Forget Massive Goals: The Unstoppable Power of Being 1% Better

We live in a world obsessed with overnight success. We see the highlight reels, the viral launches, and the monumental achievements, and we think that's the path to success. So we set huge, intimidating goals: "I'm going to get completely in shape," or "I'm going to write a book."

A week later, motivation has fizzled out, and we're back where we started, feeling defeated.

What if the secret to achieving massive goals wasn't massive action? What if it was the opposite?

The "1% Better" philosophy, also known as the principle of aggregation of marginal gains or Kaizen, is simple: focus on making a tiny improvement—just 1%—in everything you do, every single day. On its own, a 1% improvement is barely noticeable. It's boring. It's unimpressive. But compounded over time, its power is unstoppable.

If you get 1% better each day for one year, you’ll end up thirty-seven times better by the time you’re done. Conversely, if you get 1% worse, you'll decline nearly down to zero. Your daily choices don't just add up; they compound.

This is why focusing on your system is more important than focusing on your goal. Your goal is the desired outcome. Your system is the collection of daily habits that will get you there.

• Your goal is to run a marathon. Your system is your training schedule.
• Your goal is to be a better writer. Your system is writing one page every day.
• Your goal is to be stronger. Your system is not missing a workout.

When you focus on the system, the results take care of themselves. You stop worrying about the finish line and start falling in love with the process of walking the path. You shift your identity from someone who wants a result to someone who is the type of person that does the work.

So today, don't try to be a hero. Don't try to conquer the world. Just ask yourself: How can I be 1% better? That's a quest you can win every single day.