One Step Towards Kaizen

What is Kaizen?

A quick Google search would give you this definition:

Kaizen is a Japanese term meaning change for the better or continuous improvement.

Here, the term continuous improvement is most important. Over the years of self-development, I have realized that waking up one day after hitting rock bottom and putting all your newly found motivation into a self-improvement activity doesn’t last very long. Soon, you find your motivation wearing off, and you revert to your old habits, halting your self-improvement efforts.

So, what should you do instead?

Small but Consistent improvements.

Strive to improve yourself by just 1% every day. More is better, but 1% does the job when done consistently.

For such small changes, you won’t even require a once-in-a-blue-moon kind of motivation. You’ll most likely stick with the routine and change your life entirely within a few months if not weeks.

This is based on the principle of aggregation of marginal gains: tiny changes, remarkable results. (I highly recommend reading the book "Atomic Habits" if you haven't already. It can be a game-changer in your self-development journey.)

To illustrate this principle, here’s a summary of a story about David Brailsford, who changed the fate of British cycling (taken from “Atomic Habits” by James Clear):

In 2003, British Cycling’s fate transformed with the hiring of Dave Brailsford as performance director. Facing a century of mediocrity, with just one Olympic gold since 1908 and no Tour de France wins, Brailsford introduced the strategy of “aggregation of marginal gains,” aiming for 1% improvements in every aspect of cycling. This included bike seat redesigns, heated overshorts, biofeedback sensors, wind tunnel-tested fabrics, and even better hand-washing techniques and sleep quality enhancements. These minor adjustments rapidly compounded, leading British Cycling to unprecedented success: dominating the 2008 and 2012 Olympics, achieving the first British Tour de France victory in 2012, and amassing 178 world championships and 66 Olympic or Paralympic gold medals from 2007 to 2017. This approach underscores how incremental improvements can lead to extraordinary outcomes, offering a model for achieving excellence in any field.

But, what areas of your life should you improve? Well, this is subjective.

I personally strive for holistic growth. What’s the use of wealth if I don’t have good health to enjoy it?

I broadly categorize my Kaizen (1% improvement every day) journey into four categories:

1. Personal — This includes activities like reading self-development books, meditation, and chanting, which contribute to your mental well-being and overall character growth.
2. Health — This involves any physical activities you do to improve your health, such as weight lifting, running, or HIIT workouts.
3. Professional — This means giving your best at your job and upskilling yourself to stay at the top in your field of work.
4. Financial — This encompasses anything you do to improve your finances, whether it’s learning a new trading concept or as simple as saving money for an emergency fund.

Now, it’s also a good practice to track your progress. Who doesn’t like to see a streak of their achievements?

For the tracking purpose, you can build a habit matrix on a paper yourself, or use any one of the many apps available on the app stores.
I personally use an app named ‘Daily Stamp’ which is available on iOS, where I have added these 4 categories and try to ensure that I stamp on all 4 for most of the days, ensuring that I am improving 1% every day, in all areas of my life.

So, what are you waiting for? Start your Kaizen journey today and transform your life, one small step at a time!