Starting today, if you make a 1% improvement to your business everyday, what will your results be in one year?
It’s called the theory of marginal gains and it took Sir Dave Brainsford 5-years of 1% improvements to lead the British cycling team from winning only a single gold medal in 76-years to winning 10 gold medals in the 2008 Beijing Olympics.
In terms of money, if you increased $100 by 1% a day you would have $3,337.34 in one year.
Is there something in your business you could improve by 1% this very moment?
If you run a successful business, you see opportunities for improvement everywhere you look. The question always comes down to, is the change the improvement requires really worth the effort—especially if the improvement is only 1%?
But for Sir Brainsford, a 76-year losing streak left a lot of opportunity for 1% improvements.
…So does a national shutdown of our economy.
What Sir Brainsford did is everything from rubbing alcohol on tires to make them stick to the road better to finding the best massage oil for faster muscle recovery and even the perfect pillow and mattress for the best night’s sleep.
What’s your 1%?
Pick something and get started…
But before you do, here’s a few tips on how to get started:
Cast your vision of the future and include everyone in it.
People are naturally resistant to change and if you want them to improve you need to cast a vision of the future they can see themselves in. Once your vision is clear break into 90 day execution plans inspire your teams to find opportunities for 1% improvements.
Make performance data available at every opportunity.
The question is, do you have the data of past performance to see the opportunities for even the smallest of improvements in the future? If you do make it available with all stakeholders, and show them how essential to your mutual success.
Recognize and reward marginal improvements, no matter how marginal.
Like they say, if you measure it, it will improve. With a truly transparent system of performance measurement, the 1% opportunities will reveal themselves as each day unfolds. The key is to make the data a part of daily life, something everyone looks forward to seeing.
Let how Sir Dave Brainsford turned a 76-year losing streak into a true story success be an inspiration that even though we are in these difficult times, brighter days are ahead especially if you are focused on finding 1% improvements where ever that are.
