Book Report: One Small Step Can Change Your Life. The Kaizen Way.

by Arianna Campbell, Project Manager, Boomer Consulting, Inc.

Book:  One Small Step Can Change Your Life. The Kaizen Way.
Author: Robert Maurer PhD.

Overview

This book addresses the fears and failure associated with trying to make drastic and dramatic change. Instead of trying to make a huge change all it once, Maurer suggests that taking small steps to achieve your goal will result in longer lasting success. This method is based on a Japanese technique called Kaizen which teaches small steps for continual improvement. He also emphasizes that the step can be extremely small because even the smallest steps will take you closer to your goal. Maurer says, “Kaizen is an effective, enjoyable way to achieve a specific goal, but it also extends a more profound challenge: to meet life’s constant demands for change by seeking out continual – but always small – improvement.”

Top Points

1. Many people are crippled by the belief that innovation is the only way to change.
• Innovation is defined as, “a drastic process of change. Ideally it occurs in a very short period of time, yielding a dramatic turnaround. Innovation is fast and big and flashy; it reaches for the largest result in the smallest amount of time.” 
• Innovation is necessary – it is what drives growth and change, but when it is combined with Kaizen it increases the odds of success.
• “Kaizen Versus Innovation: Kaizen and innovation are the two major strategies people use to create change. Where innovation demands shocking and radical reform, all kaizen asks is that you take small comfortable steps toward improvement."
2. “Ask questions to dispel fear and inspire creativity”
3. “Think small thoughts to develop new skills and habits – without moving a muscle.”
4. “Take small actions that guarantee success.”
5. “Solve small problems even when you are faced with an overwhelming crisis.”
6. “Recognize the small but crucial moments that everyone else ignores.” 

How is this book applicable to our industry?

This book was recommended by Shannon Waller at Strategic Coach during one of our first You x 10 calls. It aligns with the idea of being blinded by the sun or a huge goal. Breaking the goal down into very small steps can make progress more realistic and attainable. 

As we are getting ready for strategic planning it is important to remember that new ideas and seemingly impossible goals should always be encouraged – this is one of the key ways to drive growth. By then breaking the goal down into small steps and defining a reasonable timeline, we can avoid many the small failures that result from fear and feeling overwhelmed. 

I think we have begun to practice this way of thinking more this year. We have taken small steps to improve using the tools that we have and sticking to what we do best. We have shown that identifying small areas for change and following through on those changes can have a large impact.