The 1% Principle
Are there moments in life where the same theme keeps popping up everywhere you look?
For the last 2 years, there’s a simple, yet powerful theme resonating in my life. “How can I make today a little bit better than yesterday?”. Simple and easy — right?!?
As I hit my 40s, I’ve learned that simple is NOT the same as easy. Not even close.
Ever read the book of Proverbs or hear some words of wisdom which cut to the core? Here’s some gems that are “simple” (even if you are not “religious”, there’s a ton of wisdom and also some quirky stuff too in the book of Proverbs)
Proverbs 10:17 “Accept correction, and you will find life; reject correction, and you will miss the mark.” I don’t really enjoy correction, in fact I avoid it at all costs….
“The beginning of love is the will to let those we love be perfectly themselves, not twist them to fit our own image.” — Thomas Merton
Why care about the idea of the 1% principle? It boils down to the concept of compound interest and it can be applied to any element of our life. Compound interest is simple, difficult and effective. For instance,
If we improve at our work just 1% each day, can you imagine what the next month would look like? Would you enjoy work more? What would your manager think?
What if we improve our health, finances or relationships a bit eachday? Would you benefit from stronger relationships and some money in the bank?
The power of the 1% is becoming my go-tool because I fully believe the power of compounding returns can empower 3 core areas of life, which are:
Relational — this includes friends, immediate family members, spouses / significant others, children, co-workers, etc. Are our relationships growing, or are they dying?
Fitness —it’s imperative to focus on our physical fitness but why stop there. How would pushing ourselves to improve by 1% each day improve our physical, mental, financial and vocational well-being?
Faith — I’m approaching this from a Christian perspective. Are we growing or shrinking in our respective faiths? What positive impacts is our faith having in the real world?
Please know this…
I write this in a spirit of vulnerability and humility. Each day I have as many failures as victories.
If my writings are never read, hand-clapped, tweeted or shared, I am 100% OK with it. I simply hope it can help others avoid costly mistakes, help me avoid repeating the same mistakes, while leaving some struggles and victories behind after I exit planet earth.
Let’s move from grandiose thinking to practical action:
- Which of the 3 core areas (family, fitness, faith) am I strong? Which areas am I weak? I tend to be weak in my personal relationships, so I’ll focus on that this month.
- What 1 area will I commit to improving 1% each day for the next week? How will I measure that? Example: I’m weak at relational fitness, so what if I reached out to 3 former colleagues or friends this week that I’ve lost touch with? No hidden agenda, just let them know I care about them. How would I feel? How would they feel?
