Here’s Why 1% is So Important
3 proven philosophies that emphasize how the smallest improvements lead to great success
We don’t think about how much we can improve in one day. We are told that success doesn’t happen overnight and improvement can only be seen months or years down the line. This kind of thinking really demotivates a lot of us because it makes us think that success is only gained far into the future, so we conclude that it is impossible and many of us give up on our dreams.
The problem with humanity is that we are hardwired to want quick and easy success.
We want to achieve something now rather than later. That long-term commitment isn’t something we are willing to make. That’s why everyone dreams of winning the lottery. We want the results without the hard work.
The reality of it is vastly overlooked. If we really want to be successful, all we have to do is start by making a 1% improvement. If we start seeing that 1% as a success, then we will eventually get to where we want to be.
1% has been proven many times in many different ways, but I’d like to share 3 philosophies with you that will give you a starting point.
“The Compound Effect”
Ask any mathematician, economist, or finance manager and they will tell you that the “compounding effect” is ultimately the most important principle of our time.
“The Compound Effect” was written and popularized by Darren Hardy
The idea is that small and seemingly insignificant actions can have a huge impact over time, simply because they are repeated over and over and over again.
No one chooses to be unhealthy. No one chooses to be unhappy. No one chooses to be unsuccessful.
These results did not happen from one bad choice; they are the result of many poor decisions that accumulated over time.
How the Compound Effect works in areas of your life.
- Finances
Let’s say you invest $100 in a mutual fund every month. After 30 years, assuming an average annual return of 7%, your investment will be worth well over $60,000. This is a huge return, considering you only invested $3,600 in total.
2. Health
If you make small changes to your diet and exercise routine, you will eventually start to see a difference in your weight, energy levels, and your overall health. Eating healthy foods and exercising regularly will reduce the likelihood of developing chronic diseases later in life.
3. Relationships
By making tiny efforts to connect with your loved ones on a regular basis, your bonds with them will be tighter, stronger, and more fulfilling.
“Atomic Habits”
I think we’ve heard this by now. Published by James Clear, “Atomic Habits” has genuinely made huge differences in how I live my everyday life, and I want to share some unique takeaways I found in his book.
It’s easier to build habits into the normal flow of your life. Instead of rescheduling your whole routine, integrate new good habits into it. Let’s say the first thing you do when you wake up is drink a cup of coffee. Now, try fitting in 10 pushups in between that. By the end of the week, you’re routine stayed the same, but you’ve done 70 push-ups.
“You should be far more concerned with your current trajectory than with your current results.” James gives a great example of a plane flying from LA to New York. If the pilot makes the smallest shift, turning the plane 3.5 degrees south, the plane will land in Washington DC. A small habit change at the beginning is barely noticeable. But further down the line, you’ll end up hundreds of miles away from your intended destination.
Your motivation is at its peak when you’re working on tasks that align with your abilities. Work on tasks that are not too hard and not too easy. If the task is hard, break it down into smaller, more manageable tasks. If it’s too easy, then compile it with other easy tasks to make it more of a challenge.
Choose a habit that suits you, not because it is popular. Nowadays I see many people going to the gym for the simple reason that others are too. It’s the current trend. But if the gym is not for you then don’t force it, find something that you aligns with you. You will stick to it for a longer time.
If you cling too much to your identity, you become weak. We as human beings are constantly evolving because we keep learning and growing. You can’t stay in the same place and expect different results.
Getting 1% better every day leads to becoming 37x better in 1 year. Getting 1% better leads to exponential growth, while 1% worse leads to overall stagnation.
“Kaizen”: The Japanese Philosophy
Kaizen is the Japanese term for “continuous improvement”. Founded and pioneered by Masaaki Imai, it emphasizes the importance of making small, incremental changes to improve processes and products over time.
Here’s what its main principles teach us:
- Focus on the process, not the results. By focusing on improving the systems and processes, then the results automatically improve.
- Make small, incremental changes. A series of minor changes is better than trying to make big, sweeping changes all at once.
- Get everyone involved. Everyone around you has the potential to contribute to your overall improvement.
How Kaizen works in different areas of your life.
- Productivity
Start by setting aside a specific time each day to work on your goals. By doing this over time, your brain wires itself to perform this habit automatically. It then becomes a process in your routine. The result of this process makes you more organized, focused and disciplined.
2. Business
Streamlining your production process can start by reducing inventory. This leads to improved working conditions which leads to increased efficiency and faster turnaround time.
Teaching employees better customer service skills improves their knowledge and experience, which leads to more customer satisfaction and as a result, higher company sales.
3. Education
Using learning strategies such as the Pomodoro technique leads to improved study habits and better concentration. This ultimately results in higher test scores.
Conclusion
Making 1% improvements over time lead to significant results.
The small, consistent choices we make today send us into a completely different trajectory later in life, this is the power of compounding. By improving 1% each day, we will be 37 times better at the end of the year, this is the power of atomic habits. If we improve our systems and processes, we automatically improve our results. This is the power of Kaizen.
Live by these philosophies and you’re 1% closer to success.
Some additional tips:
- Start small. Don’t try to change too much at once. Begin with one small change and focus on making that change stick.
- Be consistent. The key to making 1% improvements is consistency. Make a small change every day or every week.
- Celebrate your successes. Life moves fast, so take a moment to celebrate your wins, no matter how big or small.
Here are some books that emphasize the power of 1% improvement.
The Compound Effect by Darren Hardy
The Power of Habit by Charles Duhigg
The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People by Stephen R. Covey
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