The 2% Way

Remember this: We were not put on this earth to suffer, although we inevitably will. We were put here to enjoy ourselves. Especially in between those moments of self doubt, adversity or plain unhappiness. Seeking happiness is one part of my life philosophy. The other is to be better. Everyday.

Meet Dr. Myron Rolle, who, thrillingly, shares my point of view. As a kid he could have become a victim of his, self admitted, bad temper and the violence it created. After appearing in court to face charges of assault when he was only eleven years old he panicked that his behavior would result in his family’s deportation back to the Bahamas. A light switch went off and he changed his future.

Dr. Rolle became a Rhodes Scholar. Then a professional football player for the Tennessee Titans and the Pittsburgh Steelers.  And now he’s a neurosurgeon. I learned about Dr. Rolle while waiting in my dentist’s office with only PEOPLE magazine for company. Proof that even unpleasant opportunities (sorry doc) can offer up inspirational experiences.

Whenever I meet or hear about extremely successful people I first experience feelings akin to underachiever syndrome until I start self soothing by emulating their path to success. For Dr. Rolle that required The 2% Percent Way. Which PEOPLE says is his system of “breaking down a larger goal that could seem daunting (like attending medical school or losing 50 pounds) and making it more manageable.” The 2% Way is also the name of his new book, which, of course means that in addition to being an academic, medical and athletic wonder he is also an accomplished author.

PEOPLE magazine points out that “although Rolle’s accomplishments are especially impressive, he believes anyone can use the 2% strategy to get better or work toward something.” He says, “you have small wins every single day, and then a month from now, two months from now, a year from now, you say, look how much better I’ve gotten, and look how much more I’ve improved,”’ says Rolle.

Rolle told TALKS AT GOOGLE that he adopted his 2% Way from one of his college football coaches at Florida State University. “He would challenge me and my teammates everyday to get it just a little bit better,” said Rolle. “ Small increases. Two percent at a time of growth of whatever we did on the field.” Rolle says he took that mindset to heart and transferred it to his life in general.”

“Any chance encounter I had, any book I read, any video I watched I’m trying to grab 2 % of that and apply that to my journey so I stack up these small wins and it gives me the confidence that I am moving forward and doing something good.”

I have never been very good at math, so I cannot calculate exactly what a 2% improvement in my daily life would look but it is such a small number to achieve that I think the theory does offer an incentive to just be a little better each day, which is Rolle’s fundamental point. The importance of the task should not determine the value of it either. Achieving anything simple can provide success and improve your well-being.

For instance, I was visiting a friend in Manhattan who had just moved into a terrific apartment. But because she had a full time job she just had not gotten around to properly decorating it. Over seven hours on a Sunday we redid the whole place together.

Turn around is fair play, isn’t it? I say that in a positive way. I am a big believer in utilizing the talents of friends who can do anything better than me. Like the one friend who helped me plant a garden last Spring. And another who power washed the exterior walkways around my entire house. (Yes, I have great friends). So this was my little contribution towards paying back this friend who had moved me seven different times over my lifetime and had never complained about it once. But, truth be told, I am sure she is probably quite relieved that I seem to have settled down now.

In the end she was thrilled with her new and improved home and admitted that she would have stopped the whole redecorating process after an hour had it been up to her alone. It’s so easy to put off unpleasant tasks, isn’t it? We discussed the 2% way that week-end and she has fully embraced it. We had this text exchange several days after I left New York City. By then she had cleaned out a cupboard, hand washed her carpet with Woolite and booked several trips for the summer.

“I think you might have exceeded your 2% achievement level for the day! I said.

To which she remarked. 

“Ha! Made soup, frittata and roasted vegetables,” as well. 

Show-Off. It seems I am surrounded by them.

I just spoke with a friend who said she had just walked 8 miles. Another who will say YES to almost anything that provides new experiences, like skydiving which she has enthusiastically done. Another friend speaks several languages and has decided to enhance her love of language and the arts by volunteering at a museum. Then there is my 80 year old girlfriend who insists on sporting gorgeous red lipstick and perfectly manicured nails at all times. All are accomplishing, both large and small things, to improve their lives.

Rolle says he does not believe any of us can improve by 100 percent any task we try. But what he does believe is that we can surely commit 100 percent to being just two percent better every day of our lives.