Persistence beats talent every time – the rule of 1%

Persistence beats talent every time – the rule of 1%

Do you have a dream? I mean, do you have a HUGE dream? Do you have something that inspires you? Do you have something that gives you goosebumps only by thinking about it?

When will you achieve it?

In the coaching sessions I had last year, many clients said they had problems with motivation when we spoke about dreams and objectives. The good thing is that I know that persistence beats talent every time, and with the right strategy, everyone can achieve almost anything.

Like those clients, I was also a person who mainly got his motivation from the outside and needed constant confirmation from other people: clients, friends, or family. After I learned about this method, a click happened, my perspective changed, and I became self-sufficient. I understood I could access motivation at any time, only by looking at one photo.

What I want to share today starts from a way of thinking that is very precious to me: efficiency. The idea comes from mathematics, and James Clear presented it in his book Atomic Habits.

If you do the same things today as you did yesterday, we will have the same results. What if you do the same things for a whole year? Well, I think it’s clear: you would have the same results without change!

But what would happen if you made a slight 1% improvement compared to the day before? Would any significant change happen?

Not tomorrow, because 1.01 x 1.01 = 1.0201

How about the day after tomorrow?
…
Not even then, because the math goes like this:

1.0201 x 1.01 = 1.030301

What happens if you repeat the process for a year: give only 1% more than before?

Well, now hold on to your seat and hear the drums because the result is big, Big, BIG, BIIIGGGGGGGG:

1,01 x 1,01 x …. x 1,01 (365 times) = 37,8

Yes, you saw it correctly: 37.8

It means that if you have an area in your life and work just 1% to be
better than yesterday, you will be 38 times better after one year. This is the mathematical explanation of why persistence beats talent every time.

Incredible, isn’t it?

Now the part of me that told me to give this extraordinary formula forces me to tell you the whole truth.
If you’re 1% more inefficient and unproductive than yesterday, you’ll be only 0,03 of what you are today in one year.

0,99 x 0,99 x … x 0,99 (365 times) =0,03 

This concept has given me confidence in my actions, and I no longer expect encouragement from the outside because I trust math.

To summarise: If you do a minimum of 1%, you are 38 times better, more skilled, and more successful at the end of the year.

You trust math in many fields, from computers to building houses or driving. Why not use math also in personal development? Now you understand why persistence beats talent every time?

Just try it, and let’s talk in one year to compare!

If you want to learn more about the performance and productivity, I’ll tell you that these concepts are part of the NLP Practitioner course held in English in Munich / München. There, the concept of productivity is explained and rehearsed with numerous practical examples, to understand when you can use it most efficiently.

Additionally, if you’re interested in how the mind works, NLP neuro-linguistic programming, Coaching or communication, drop me a line, and I’ll tell you more. Also, if you want to do a private coaching session in nature, feel free to read about my other project where you become one with the mountains, here!