Marginal gains and losing to your Dad in wrestling.
#9 - 11.15.20
Brother -
Today's topic is about the compound effect of marginal gains. It is essentially making yourself a little bit better each day. All returns in life, not just wealth, come from this compound effect. This includes health, relationships, and knowledge as well. Einstein considered this to be one of the most powerful forces in the universe, stating:
"Compound interest is the eighth wonder of the world. He who understands it, earns it ... he who doesn't... pays it."
Let me share a chart with you to help you visualize this:
In short, if you get 1% better at something each day - over one year, you will become 38 times better at it. If you stay the same, you're still at 1, and if you get 1% worse… well, you get the picture.
It's not obvious to see the 1% every day. Only you can push yourself to make this effort. No one notices the changes immediately, as this only becomes apparent over time.
Many successful people enable their improvements through dedicated morning routines. This includes a combination of physical activity, mindfulness, and personal learning. This is a tactic we will dive more into another time - but the point is to make small improvements a consistent habit.
Let's make this a bit more personal and talk about Dad. He's well built - and I hope this doesn't get to his head... but pretty buff. When we're back home and have one two many beers and decide it's a good idea to wrestle him - we inevitably get our ass kicked. Afterward, we're red in the face and exhausted despite being in our prime physical years. On the other hand, Dad usually is laughing and sips another beer while being on the verge of qualifying for senior citizen discounts.
To build on top of this, he gets compliments from acquaintances pretty frequently saying, "Whoa Al - looks like you've been working out!" - despite not hitting the gym for months… which hilariously does irritate Mom. So how do we explain this?
The thing is - Dad's been building good physical habits every morning for as long as I can remember. He does 59 push-ups (one for every year) and 100 sit-ups every morning. This is a small thing to do in the moment - essentially making yourself 1% better - and it adds up over time.
In the past few decades, this amounts to half a million push-ups and over a million sit-ups. He doesn't consider this a workout, though - this is just part of what he does each morning to start the day. Similar to having a morning coffee.
The point is, brother - you should start building your habits now. It could be push-ups or meditation in the morning. Maybe investing a little bit each month, or dedicating time to learn a new skill. Be intentional. Be consistent. Do not worry about the outcome, but rather the effort you put in. The results will come in time.
In the meantime, I am looking forward to seeing you next week for Thanksgiving. Maybe this year we'll finally beat Dad in wrestling.
Let me leave you with a quote and a question.
"A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step."
Lao Tzu
If someone observed your morning routine, what would they say are your priorities?
Enjoy the dance,
Nate