Small Changes, Big Results

Atomic Habits by James Clear (Part 1 of 4 mini series - Chapters 1-2)

✍️ By Debbie Balfour | WBN News | June 1, 2025 | Click HERE for your FREE Subscription to WBN News and/or to be a Contributor.

What if you could completely transform your business—and life—by improving just 1% every day? It might sound small, but that’s the point. In Atomic Habits, James Clear proves that the secret to big change isn’t massive action—it’s small, repeated actions that compound over time.

Chapters 1–2 of Atomic Habits open with this powerful concept: “The Aggregation of Marginal Gains.” Through the example of the British cycling team, Clear illustrates how 1% improvements in dozens of areas led to championship wins. For entrepreneurs, this means consistently refining your systems, not chasing big wins.

Clear draws a critical distinction: goals set your direction, but systems determine your progress. Instead of obsessing over outcomes, focus on the small daily behaviors that move your business forward. Writing for five minutes, sending one email, refining your pitch—done daily—can outperform big, infrequent efforts.

Step-by-Step Habit Instructions:

Pick a Core Task: Choose something like client outreach, journaling, or daily planning.
Commit to Just 5 Minutes: Start so small you can’t fail.
Improve 1% Daily: Try faster email templates, clearer messaging, or better timing.
Track Visually: Use a habit tracker or spreadsheet.
Reflect Weekly: Celebrate wins and refine what didn’t work.

Thought-Provoking Question:

What’s one area of your entrepreneurial life you can improve by 1% this week?

Task:

Pick one daily habit to improve over the next 7 days. Track your progress and take note of the subtle but powerful changes that occur.

Conclusion:

Forget the finish line—master the process. It’s the small actions, repeated with consistency, that create greatness. This week, commit to 1% better every day. Next Sunday, we’ll explore how identity shapes—and is shaped by—your habits.

Drop in the comments, what is one daily habit, you will improve on in the next 7 days?

Debbie Balfour | Real Estate Investing Success Coach + Podcast Host

Buy Atomic Habits by James Clear on Amazon here.
📍 Website: www.DebbieBalfour.com
📧 Email: Debbie@DebbieBalfour.com
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