Ten Minutes to Better:
How Small Improvements Compound Over Time
“We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, then, is not an act, but a habit.”
— Aristotle
This idea didn't fully click for me until I saw it with fresh eyes. Sometimes, watching someone else build a habit from scratch makes it obvious.
"Part of your job is to think up one thing to improve how we do our work, every week."
That's the assignment I gave Connor, my helper fresh out of high school and working his first summer job. At the time, I was a building inspector and energy auditor on weekends and needed an extra pair of hands to set up ladders, carry equipment, and capture notes.
"Think through one thing, no matter how small, that will make our work a little better every time."
During my career as a project manager, I developed the habit of taking about ten minutes at the end of each day for a quick personal debrief. I'd think of one small thing I could do better next time. Usually, it was trivial — creating a template for my weekly reports or simply writing down a specific process, including who to call to get something done quickly. I'd done this for so long that I hardly noticed how these minor adjustments had quietly boosted my performance.
That is, until the end of that first summer working with Connor.
Connor had a rough start, partly because I assumed too much about what he'd know coming into the job. I’d grown up around construction, forgetting how many "basics" weren't obvious to someone fresh out of high school. Connor reminded me of this the hard way by stepping through a ceiling—he genuinely didn't realize drywall wouldn’t hold him—and later by accidentally scratching a client’s beautiful walnut floor. His intentions were great, and he was eager to learn, but our early days definitely tested both of our patience.
But by the end of that summer, Connor had transformed our workflow. We went from spending 6 hours per site down to less than 3, with better outcomes for each client. He took the assignment seriously, bringing a beginner's mind to the job. At first, he focused on improvements he could handle himself. Soon, he began identifying small things I could also do better. Little changes started compounding quickly.
I call this the ratchet effect. Imagine an old-fashioned car jack, steadily clicking upward as you turn the handle—small improvements locking into place, slowly and reliably lifting your performance baseline inch by inch. This approach had quietly shifted my own career from handling small local projects to managing global, multi-company efforts. A new template one day, a minor process tweak the next, an escalation contact list published the day after—these incremental gains added up far more effectively than just grinding harder ever did.
But here's my AHA! moment: Why limit this powerful practice only to work?
I've learned to reserve about ten minutes every day, not just for career reflection, but to think of one small thing I can do to improve my overall life. It could be becoming a better writer, strengthening finances, improving health, enhancing family relationships, or increasing joy and community involvement. Small, daily improvements create a real sense of progress and fulfillment.
Now that I'm retired, career advancement isn't my driving force anymore. Instead, I'm applying this same habit of small, daily improvements toward thriving in other essential parts of my life—my health, family relationships, finances, community involvement, and personal joy. Small adjustments might seem insignificant, but I've seen firsthand how powerfully they add up over time. I'm recommitting myself to this daily habit and adding it formally to my calendar:
First thing: Eat the frog—tackle the most challenging task.
Second thing: Do the necessary maintenance to keep life balanced.
Third thing: Everything else.
Last thing: Conduct my daily review and identify one small improvement for tomorrow.
Thinking back to Connor reminds me how surprisingly effective fresh eyes and small, consistent actions can be. If you're reading this, consider setting aside just ten minutes today to think of one tiny, simple, doable way to improve. Then, try it again tomorrow. You might be surprised at how far those tiny changes take you.