“It’s the space between the notes that makes the music.” ~Debussy

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Debunking the Myth of ‘1% Better Every Day’

The idea of getting 1% better every day has been popularized by books, influencers, and motivational speakers for more than thirty years.

I recall Tony Robbins preaching the message back in the late '80s. More recently, another bestselling habit book has taken Tony’s mantra to new levels of cliché-dom.

On the surface, “1% Better Every Day” sounds fantastic, and it’s certainly aspirational.

After all, it represents consistent, steady improvement over time—day in, day out. What could be more motivational than that?

It seems like the perfect recipe for day-to-day self-improvement, right?

1% better every day.

Unfortunately, the reality is very different.

Learning any new skill, building any new habit, or improving in any meaningful way is a process filled with starts, stops, gradual and sometimes rapid progress, as well as regression.

All growth requires space—rest and silence.

After all, muscles don’t grow while you’re lifting the weights; they grow when you’re resting.

So, while the message of “1% Better Every Day” is well-meaning, it’s also a myth.

Improvement is never linear.

Ever heard the phrase “two steps forward, one step back”?

Sometimes, it may be three or even ten steps back.

Credit: The “Success” meme

“Don’t break the streak,” “Never miss two days,” “It takes 21 days to build a habit,” and “1% Better Every Day” all fall into the same silly cliché bucket when it comes to personal improvement and habit development.

And all miss the crucial idea that rest, recovery, space, and silence should be part of anyone’s growth and new skill and habit development plan.

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Take a hard look at the meme above—does that resemble 1% better every day?

Yet, this (below) is what “they” want you to believe. 👇

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