Have you ever felt overwhelmed by the sheer number of decisions you need to make in your business? You’re not alone. Many business owners struggle with decision fatigue, often leading to procrastination and a sense of being stuck.
I believe that progress beats perfection every time. The key to long-term success isn’t about making huge leaps, it’s about committing to getting 1% better every day. Small, consistent improvements add up over time, creating real momentum and sustainable growth.
Why 1% better matters
It’s easy to think that change only happens through big, dramatic moves. But in reality, real growth comes from consistent, small improvements.
If you improve by 1% every day, in a year, you’ll be 37 times better than when you started. Wondering, how you get to the 37? The growth compounds, meaning each day’s improvement stacks on top of the last.
On the flip side, if you let overwhelm stop you, you’ll remain stuck in the same place – or worse, fall behind.
Breaking down the overwhelm
When a task feels too big, we’re more likely to avoid it. This is where breaking things into small, manageable chunks makes all the difference.
Think about renovating a house. If you try to do everything at once – design, demolition, construction, finishing touches – you’ll quickly hit decision fatigue. It’s the same for CEOs managing their businesses. Too many decisions at once can lead to stress, hesitation, or even avoidance.
A business owner I worked with recently wanted to scale but felt overwhelmed. Instead of tackling everything at once, they started by automating outstanding invoice follow-ups. Within a few months, they saved hours of admin time and improved cash flow, which freed them up to focus on growth.
The key was tackling one decision at a time.
Applying the 1% rule to your business
Instead of aiming for perfection, focus on implementing just 1% of your strategy at a time.
- Break it down:
Instead of saying, “I need to grow my business,” identify one small step. If your goal is to attract more customers, begin with understanding how you will do this for your business, then once you have brainstormed to know how you will attract new customers start with something simple – like posting once a week on LinkedIn or asking one happy client for a referral. Small, consistent actions like these create momentum and drive real progress over time.
- Just start:
Perfectionism will tell you to wait until you have all the information. But here’s the thing: you won’t have clarity until after you make a decision. Action leads to insight.
- Celebrate progress:
Small wins build momentum. Finished one task? Celebrate. Learning to appreciate progress keeps motivation high.
Your business, 1% stronger every day
Success doesn’t come from one huge decision. It comes from consistent, small actions that compound over time. Whether it’s improving your finances, making strategic decisions, or just moving forward despite uncertainty – progress is always better than perfection.
Why not give yourself a Practical 30-Day Challenge (1% Better for 30 Days)?
Example of what you can include each week:
- Week 1: Set a small growth goal and create a way to measure the progress.
- Week 2: Reach out to one potential client per day.
- Week 3: Prepare a list of key business indicators that are important for your business.
- Week 4: Automate one financial process.
So, what’s one small step you can take today?
