🧭 The 1% Rule That Changed Everything

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Here’s Where We Are Headed Today:

• James Clear on Getting 1% Better

• How to Get 1% Better Every Day

• Favorite Posts I Found This Week

• Free Mental Fitness Links 👇

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How To Get 1% Better Every Day

Success is often portrayed as the result of monumental efforts or breakthrough moments. But in reality, it’s the accumulation of small, daily improvements that creates lasting change.

James Clear, author of Atomic Habits, explains this with a simple but powerful idea: if you get 1% better every day, those small improvements compound. Over a year, this leads to a transformation - 37 times better than when you started.

Rather than focusing on instant results, the key is consistency and patience. Progress isn’t about massive action but about small, strategic steps that put you on the right trajectory. Whether in business, sports, leadership, or personal growth, the 1% mindset can be the difference between stagnation and success.

Story 1 - Commitment Cards

Coach Bob Ladouceur, one of the greatest high school football coaches of all time, built a winning culture at De La Salle High School using commitment cards. Each player set a goal for the week - something measurable and attainable. They weren’t just vague aspirations; they were public commitments shared with teammates.

These cards held players accountable and created a culture of continuous improvement. Even third-string players were motivated to push themselves, which strengthened the team as a whole. By tracking small, incremental improvements in practice and games, the team maintained an unprecedented level of excellence.

The lesson: Public accountability and small, measurable goals lead to sustained growth.

Source: How To Build a Program Culture - Bob Ladouceur Coaching Clinic

Story 2 - British Cycling Team

When Sir Dave Brailsford took over British Cycling in 2002, the team had no history of success. But under his leadership, they went from obscurity to dominance, winning multiple Olympic gold medals and Tour de France titles. How? Brailsford focused on improving everything by just 1%.

• They developed lighter, more aerodynamic racing suits by testing different fabrics in wind tunnels.

• They hired a surgeon to teach athletes proper hand-washing techniques to reduce the chance of getting sick during races.

• They brought their own pillows and mattresses to races so athletes could sleep in comfortable settings.

• They created a culture of continuous improvement, where every team member- coaches, mechanics, nutritionists - was encouraged to seek out small gains.

The result? A transformation that made British Cycling one of the most successful teams in history.

The lesson: Excellence is rarely about radical change. It’s about a relentless commitment to small improvements.

Source: HBR - How 1% Performance Improvements Led to Olympic Gold

Story 3 - Chris Nikic - Completing his First Ironman

Chris Nikic’s journey is one of the most inspiring examples of the 1% rule. Born with Down Syndrome and facing physical challenges, he set a goal that seemed nearly impossible—completing an Ironman race.

His strategy? Get 1% better every day. He started small, focusing on tiny improvements in his training, nutrition, and endurance. He tracked progress on a whiteboard and celebrated each step. Over time, these incremental gains added up, and he became the first person with Down Syndrome to complete an Ironman.

The lesson: No goal is too big if you break it down into small, daily improvements.

So what can we learn from this?

1. Trust the Compound Effect - 1% improvements may feel insignificant at first, but over time, they multiply. Whether in skill development, fitness, leadership, or business, small daily efforts lead to extraordinary results.

2. Focus on Trajectory - It’s easy to measure where you are today, but what matters more is where you’re headed. Are you improving, even slightly? If so, keep going.

3. Make Small Changes That Stick - Big transformations fail because they require too much willpower. Instead, start with tiny habits. Want to exercise? Begin with two minutes. Want to read more? Read one page. Build momentum.

4. Create Accountability Systems - Public commitments, like commitment cards or tracking progress in a journal, increase follow-through. When others know your goals, you’re more likely to stay consistent.

5. Design Your Environment for Success - Your surroundings shape your behavior. Want to read more? Keep books visible. Want to eat healthier? Remove junk food from your home. Make good habits easier.

Aristotle puts it best: “We are what we repeatedly do, therefore, excellence is not an act, but a habit.” The world’s best athletes, leaders, and performers don’t rely on massive breakthroughs—they master the art of showing up and getting a little better every day.

Start today. Identify one small improvement. Then another. Over time, those 1% gains will redefine what’s possible.

Favorite Posts I Found This Week

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