WHY SMALL HABITS MAKE A BIG DIFFERENCE
It is so easy to overestimate the importance of one defining moment
and underestimate the value of making small improvements on a daily
basis. Too often, we convince ourselves that massive success requires
massive action. Whether it is losing weight, building a business, writ‑
ing a book, winning a championship, or achieving any other goal, we
put pressure on ourselves to make some
earth‑
shattering improvement
that everyone will talk about.
Meanwhile, improving by 1 percent isn’t particularly
notable—
sometimes it isn’t even
noticeable—
but it can be far more meaningful,
especially in the long run. The difference a tiny improvement can make
over time is astounding. Here’s how the math works out: if you can
get 1 percent 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 percent
worse each day for one year, you’ll decline nearly down to zero. What
starts as a small win or a minor setback accumulates into something
much more.