Get Better Every Day

Doug wanted to feel like he was improving daily.  He wanted to be intentional with his growth and know that he was making progress.  When he joined my group coaching program, he had just hit a birthday milestone and was determined to create positive momentum for the next decade of life and beyond.

Everyone wants change of some sort, in order to feel better, feel fulfilled and accomplished.  So if that is a universal desire, why do we often resist change? Change represents a potential threat to our known reality.  And even though change, in general, is inevitable, we prefer to do it on our own terms. Intentionally preparing for change can be a way to soothe that fear while shifting a single thought to allow for growth.

So, how can we set ourselves up for success in this way?  With Doug and the other members of the coaching group, I introduced the 1% technique as a way to ease into sustainable change without experiencing too much internal resistance. Let's look closer at some examples of getting better every day, 1% at a time.

How 1% Better Every Day Can Equal Massive Shifts

The number 1 often seems so small, so insignificant, that it barely seems worth noting sometimes, right? Well, consider how the number 1, over time, can greatly effect things like temperature, compound interest, direction, etc. Each one of these scenarios has an example below:

• Imagine that you were baking a cake, and your oven increased temperature 1 degree every minute. Your cake would burn if you did not adjust the cooking time to accommodate.
• In terms of compound interest, you would be happily surprised if your interest was compounded by 1% each day in your bank account.  But, if you owed money, and that money was compounded each day, you would be unpleasantly shocked at the end of the year. 
• A 1 degree shift in direction will  send you off course.  If you are driving at 60 mph, you would be off course by one mile for each hour driven.  If you were flying, you would be considerably more off course since you  travel faster.  Over a span of hours, you could be several miles off course, which would be detrimental.

With this perspective, you can see how the number 1, put into action in several different ways, can certainly produce changes.  The question is, do you want to produce an intentional change, and make that 1% work in your favor?  If you live by default, setting no direction or focal point, you will likely find yourself, after some time, feeling like you are lost.

Let's put this theory into a real life example and see how it could play out in 30, 60, 90 days from the start point. We will use a measurable goal of steps taken per day to work towards a health goal of more activity.  So, if Sally knew that her typical number of steps recorded per day is 3000, and she added 1% per day (30 steps) she could see the following results:

• 30 days = 900 extra steps
• 60 days = 1800 extra steps
• 90 days = 2700 extra steps
• 365 days = 10,950 extra steps

Although this may not seem like a very significant change, consider the opposite happening, if Sally did not put her attention on increasing her daily steps.  She might be at  -21,000 steps and that could potentially put her at risk in some area(s) of health.

Now let's look at another example that is not as tangible since it is not connected to a measurable outcome, but that has huge potential for positive outcomes.  When Doug decided to create a feeling of progress for the next decade of life, he was essentially committing to shifting his mindset.  Our mindset is all about our thoughts and beliefs about what we deem possible.  If Doug decided to change one thought per week, he could potentially change 7 behaviors/actions per week, since thoughts lead to feelings, which lead to actions.  Let's look at how this could play out:

• 30 days = 30 reframed thoughts
• 60 days = 60 reframed thoughts
• 90 days = 90 reframed thoughts
• 365 days = 365 reframed thoughts

In a year, Doug could have an entirely different mindset about any topic of his choosing! And those new thoughts paired with an accompanying feeling and action, could lead to an entirely different lifestyle. 

How to Get 1% Better Every Day

By now you likely see how this 1% technique could be useful for some area in your own life, and how  1% is a number that sounds doable in our minds.  That is the first step: believe that it is possible.  If you attempt to make too large of a change in a short period of time, you may end up abandoning the goal altogether.  I am sure that you can relate to doing this very thing at some point in time.  The classic example is the typical New Year's resolution which has you transforming by 180 degrees in a months time! So, start with something that you can actually see happening, something that your brain will agree could be possible for you.

And what is it that you want to  progress towards?  Here are some general categories that may help spark an idea for you:

• health (physical, mental, nutrition, exercise, feel better, sleep better, knowledge about health, etc)
• finances (budgeting, increasing income, investing, knowledge about financial topics, etc)
• relationships (communication, parenting, leadership, appreciation, knowledge about relationship topics, etc )

Once you have your area of improvement chosen, the next step is to connect your goal to a reason, a "why" that will remind you, on the tough days, what your intention is and add fuel and focus to the desire.

Why do you want to get better?

Do you want to improve your health to feel better and to be able to be around to see your grandchildren grow up?  Do you want to improve your financial situation in  order to start a business?  Or to leave a legacy?  Or to retire by a certain age?  Do you want to improve a key relationship in order to have more fun together?  To build trust? To create a winning team?

Start to ask yourself "why" this improvement truly matters to you, at a deep level.  You will get an answer right away, and take note of that.  But then go deeper, find the "why" beneath the "why".  Continue this process until you feel that you have gotten to the core of your desire, the feeling behind the words.  This is your true North that will keep you on track as you move forward.

How will you know you are making progress?

Tracking is an integral part of this process.  Consider yourself a scientist and collect data each day.  You can use a spreadsheet, or any form of charting your changes.  The main things is that you choose a method that will truly work for you, and then be consistent.  Once you see changes occurring, it will become easier to want to continue to collect data. Here are some ways that you might measure your progress:

1. If you are tracking numbers, such as steps taken daily, (or calories eaten, money spent, friends called, compliments given, muscle mass gained, etc) that is a clear task that is may even be collectible on the device that you are using to count steps.  If not, choose a method to plot your progress each day.
2. If you have chosen something less tangible, like creating positive beliefs about aging, finances or finding a soul mate, you get to be even more creative in the ways that you determine progress.  But, at the core of mindset is the awareness of shifting beliefs.  So, you might track one limiting belief per day when you notice it in action, like "My age is working against me." and then reframe it.  Your reframe might be, "My life experience is an asset."

By the end of 30 days, you will likely have some information that will serve you.  You will know what is working and supporting your improvements, and you will have some idea of what might be limiting you.  From this data, you can reflect and refine your system.  Remember, you are going for 1% improvement in intervals determined by you.  Quantum leaps are possible, but sometimes that expectation can work against us in the beginning.

What Happens If You Get 1% Better Every Day?

As you might imagine, if you have an intention to improve, along with a plan of action, and you have a strong "why" to go with it, you are likely to see improvement, in as little as 30 days.  Once you see improvement and feel that your actions are working, you create momentum.  And once you have momentum, even the smallest of actions carries more weight and credibility. You may even notice that other areas of life are showing improvement.  This is when your initial  1% shifts by itself, into even bigger and better improvements.

Momentum is an amazing thing.  Momentum can carry you with less effort towards the reality of your dream version of yourself and your dream version of your life as you know it.  This brings up another way to look at these micro shifts and how they can work for you.

Create A One Year Goal And Work Backwards

Sometimes, the most exciting way to come up with our 1% improvement path is to future cast and work backwards.  If you have an active imagination, this may be the boost that you need to propel you forward.  Imagine yourself, one year from now, having a 365% shift in that area of your life that you desire.  See yourself embodying this amazing change.  What is different?  How do you feel?  How do you look?  Who is with you? What are you excited about?  What are you proud of?

From this point, 365 days out, create a plan of action by working backwards from that result.  If you stick to it, odds are that you will actually surpass that goal because of momentum and positive belief!

Create A One Month Goal And Work Backwards

Perhaps one year out feels just too far away.  You could try the same exercise by thinking 30 days into the future.  In 30 days time, you will have noted 30% improvement on your goal.  If you goal was to improve your strength by doing push ups and you started with one on day one, by the end of 30 days you would be able to do 30 + push-ups! For me, that would be noteworthy! 

Working backwards from 30 push-ups, you could arrive at your starting date with just one push-up, and it would not feel overwhelming.  With the big picture goal noted on your calendar, 30 on the 30th day, you are priming the pump of success.  Working backwards can be the bridge that ties your current situation to a future goal in very tangible terms.  Our logical brain loves this kind of connection and will get on board. 

Create A One Week Goal And Work Backwards

Often, in the early stages of something new, we need more immediate feedback in order to make a decision about the energy expenditure of this new adventure.  Some goals need early check-ins and clear check-points from which to gather more information. 

Depending on your goal, and your personality, working backwards from 7 days may make more sense.  If your goal involves other people, like your team or your family, it makes sense to measure and adjust week to week.  Other scenarios would fit into this 7 day measurement as well, and you will know what suits you and your situation best.

What Better Looks Like

"Better" means improvement.  Unless you are measuring numbers, which are more concrete and tangible, "better" looks and feels different to each person and could change in different situations.  In other words, "better" is often subjective. 

But, we all have some general idea of what it means to improve.  We all can understand the essence of "getting better". Let's look at some things that will likely shift for you as you "get better" in one way or anther.

Confidence

When you get better at something, or in some way, there is a direct correlation with your sense of confidence.  Confidence is a matter of self-trust, so when you intend to improve by 1% increments, and you do so, you start to trust yourself more, and this leads to improved confidence.  Confidence is a belief in yourself and/or your abilities.

Momentum

We talked about the role of momentum earlier but it is worth repeating.  Momentum and confidence are related in that both build through a demonstration of affirmation.  Again, believing in yourself as you continue to take 1% action each day puts force and strength into action, like rolling a ball down a hill.  Use it to your advantage!

More Changes

And often without even knowing it, with this confidence and momentum, you will start to see other changes occurring in your life.  Change begets change, and if you are pleased by the change, that positive feeling will naturally flow into other areas of your life.  Like  the saying, "The better it gets, the better it gets."

3 Steps To Get Better Every Day

So are you ready to give this 1% technique a try?  Here are three steps to help you toward realizing success:

1. Choose what you want to get better at.  What area of life do you want to see improvement in? And why?
2. Map out one small step for each day of the first week that will help you see and feel that 1% shift.
3. Note and celebrate your progress.  Use a tracker or whatever system works for you to measure improvement.

From there, reflect and refine.  Don't be afraid to make adjustments to your goal or your action steps.  Take what you learn along the way and implement it.  Also, if you need accountability, get it!

Quotes On Getting Better Every Day

It can be nice to have a few words of wisdom to accompany you on your new journey into 1% improvement!  Here are a few that may add some spark or inspiration:

• "Without commitment, you cannot have depth in anything." —Neil Strauss

• "Commitment is the foundation of great accomplishments." —Heidi Reeder

• "You are confined only by the walls you build yourself." —Unknown

• "You are not here merely to make a living. You are here in order to enable the world to live more amply, with greater vision, with a finer spirit of hope and achievement. You are here to enrich the world, and you impoverish yourself if you forget the errand." —Woodrow Wilson

• "Any man’s life will be filled with constant and unexpected encouragement if he makes up his mind to do his level best each day." —Booker T. Washington

• "Sometimes later becomes never. Do it now." —Unknown

And if none of these quite light you up, go ahead and create your own! You know what motivates you and how you are best inspired!  Go ahead and craft a bit of a mission statement for yourself. Who know, one day we may be quoting you!

Summary

In conclusion, I hope that you are uplifted and curious enough to try the 1% technique! This perspective change has helped so many of my clients start a process of transformation that has rippled out results for themselves as well as for those around them.  Start small, keep it simple, and be prepared to be amazed!