10x or 1%?

Happy Friday everyone!

At the end of each week I like to review my week, check in with my coaches and then also reflect on my current approach and what I want to do differently next week.

Something that came up for me this week was the 10x vs the 1% approach, triggered by 10x Is Easier Than 2x: How World-Class Entrepreneurs Achieve More by Doing Less by Dan Sullivan 

I haven’t finished reading the book yet so this isn’t my official review yet, it’s just something that came up for me as I read two chapters of the book.

(I also want to say that I will be completely open minded as I implement and test the suggestions in the book.)

Anyway, back to my initial reaction.

The 10x gospel is something I absolutely believe in, because I have experienced it on multiple occasions in my own life.

That said.

I’m also fervent believer in the 1% approach – which is advocated by many people (including atomic habits aficionado, James Clear).

Tiny, incremental improvements, in perpetuity that compound into massive gains and results over time. (I know 2x is not the same as 1%, let’s just pretend for the sake of simplicity, that it is).

So which is it?

10x or 1%?

Or is it something else? Like a combination of the two?

One of the coaches I work with has a methodology which works in 10 day cycles – a handful of 1% non negotiable actions to take every day, and then every 10 days, you take massive action or a big step towards something you’re working on.

In my own life, my combination tends to be seasonal.

A 1% approach in summer, autumn and winter, and then a 10x approach in spring, when I will typically undertake and complete a massive challenge or project (year after year, almost without fail).

You can see the same patterns/dynamic in athletic training too – ie. high intensity interval training, vs zone 2 cardio training that is focused on volume over time.

I know 10x works.

But every time I’ve employed this approach, it has lead me to burnout, so I am reluctant to throw in the 1% towel just yet.

So, as I continue to make my way through this book, I will be interested to see how it answers the question of sustainability – which I consider to be the main advantage of the 1% approach. 

Excited to see what else comes up. I’ll keep you posted!

What approach are you currently taking and is it working for you?