year, I’m dedicating my first column of 2024 to the experts, academics, and authors who inspire me and to you, my industry colleagues and friends.
I hope you’ll find something to help you focus on the tasks at hand this year, and maybe even find a book or two here you might like to explore!
1. “When it comes to your experiences and perceptions, you’re much more in the driver’s seat than you might think. You predict, construct, and act. You are an architect of your experiences.” — Lisa Feldman Barrett, “How Emotions Are Made: The Secret Life of the Brain”
2. “Positive emotions might have evolved to give our ancient ancestors a survival advantage, but to experience them still enhances our lives today.” — Leonard Mlodinow, “Emotional: How Feelings Shape Our Thinking”
3. “Salespeople who truly believe in their product will influence customers in their favor. The unconscious expression of belief by sales personnel is a powerful cue that customers process both consciously and unconsciously.” — Gerald Zaltman, “How Customers Think: Essential Insights Into the Mind of the Market”
4. “Advice from every quarter, ancient and contemporary, backs up the observation that to change our feelings, we should change our actions.” — Gretchen Rubin, “The Happiness Project”
5. “Your mind, when focused on appreciation, has an unparalleled power to trigger physical and emotional healing.” — Dan Baker and Cameron Stauth, “What Happy People Know: How the New Science of Happiness Can Change Your Life for the Better”
6. “Decades of work from multiple different subfields within psychology all point towards the conclusion that regularly resting your brain improves the quality of your work. When you work, work hard. When you’re done, be done.” — Cal Newport, “Deep Work: Rules for Focused Success in a Distracted World”
7. “Develop the habit of letting small things happen. If you don’t, you’ll never find time for the life-changing big things.” — Tim Ferriss
Related stories will be right here …
I hope you’ll find something to help you focus on the tasks at hand this year, and maybe even find a book or two here you might like to explore!
1. “When it comes to your experiences and perceptions, you’re much more in the driver’s seat than you might think. You predict, construct, and act. You are an architect of your experiences.” — Lisa Feldman Barrett, “How Emotions Are Made: The Secret Life of the Brain”
2. “Positive emotions might have evolved to give our ancient ancestors a survival advantage, but to experience them still enhances our lives today.” — Leonard Mlodinow, “Emotional: How Feelings Shape Our Thinking”
3. “Salespeople who truly believe in their product will influence customers in their favor. The unconscious expression of belief by sales personnel is a powerful cue that customers process both consciously and unconsciously.” — Gerald Zaltman, “How Customers Think: Essential Insights Into the Mind of the Market”
4. “Advice from every quarter, ancient and contemporary, backs up the observation that to change our feelings, we should change our actions.” — Gretchen Rubin, “The Happiness Project”
5. “Your mind, when focused on appreciation, has an unparalleled power to trigger physical and emotional healing.” — Dan Baker and Cameron Stauth, “What Happy People Know: How the New Science of Happiness Can Change Your Life for the Better”
6. “Decades of work from multiple different subfields within psychology all point towards the conclusion that regularly resting your brain improves the quality of your work. When you work, work hard. When you’re done, be done.” — Cal Newport, “Deep Work: Rules for Focused Success in a Distracted World”
7. “Develop the habit of letting small things happen. If you don’t, you’ll never find time for the life-changing big things.” — Tim Ferriss
8. “We all say we want to achieve things, but we don’t really want to achieve them unless we are willing to take the necessary steps to achieve what we say we want.” — Jeff Haden, “The Motivation Myth: How High Achievers Really Set Themselves Up to Win”
9. “Being busy is not an accomplishment.” — Morten Hansen, “Great At Work”
10. “Grit has two components: passion and perseverance.” — Angela Duckworth, “Grit: The Power of Passion and Perseverance”
11. “High dominance or ego-driven people may passionately believe that you should have product and feel compelled to sell it to you, no matter how much you resist. This may sound pushy, but if blended with empathy, this person will close with perfection.” — Chet Holmes, “The Ultimate Sales Machine”
12. “Risk taking is integral to learning. You have to push your boundaries and take a few risks if you want to improve at a given task.” — Kayt Sukel, “The Art of Risk: The New Science of Courage, Caution, & Chance”
Thanks for reading my columns.
Here’s to a healthy and happy year ahead!
Editors' Picks
Sponsored by
More on Columnists
The Latest
MajorsOct 13, 2026
David Webb Owner Purchases Lugano JewelryThe high-end jewelry retailer was sold to private investment firm Middle West Partners and a group of longtime clients.
Lab-GrownOct 13, 2026
Stephanie Gottlieb Takes Lab-Grown Diamond Collection WholesaleThe jewelry designer has partnered with Sofer Jewelry to distribute her 85-piece lab-grown diamond collection.
IndependentsOct 13, 2026
Retailer Hall of Fame 2026: Sean DunnDunn, this year’s Single-Store Independent inductee, is passionate about innovation and telling the story of natural diamonds.
Brought to you by
Meet Gemology’s Next Generation Microscope: GIA® Gemolite® NXT Professional EditionExperience gemstones with greater precision and comfort than ever before.
AuctionsOct 13, 2026
Christie's Geneva To Auction 'Bulgari Pink' DiamondThe 24-carat fancy intense pink diamond ring could fetch up to $18 million at the November sale.
Weekly QuizOct 08, 2026
This Week’s QuizTest your jewelry news knowledge by answering these questions.
IndependentsOct 13, 2026
Greenwich St. Jewelers’ New Candle Smells Like HomeThe “Island Jewel” candle honors New York City and Puerto Rico and raises money for the island’s water relief efforts.
TechnologyOct 13, 2026
GemFind Is a New JA Member Benefit Partner The partnership will give JA members access to preferred pricing, exclusive benefits, technology solutions, education, and resources.
Brought to you by
Your Piece Could Be the One Editors Talk AboutSubmit your pieces for a chance to win in this year's competition.
SurveysOct 09, 2026
These Will Be the 10 Busiest Days for In-Store Shopping This Holiday SeasonStores should expect to see the most customers on Nov. 27, and Christmas week is expected to be hectic too, as Dec. 25 falls on a Friday.
CollectionsOct 09, 2026
Elisa Solomon Collabs With Serendipity 3 on ‘Frozen Hot Chocolate’ CharmThe charm, our Piece of the Week, features brown diamond frozen hot chocolate topped with white diamond whipped cream and a ruby straw.
AuctionsOct 09, 2026
8-Carat Blue Diamond Goes Unsold at UK Jewelry Auction The top lot of Elmwood’s recent fine jewelry sale in London was a 1.84-carat, D color Tiffany & Co. solitaire diamond ring.
WatchesOct 09, 2026
Movado to Sell Majority Stake in Ebel for $66.5MThe watch company agreed to sell a 95 percent interest to a group comprised of F.P. Journe, Chanel, and Swiss watch exec Pierre Jacques.
Policies & IssuesOct 08, 2026
Third Wave of IEEPA Tariff Refunds Begins This round of tariff refunds is for importers that have sued over IEEPA tariffs in the Court of International Trade and won.
CollectionsOct 08, 2026
Brent Neale’s New Collection Goes ‘Back to Basics’It revisits the brand’s most requested silhouettes, from "Pillow"-set necklaces and bracelets to "Signature"-set rings and earrings.
SourcingOct 08, 2026
Ethical Gem Fair Heads Back to BrooklynThe trade-only event includes buying opportunities as well as educational sessions on artisanal mining, the new Paraíba source, and more.
Events & AwardsOct 08, 2026
Pattons Fine Jewelry Sweeps Local Design ContestAra Chanakian, a jeweler at Pattons, took home top honors in every category at Jewelers of Louisiana’s annual jewelry design competition.
AuctionsOct 08, 2026
Reba McEntire’s Jewelry, Watches Head to Julien’s AuctionsThe live charity benefit sale in Nashville will also feature gowns, boots, and other memorabilia from the country music legend.
Supplier BulletinOct 08, 2026
Overnight Mountings’ Bridal Builder Helps Jewelers Turn Custom Design into a Hands-On Selling ExperienceSponsored by Overnight Mountings
Policies & IssuesOct 07, 2026
The Plumb Club Amplifies Its Voice as Geopolitical Pressures MountThe supplier organization recently joined JA and JVC to have more input on political issues affecting the jewelry industry.
CollectionsOct 07, 2026
Blue Nile, Royal Asscher Collection Highlights Natural Diamond BeautyBlue Nile, a Signet Jewelers-owned brand, is now Royal Asscher’s exclusive licensed retailer in North America.
CollectionsOct 07, 2026
4 Standout Pieces in Audemars Piguet’s First High Jewelry Collection “Royal Oak” pays homage to the brand’s most popular watch model using 18-karat gold as well as diamonds, emeralds, and sapphires.
MajorsOct 07, 2026
Empire Safe & Vault Promotes Juan Morales to CEOAs part of the transition, Joseph Nicosia has stepped into the role of COO.
SourcingOct 07, 2026
AGTA Extends Deadline for 2026 Spectrum Awards EntriesParticipants now have until Oct. 14 to complete their submissions.
CrimeOct 06, 2026
6 Charged in Connection to String of New Jersey Smash-and-GrabsThe alleged thieves used crow bars and sledgehammers to smash into jewelry stores across the state.
SourcingOct 06, 2026
DDG Taps Influencers for ‘My Diamond Does Good’ CampaignIn the new consumer-facing campaign, four fashion and lifestyle creators share the stories behind their natural diamond pieces.
MajorsOct 06, 2026
Frederick Goldman Names COO, CMOFGI President John Orrico is also leaving the company after more than 13 years.
Events & AwardsOct 06, 2026
JIS Fall Returns to MiamiThe 2026 edition will feature presentations on alternative materials and design trends, as well as pop-up activations on the show floor.
