One Small Step Can Change Your Life

Myth #1: Change is hard.

Myth #2: The size of the step determines the size of the result, so take big steps for big results.

Myth #3: Kaizen Is slow; innovation is quicker.

• Your brain is programmed to resist change. But, by taking small steps, you effectively rewire your nervous system.

• Kaizen questions such as ‘What’s the smallest step I can take to be more efficient?’ allow us to bypass our fears.

If you tend to berate yourself with negative questions (Why am I so fat?), try asking: What is one thing I like about myself today? Ask this question daily, writing your answer down in a journal or on a sheet of paper you keep in a specially designated place.

• If you are trying to reach a specific goal, ask yourself every day: What is one small step I could take toward reaching my goal?

• What is one small step I could take to improve my health (or relationships, or career, or any other area)?

• If somebody’s annoying you, ask yourself, “What’s one good thing about this person?”

• What is one small thing that is special about me (or my spouse, or my organization)?

• Small actions are at the Heart of kaizen.
• By taking steps so tiny that they seem trivial or even laughable, you’ll sail calmly past obstacles that have defeated you before.
• Slowly—but painlessly!—you’ll cultivate an appetite for continued success and lay down a permanent new route to change.
• The kaizen approach to life requires a slower pace and an appreciation of small moments. This pleasant technique can lead to creative breakthroughs and excellence.