How the 1% Rule Helped Transformed My Mindset

Small Improvements, Big Impact: Why You Should Focus on the 1% Rule

A few years ago, my wife, Megan, and I bought a new house for our growing family. We had three children at the time, with one on the way, and were eager to feel “at home” in our new space. But the reality? Unpacking everything we’d boxed up and moved from our previous home felt like a Herculean task. Frankly, it felt like we just didn’t have the time or energy to make this place truly feel like ours.

Six months after moving in, frustration started to mount, and the task list only seemed to grow. Rooms needed paint, walls needed pictures, and empty spaces needed furniture—just to name a few. It was tempting to look at the overwhelming list of to-dos and tuck it away in some drawer, ignoring the reality of how much was left.

But it was around this time—thanks be to God—that I stumbled upon the concept of the “1% rule.” This concept, popularized by James Clear in his book Atomic Habits, discusses the power of “aggregating marginal gains.”

The 1% rule focuses on making small improvements daily, with the expectation that these small changes will add up over time to create significant results.

Here’s how Clear puts it: “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.”

At first, it sounded too simple to be effective. But when you’re overwhelmed and stuck, you’ve got little to lose by trying a new approach, right? So, Megan and I decided to implement this mindset in our homemaking efforts. Suddenly, our mile-long to-do list seemed much more approachable.

How We Applied the 1% Rule

Instead of trying to decorate the entire house all at once, we focused on making progress by completing at least one small task every day. We wrote down our list: hang a few pictures, order the new sofa, install one set of blinds, fill a few kitchen cabinets. Then, one by one, we started ticking off the boxes. It was incredible how much progress we made in just a few months.

And once we built up that momentum, it became easier to keep going. James Clear writes in Atomic Habits: “It is so easy to overestimate the importance of one defining moment and underestimate the value of making small improvements on a daily basis.” Megan and I felt this truth in action as we saw the progress unfolding in front of us.

The Power of Small Improvements

It turns out, the principles of small, consistent improvement aren’t limited to homemaking (obviously). This mindset is universal—and can be applied to nearly every area of life: health, relationships, athletics, work, etc.

If you’re feeling overwhelmed, stuck, or stagnant, consider approaching it with the same mindset. Instead of setting out to change, fix, or improve everything at once, ask yourself: How can I become just 1% better?

If you’re a fundraiser, what if you made just five more calls a day to new donor prospects? 

If you’re in marketing, what if you decided to listen to one podcast episode a week to learn more about the audience you’re trying to reach? 

If you’re an executive, what if you called one staff member (that you don’t normally interact with) per week to thank them and affirm the value of their work?

These are simple ideas, but the cumulative results are incredible! Consider spending a little time identifying specific changes you could practically implement. In other words: how could you improve by just 1%?

The Bottom Line

It doesn’t matter how big or small your goals are—when you focus on getting just 1% better every day, you’ll be amazed by the compound effect of your efforts. Whether it’s finishing a home project, improving your health, or growing your business, small changes, over time, lead to extraordinary results.

— Tom Pagano, President of Mission Advantage Recruiting