The 1 Percent Attitude Solution


Until very recently, Don Fink was a high level manager at Citicorp. He has taken time off from his job so he can train full time for the Iron Man competition. The Iron Man is a national competition that includes a 2.4-mile swim, a 112-mile bike ride, and a 26-mile marathon—all in the same day.

It's his attitude that gives Fink the energy to keep going, even when he's physically exhausted. There have been times when Fink was tempted to give up his dream of competing in the race, as many people do. There are those who find the going too difficult and simply give up. Many people don't stick with their goals long enough to find out whether they can really achieve them or not. The motivation that keeps you on track and ultimately produces results comes from focusing on a destination, seeing yourself moving through the process, and expecting to achieve positive results. When that attitude of expectation is so strong, it acts as a magnet, keeping us moving forward and on course.

For Fink, the secret is in his "1 percent improvement" plan. The idea for 1 percent improvement came to him when he began running. He spent three years placing in the middle of the pack. Then he decided he really wanted to break into the top three, to hear his name announced and be awarded his medal in front of the cheering crowd. He trained harder than ever for this race, and came in eighth.

At first, he was satisfied because he had, after all, moved up from middle of the pack to the top 10 finishers. But then a few weeks later he sat down and read the actual race results and times. The person who had come in third, which had been Fink's goal, finished the race 1 minute and 40 seconds before Fink. Doing the math, Fink realized that the third place winner was only 1 percent faster than he was.

"I remember asking myself, 'Can I become 1 percent faster?'" he says. "I thought for a few seconds and then answered, 'Of course I can!'"

It is this 1 percent factor that changes a dream into an achievable goal. It may be too great a leap to set a goal of moving from the middle of the pack to third place in one fell swoop, but it's not too great to focus on the steps necessary to improve that tiny increment of 1 percent.

Don Fink has used the 1 percent improvement concept many times since that race to help him stay focused and motivated. "Every time I found a 1 percent improvement, then and only then would I focus on where to find my next 1 percent improvement," he says. "Ask yourself right now, 'Can I perform 1 percent better at my job? Can I be a 1 percent better husband or wife? Can I be a 1 percent better person?' If the answer is yes to any of these questions, write down a list of all the ways you can think of to achieve a 1 percent improvement. Then pick a couple of items from your list and go to work on them."

Perhaps the greatest question of all is, can you make a 1 percent improvement in your attitude? Of course you can.




Diamond Power. Gems of Wisdom From America's Greatest Marketer
Diamond Power: Gems of Wisdom from Americas Greatest Marketer
ISBN: 1564146987
EAN: 2147483647
Year: 2003
Pages: 207
Authors: Barry Farber

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