The Power of Small Steps
When people think about success, they often imagine big leaps—launching a company, making a life-changing investment, hitting a major milestone. But in my experience, true, lasting success comes from something far less glamorous: small, consistent improvements made day after day. Whether it’s in business, health, or personal growth, the idea of getting just one percent better every day has completely changed my life. It’s not flashy. It’s not fast. But it works—and it builds something powerful over time.
Where It All Started
The idea of incremental growth really clicked for me during some of the most challenging moments of my life. When you come from humble beginnings, like I did, you don’t have the luxury of quick wins or overnight success. You start at zero. Sometimes you even start in the negatives. There were times when I didn’t know how I’d get through the week—financially, emotionally, or physically. But I made a promise to myself: I don’t have to fix everything today. I just have to be a little better than I was yesterday. That mindset gave me something to hold onto, even when progress felt slow. It taught me patience, and more importantly, it taught me discipline.
Applying the One Percent Rule to Business
In my company, we apply this concept every single day. I don’t ask my team to be perfect. I ask them to improve. Maybe that means answering calls a little faster. Or learning a new restoration technique. Or finding a better way to explain a service to a client. Each small improvement builds on the one before it. Over a year, that adds up to massive growth. We didn’t become a trusted restoration company overnight. We became that way by showing up, doing our best, learning from mistakes, and getting just a little better with every job. That’s how trust is built. That’s how reputation is earned.
How It Changed My Health
A few years ago, I realized I was burning the candle at both ends. Long hours, high stress, no sleep, poor eating—it was taking a toll. I wanted to make a change, but every plan I tried felt too extreme. So I went back to what I knew: just do one thing better each day. One less soda. One extra glass of water. A 10-minute walk. A little more sleep. It didn’t feel like much at first, but over time my energy improved, my focus sharpened, and I felt more in control. It was a reminder that change doesn’t have to be dramatic to be real. It just has to be consistent.
Growth in Personal Life
The one percent rule also helped me become a better husband, father, and leader. I used to think self-development had to be some kind of massive transformation—reading a hundred books a year, attending big conferences, or meditating for hours. But now I know it’s the little things that matter most. Taking a few minutes to check in with my family after a long day. Saying thank you more often. Listening better. Being more present. None of these actions takes much time, but they build stronger relationships and create trust. In leadership, especially, the compound effect of small acts of integrity, kindness, and accountability is huge.
The Compound Effect Is Real
The reason this mindset works is because of the compound effect. Just like money earns interest over time, small habits and actions do too. If you improve by just one percent every day, you’ll be nearly 38 times better in a year. That’s not just motivational math—it’s a real-life truth I’ve seen play out again and again. The key is consistency. It’s about showing up, even when you don’t feel like it. Especially when you don’t feel like it. Because those are the moments that count the most. That’s where resilience is built.
Don’t Wait for Perfect
A lot of people get stuck waiting for the “right time” to make a change. They wait until the new year, or until they have more money, or until the timing feels perfect. But perfection is a trap. The best time to start improving is now—even if it’s messy, even if it’s small. You don’t need to run a marathon to get in shape. You don’t need a business degree to start learning how to lead. You don’t need to be perfect to start getting better. You just need to move forward, one step at a time.
Looking Back—and Ahead
Looking back, the biggest wins of my life didn’t come from one-time breakthroughs. They came from daily commitment. From doing the hard things when no one was watching. From holding myself accountable to just be a little better, every single day. That’s the legacy I want to build—not just in my company, but in my family, my health, and my community. I’m still working on it. I’ll always be working on it. But I know that if I keep showing up with intention and consistency, the results will take care of themselves.
Why Small Steps Win Big
If you’re feeling overwhelmed or stuck, I want you to remember this: you don’t need a huge plan. You don’t need to change everything overnight. You just need to commit to the next small step. That’s how real success is built. One percent at a time.