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The 1% Rule: How to Fall in Love with the Process and Achieve Your Wildest Dreams
In a highlight reel, microwave world — you're led to believe success is right around the
It's not working.Not only is it not working with your ability to achieve your goals, we've never been more frustrated, stuck, stressed and unfulfilled.
Most personal development is all about the big and bold vision, yet these days we're not missing ambition or dreamers...
We're missing results and execution.But what if there was a way to shut off the noise, fall in love with the process and take one step forward every single day as you paint your life's masterpiece?
Enter The 1% Rule — a daily system designed to help you close the gap without the crushing pressure that has kept you stuck in the past.The 1% Rule was designed to answer three core
Why do some people seem to achieve massive success with everything they do — while others can't seem to get out of their own way?
What separates those who get excited and inspired for a season, a quarter or a few months — and those who are consistently on fire? What are the mindsets, principles, routines and behaviors of those who execute daily, and those who sit on the sidelines pondering?...through answering these questions over the last decade in the trenches with thousands of people — they are now the framework of The 1% Rule and are yours today.
It's time to take your power back, grab your copy now.If you're ready to ditch the highlight reel illusion...
If you're tired of sitting on the sidlines waiting...
If you're frustrated with the 24/7 noise...
You've come to the right place!
It's not working.Not only is it not working with your ability to achieve your goals, we've never been more frustrated, stuck, stressed and unfulfilled.
Most personal development is all about the big and bold vision, yet these days we're not missing ambition or dreamers...
We're missing results and execution.But what if there was a way to shut off the noise, fall in love with the process and take one step forward every single day as you paint your life's masterpiece?
Enter The 1% Rule — a daily system designed to help you close the gap without the crushing pressure that has kept you stuck in the past.The 1% Rule was designed to answer three core
Why do some people seem to achieve massive success with everything they do — while others can't seem to get out of their own way?
What separates those who get excited and inspired for a season, a quarter or a few months — and those who are consistently on fire? What are the mindsets, principles, routines and behaviors of those who execute daily, and those who sit on the sidelines pondering?...through answering these questions over the last decade in the trenches with thousands of people — they are now the framework of The 1% Rule and are yours today.
It's time to take your power back, grab your copy now.If you're ready to ditch the highlight reel illusion...
If you're tired of sitting on the sidlines waiting...
If you're frustrated with the 24/7 noise...
You've come to the right place!
292 pages, Kindle Edition
First published February 20, 2018
1244 people are currently reading
4987 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 107 reviews
June 27, 2019
The Good - Tommy Baker does an excellent job compiling a number of very good resources and ideas together in an easy to follow and apply book. The writing is easy to digest and is written in a straight forward manner. This is the book for the person who knows they should be doing more, but can't seem to close the distance between wishing and doing.
I was skeptical at first. I've read many similar books and listened to many similar podcasts. After a while, all the content tends to merge into one big glop of sound bites and feel goods. But, The 1% Rule is different. It's clear, concise, and practical.
The Okay - In as many aspects as it is different than other business & self-help books, it is essentially the same. The ideas aren't terribly unique and the quotes aren't terribly original.
The title sounds scammy and the caption sounds gimmicky. However, the content is powerful. The principles are timeless. The problems described are real.
Overall - 10/10 recommend. It's a great read and it's hard to go wrong. The 1% rule is both easy to understand and logical to implement (I'm going to start tonight). If you like this book, I would recommend The One Thing by Gary Keller. It has similar themes.
I was skeptical at first. I've read many similar books and listened to many similar podcasts. After a while, all the content tends to merge into one big glop of sound bites and feel goods. But, The 1% Rule is different. It's clear, concise, and practical.
The Okay - In as many aspects as it is different than other business & self-help books, it is essentially the same. The ideas aren't terribly unique and the quotes aren't terribly original.
The title sounds scammy and the caption sounds gimmicky. However, the content is powerful. The principles are timeless. The problems described are real.
Overall - 10/10 recommend. It's a great read and it's hard to go wrong. The 1% rule is both easy to understand and logical to implement (I'm going to start tonight). If you like this book, I would recommend The One Thing by Gary Keller. It has similar themes.
April 1, 2018
Highly motivating, but very repetitive
Book started off slowly, the middle was good, but I struggled to finish it because of too much repetition. It does reflect well that most people go through life aimlessly and fail to achieve anything.
Book started off slowly, the middle was good, but I struggled to finish it because of too much repetition. It does reflect well that most people go through life aimlessly and fail to achieve anything.
May 22, 2018
Worth a read
I liked the overall premise of the book, however the title is a little misleading. It's a summarised view of many self help books and seminars, but in its intent to cover width, perhaps the depth got lost
I liked the overall premise of the book, however the title is a little misleading. It's a summarised view of many self help books and seminars, but in its intent to cover width, perhaps the depth got lost
February 29, 2020
I've gained nothing from this book. The 1% rule has been discussed by other writers and motivational speakers alike. The rule, here, is the same-keep improving by 1% every day. Work on yourself, and don't lose momentum once you've started improving on a the daily. It's hard to do, but we can all do it. This is basically the gist of the book. It's nothing new. And for the most part it continually regurgitated ideas from other books and ideas from other powerful YouTube speakers. This book is nothing but the succinct combination of ideas that is too complicated when you are just starting out.
Imagine that I told you to use the Law of Attraction, but then I want you to use the 1% and oh, don't forget about the 12 week year, and also remember that habits are part of the game. And yes, try to make your bed every morning, it will greatly improve your day. Also, please don't forget about the 5 second rule.... blah-blah.
No one can consume and put all of this into practice if they are new to self development. I'm a vet when it comes to these books. I would have given it a 1 star, just because of difficulty to implement into a daily routine. But the 3 stars is generous for the reason that it does give you the starting points you need to change your life and improve.
My personal opinion is that you read a book that focuses on one thing. Try that one thing, and then pick up another book and try that. Work from there.
Imagine that I told you to use the Law of Attraction, but then I want you to use the 1% and oh, don't forget about the 12 week year, and also remember that habits are part of the game. And yes, try to make your bed every morning, it will greatly improve your day. Also, please don't forget about the 5 second rule.... blah-blah.
No one can consume and put all of this into practice if they are new to self development. I'm a vet when it comes to these books. I would have given it a 1 star, just because of difficulty to implement into a daily routine. But the 3 stars is generous for the reason that it does give you the starting points you need to change your life and improve.
My personal opinion is that you read a book that focuses on one thing. Try that one thing, and then pick up another book and try that. Work from there.
July 12, 2018
I did fall in love with the process
Well written, straight to the point!. This book lets you understand some basic principles that keeps you away from really achieving results.
Well written, straight to the point!. This book lets you understand some basic principles that keeps you away from really achieving results.
December 9, 2018
For me the book wasn't of too much value. I already knew the things mentioned there.
The book consists of 14 chapters. In the first half of the book the author repeatedly says that what we perceive as success is not instant and is always a result of the hard boring long-term resistance-filled work and without it you have no chance of getting there. It's a mistake to compare yourselves to the end result. Instead it's better to get focused on small everyday things and get inspired by the greatest power - perceived progress.
He mentions that it's crucial to stop being afraid of unknown and see it as an exciting thing (this holds back many people).
The second part is more about practical steps. As the first step he suggests putting a bold goal with a deadline of 90 days and completely focus on it.
In the end there are some practical recommendations regarding sample goals you can set if you're out of ideas and some techniques to release stress (Primal yell, full-force sprint...)
Author tries to add some interactivity by adding forms where you should write e.g. your current energy level or some example from your life related what you just read.
____________________
____________________
____________________
Resume: (with some generalizing) this book is primarily targeted for a classical "American Dream" achievers. For Europeans it will look a little too tryhard. For the rest of the world in may look a bit naive considering how dangerous the resistance you get on your way may be.
The book consists of 14 chapters. In the first half of the book the author repeatedly says that what we perceive as success is not instant and is always a result of the hard boring long-term resistance-filled work and without it you have no chance of getting there. It's a mistake to compare yourselves to the end result. Instead it's better to get focused on small everyday things and get inspired by the greatest power - perceived progress.
He mentions that it's crucial to stop being afraid of unknown and see it as an exciting thing (this holds back many people).
The second part is more about practical steps. As the first step he suggests putting a bold goal with a deadline of 90 days and completely focus on it.
In the end there are some practical recommendations regarding sample goals you can set if you're out of ideas and some techniques to release stress (Primal yell, full-force sprint...)
Author tries to add some interactivity by adding forms where you should write e.g. your current energy level or some example from your life related what you just read.
____________________
____________________
____________________
Resume: (with some generalizing) this book is primarily targeted for a classical "American Dream" achievers. For Europeans it will look a little too tryhard. For the rest of the world in may look a bit naive considering how dangerous the resistance you get on your way may be.
January 15, 2022
There might be some good nuggets of advice here, but if so, it's buried in a lot of very repetitive "hype". Most of the book seems to be telling you how great the program is and why you need it, and very little on the nuts and bolts of how to implement the process - or even what the process really is.
Read
March 7, 2020Great read on the power of steady, persistent, consistent progress through action done over time to achieve our goals in life. The easiest part is deciding the start, the hardest part is facing the second day. A simple but very relevant and powerful message.
June 14, 2022
This is a great book. However, I would recommend reading Atomic Habits before reading the 1% rule.
March 29, 2023
One of the best books I've read really gets you in the fighting spirit
April 18, 2019
Not to bad... A little "rah rah hype train" at times but still a couple of decent take away's. I do think there are other books which have done a better job.
April 18, 2018
I can see why this book is so popular: it's filled with simple, common sense, tips and rules that we need to be remembered of... every day. It's a light read, but can be very fruitful. Try it!
January 8, 2019
I bought this book in the midst of a season where I felt ashamed for not being more ahead in life and not knowing how to move forward. I would recommend this book for persons who are serious about moving forward. People who don’t want a magic potion but real and simple ways to move forward in life. One of the aspects of his book that I love is the teaching of loving the process not just the outcome. I do appreciate the reflective questions at the end of the chapters. I bought the audiobook and would highly recommend it as well.
April 10, 2024
Mostly heavily recycled material with a somewhat weak attempt to add a novelty take on things already said by dozens of other authors. He continually just says how it should be, there's little to say or show how to put these recycled ideas into use.
November 4, 2020
Should have been a blog post - this is a review of several concepts across self-help books / seminars with very little practical advice. Yikes, not for me.
June 4, 2025
The author talks about the value of compounding. When you make progress, it inspires you to make more progress. This was also seen in the diaries of knowledge workers. I agree with that. Small steps build momentum.
The author says New Year's resolutions don’t work well. People expect grand gestures to bring change, but real progress comes from daily habits. I agree. I’ve been making yearly goals for 3 years now. The first time, I wrote them after half of the year had passed. The second time, in January or February. The third time, in February again. Although I missed deciding my annual goals before the year started, I’m fine with all of these. I focus on 1% improvements, no matter when I start.
The author says if you improve by 1% every day, it adds up to 365% a year. I find that a bit unrealistic. Usually, when we say 1% better every day, we mean compound growth. Not linear.
I followed the book's activity and scored myself on a scale of 1 to 10 (excluding 7) in these areas:
Health, vitality, well-being
Business, income, impact, influence
Relationships, connections
Spiritual, higher sense of purpose
That helped me identify areas for improvement.
The author suggests a few steps to follow the 1% rule.
One is to track progress using metrics.
Another is to celebrate small wins.
My take: I already track my progress. I’m good at building small, daily habits. But I haven’t thought about celebrating progress. I’ll think about how to do that.
The author says doing something daily is easier than doing it occasionally. I agree. I try to shape my goals into daily actions.
They also suggest starting with 20-minute focus sessions. I already do that using the Pomodoro technique every day.
The author warns: if you don’t fill your day with high-priority tasks, others will fill it with low-priority ones. That hit home.
They made me reflect:
How clear am I about my goals?
How committed am I to them?
I worry I might be setting only 1% higher goals, instead of having a big motivating vision. Is that ok?
These 3 questions stood out:
What’s my current level of expectations for my life?
What’s my commitment to that?
What’s one gap between my commitment and my expectations?
For me, one gap is that I get distracted during work or in the evenings when I end up surfing YouTube on my laptop. I need to stay focused for longer stretches of time.
Another gap is about family. I want to feel more emotionally connected with them. For that, I need to be more efficient during the week so that I can have more free time on weekends with my family.
One thing I can do right now to show commitment: speed up my workout. I’m already exercising—might as well push a little harder.
The author says we should have a crystal-clear vision. But I don’t fully agree. Life keeps offering new, unexpected opportunities. Things change every year or even every month. So I’ve tried creating a vision, but I’m not sure if it’s the ultimate answer. For example in Designing Your Life: Build a Life that Works for You
I do like the advice to not over-plan. Don’t aim for perfect analysis—it can lead to paralysis. Instead, focus on the next small thing. Just do the 1% improvement you can do today.
The author echoes advice from Four Thousand Weeks by Oliver Burkeman: we live like we have infinite time, but our lives are limited. Another point I liked: everyone’s too busy thinking about themselves to worry about what you’re doing. So don’t hold back out of fear of what others might think.
The author talks about being seriously ill with yellow fever and focusing on one thing. It reminded me of the approach in SuperBetter by Jane McGonigal. In tough times, clarity can come from narrowing your focus.
Another good prompt:
What’s your sense of urgency toward your goals?
For me, it’s low. I believe in slow, stress-free growth. But maybe I’m spreading myself too thin across too many things because I’m okay with each one going slow. That is something I need to rethink.
One thing I didn’t like: the book glamorizes sacrificing sleep and chasing big goals. I used to believe in that. But after reading Four Thousand Weeks, I no longer do. So those parts of the book didn’t resonate with me.
Overall, the book had a 2 out of 5 impact on me. I already knew many of the productivity and habit ideas. And the rest didn’t match how I now think about life and work.
The author says New Year's resolutions don’t work well. People expect grand gestures to bring change, but real progress comes from daily habits. I agree. I’ve been making yearly goals for 3 years now. The first time, I wrote them after half of the year had passed. The second time, in January or February. The third time, in February again. Although I missed deciding my annual goals before the year started, I’m fine with all of these. I focus on 1% improvements, no matter when I start.
The author says if you improve by 1% every day, it adds up to 365% a year. I find that a bit unrealistic. Usually, when we say 1% better every day, we mean compound growth. Not linear.
I followed the book's activity and scored myself on a scale of 1 to 10 (excluding 7) in these areas:
Health, vitality, well-being
Business, income, impact, influence
Relationships, connections
Spiritual, higher sense of purpose
That helped me identify areas for improvement.
The author suggests a few steps to follow the 1% rule.
One is to track progress using metrics.
Another is to celebrate small wins.
My take: I already track my progress. I’m good at building small, daily habits. But I haven’t thought about celebrating progress. I’ll think about how to do that.
The author says doing something daily is easier than doing it occasionally. I agree. I try to shape my goals into daily actions.
They also suggest starting with 20-minute focus sessions. I already do that using the Pomodoro technique every day.
The author warns: if you don’t fill your day with high-priority tasks, others will fill it with low-priority ones. That hit home.
They made me reflect:
How clear am I about my goals?
How committed am I to them?
I worry I might be setting only 1% higher goals, instead of having a big motivating vision. Is that ok?
These 3 questions stood out:
What’s my current level of expectations for my life?
What’s my commitment to that?
What’s one gap between my commitment and my expectations?
For me, one gap is that I get distracted during work or in the evenings when I end up surfing YouTube on my laptop. I need to stay focused for longer stretches of time.
Another gap is about family. I want to feel more emotionally connected with them. For that, I need to be more efficient during the week so that I can have more free time on weekends with my family.
One thing I can do right now to show commitment: speed up my workout. I’m already exercising—might as well push a little harder.
The author says we should have a crystal-clear vision. But I don’t fully agree. Life keeps offering new, unexpected opportunities. Things change every year or even every month. So I’ve tried creating a vision, but I’m not sure if it’s the ultimate answer. For example in Designing Your Life: Build a Life that Works for You
I do like the advice to not over-plan. Don’t aim for perfect analysis—it can lead to paralysis. Instead, focus on the next small thing. Just do the 1% improvement you can do today.
The author echoes advice from Four Thousand Weeks by Oliver Burkeman: we live like we have infinite time, but our lives are limited. Another point I liked: everyone’s too busy thinking about themselves to worry about what you’re doing. So don’t hold back out of fear of what others might think.
The author talks about being seriously ill with yellow fever and focusing on one thing. It reminded me of the approach in SuperBetter by Jane McGonigal. In tough times, clarity can come from narrowing your focus.
Another good prompt:
What’s your sense of urgency toward your goals?
For me, it’s low. I believe in slow, stress-free growth. But maybe I’m spreading myself too thin across too many things because I’m okay with each one going slow. That is something I need to rethink.
One thing I didn’t like: the book glamorizes sacrificing sleep and chasing big goals. I used to believe in that. But after reading Four Thousand Weeks, I no longer do. So those parts of the book didn’t resonate with me.
Overall, the book had a 2 out of 5 impact on me. I already knew many of the productivity and habit ideas. And the rest didn’t match how I now think about life and work.
November 20, 2022
Points i agree with and the things worth applying from this book -
1 > To achieve overnight success will require a decade of consistency.
2>Fall in love with the process , Doing it every single day.
3> Best actionable advice in book -
Pomodoro and Big rock breakdown about Identifying core outcome, core process and 1% process
Points i disagree with -
1 >Writer seems like saying that a person must weather a lot of pain to achieve his / her goal. writer gives an example of someone pursuing most difficult experiences in the world called the bad water ultramarathon and he kept going even when he was not feeling well and in the end after finishing the marathon, he started urinating dark dirt brown. The writer called this endurance to the utmost degree, and this is wrong, when health is falling its sign to relax if you keep going it can harm you greatly, writer is wrong here.
2> writer says about resistance-
" This is where the reframe occurs. When you experience resistance, laugh at it. Smile at it. See it for what it is—a sign you’re growing."
Not always true similar to the topic of the marathon it mentioned, sometime resistance can be sign that you should rest.
3>write says-
"
the moment you discharge the power of what you’re doing with laughter and humor, you win. No longer will it hold this mystical power over you. You’ll be able to execute on command and turn it into a game."
he is wrong again, the change won't happen at a moment, people won't be able to execute on command all the time, it can happen but not always.
4>Writer lectures a lot about letting go then says -
" With that said, you must be able to tap into your why in a way that brings tears to your eyes."
The writer seems to have convinced himself or maybe he is trying to convince others that ooo you got to be hyper emotional or you wont be successful ,being sincere in your effort doesn't means that you have to be hyper emotinal about it
5 >Writer says -
" Accountability is the reason you show up at the gym at 5:00 a.m. when every voice in your mind is telling you to sleep in.
Accountability is the reason you finish the last 200 words after an exhausting day, because you committed to finishing your book.
Accountability is why you hire the crucial team member in four weeks and not four months, because you’re reporting back to someone daily."
writer here due to his own internalized beliefs and spending maybe a lot of money on motivation events thinks accountability must means pain, no it doesn't, you can be accountable with ought having any pain associated with it.
6> writer says -
"Accountability requites Physical, Mental, Emotional, Financial forms of investment, if you are missing one of these, your accountability system is doomed to fail."
he is wrong, again,you can be accountable without investing financially, it seems like writer struggles with being accountable and assumes everyone else does too
My review -
All the stars i am giving it is for Pomodoro and Big rock breakdown about Identifying core outcome, core process and 1% process - These are the best points mentioned in the book.
Is this book better than The Slight Edge , no i don't think so ,but still you can learn and achieve alot by applying the sections which mentioned big rock breakdown and pomodoro.
1 > To achieve overnight success will require a decade of consistency.
2>Fall in love with the process , Doing it every single day.
3> Best actionable advice in book -
Pomodoro and Big rock breakdown about Identifying core outcome, core process and 1% process
Points i disagree with -
1 >Writer seems like saying that a person must weather a lot of pain to achieve his / her goal. writer gives an example of someone pursuing most difficult experiences in the world called the bad water ultramarathon and he kept going even when he was not feeling well and in the end after finishing the marathon, he started urinating dark dirt brown. The writer called this endurance to the utmost degree, and this is wrong, when health is falling its sign to relax if you keep going it can harm you greatly, writer is wrong here.
2> writer says about resistance-
" This is where the reframe occurs. When you experience resistance, laugh at it. Smile at it. See it for what it is—a sign you’re growing."
Not always true similar to the topic of the marathon it mentioned, sometime resistance can be sign that you should rest.
3>write says-
"
the moment you discharge the power of what you’re doing with laughter and humor, you win. No longer will it hold this mystical power over you. You’ll be able to execute on command and turn it into a game."
he is wrong again, the change won't happen at a moment, people won't be able to execute on command all the time, it can happen but not always.
4>Writer lectures a lot about letting go then says -
" With that said, you must be able to tap into your why in a way that brings tears to your eyes."
The writer seems to have convinced himself or maybe he is trying to convince others that ooo you got to be hyper emotional or you wont be successful ,being sincere in your effort doesn't means that you have to be hyper emotinal about it
5 >Writer says -
" Accountability is the reason you show up at the gym at 5:00 a.m. when every voice in your mind is telling you to sleep in.
Accountability is the reason you finish the last 200 words after an exhausting day, because you committed to finishing your book.
Accountability is why you hire the crucial team member in four weeks and not four months, because you’re reporting back to someone daily."
writer here due to his own internalized beliefs and spending maybe a lot of money on motivation events thinks accountability must means pain, no it doesn't, you can be accountable with ought having any pain associated with it.
6> writer says -
"Accountability requites Physical, Mental, Emotional, Financial forms of investment, if you are missing one of these, your accountability system is doomed to fail."
he is wrong, again,you can be accountable without investing financially, it seems like writer struggles with being accountable and assumes everyone else does too
My review -
All the stars i am giving it is for Pomodoro and Big rock breakdown about Identifying core outcome, core process and 1% process - These are the best points mentioned in the book.
Is this book better than The Slight Edge , no i don't think so ,but still you can learn and achieve alot by applying the sections which mentioned big rock breakdown and pomodoro.
December 24, 2024
I do not typically read self-help/self-improvement books, so The 1% Rule is a bit of an odd choice for me, which I ended up reading because of a Kindle promo. This book contains some interesting ideas and directly applicable calls to action, still it has yet again confirmed that the genre is not for me.
The book starts off with a relatively long introduction during which the author takes his time pointing out how great and effective the unique methodology he developed is without really getting to the point. After this seemingly endless introduction of insolent self-praise, Baker explains his concept which is built upon continual progress that utilizes the compound force of taking many small steps to eventually achieve seemingly unreachable goals. Consistency and self-discipline are key, so one should ditch social media and focus on what is important instead. Honestly, none of this is groundbreaking material.
While I do believe in the power of many small actions effecting major change in the long run, the way Baker tries to present this notion as a completely new finding in an incredibly self-congratulatory fashion is almost pathetic.
Despite the fact Baker explicitly states that this is not the case, his views are the epitome of hustle culture as he urges his readers to reject everything that does not serve their “vision” all under the guise of working continual progress towards achieving long-term goals. This means ditching everything and everyone that does not serve you. I think this is both a very selfish and kind of unhealthy view. Visiting your grandma does not serve your goals? Stop doing it. Just ditch any long-term friends or, better yet, all ties to the past in order to become who you want to be in the future. I understand the need to take drastic measures to achieve drastic change, but I think his views are extreme. At the same time, he glorifies one very specific lifestyle, i.e. get up at four a.m. and hustle without diversions, as the only acceptable one which readers must emulate if they wish to become successful. To make manners worse, all of this is presented in an extremely arrogant manner, with Baker not missing any opportunities to point out just how great he thinks he is.
Although The 1% Rule contains some useful ideas, I think it is far from the life-changing read the author makes it out to be. There are some useful resources in the annex, so I’m rounding up to 2 stars from 1.5.
The book starts off with a relatively long introduction during which the author takes his time pointing out how great and effective the unique methodology he developed is without really getting to the point. After this seemingly endless introduction of insolent self-praise, Baker explains his concept which is built upon continual progress that utilizes the compound force of taking many small steps to eventually achieve seemingly unreachable goals. Consistency and self-discipline are key, so one should ditch social media and focus on what is important instead. Honestly, none of this is groundbreaking material.
While I do believe in the power of many small actions effecting major change in the long run, the way Baker tries to present this notion as a completely new finding in an incredibly self-congratulatory fashion is almost pathetic.
Despite the fact Baker explicitly states that this is not the case, his views are the epitome of hustle culture as he urges his readers to reject everything that does not serve their “vision” all under the guise of working continual progress towards achieving long-term goals. This means ditching everything and everyone that does not serve you. I think this is both a very selfish and kind of unhealthy view. Visiting your grandma does not serve your goals? Stop doing it. Just ditch any long-term friends or, better yet, all ties to the past in order to become who you want to be in the future. I understand the need to take drastic measures to achieve drastic change, but I think his views are extreme. At the same time, he glorifies one very specific lifestyle, i.e. get up at four a.m. and hustle without diversions, as the only acceptable one which readers must emulate if they wish to become successful. To make manners worse, all of this is presented in an extremely arrogant manner, with Baker not missing any opportunities to point out just how great he thinks he is.
Although The 1% Rule contains some useful ideas, I think it is far from the life-changing read the author makes it out to be. There are some useful resources in the annex, so I’m rounding up to 2 stars from 1.5.
August 10, 2018
I won this book for free through Goodreads Giveaways. Thank to you Goodreads, Tommy Baker, and Archangel Ink for a copy of the book. As always, an honest review.
The 1% Rule is all about the process of achieving your goals, your big dreams, the wildest possibilities. First of all the author is very motivational, which you want in a business self help type book. He truly inspired me to start making more positive changes in my life. But even better, most of the book centers around practical steps to make your big dreams a possibility.
I loved that he focused on breaking everything down into small daily steps to hold yourself accountable. It will be different for each person, since each person's goal and process is unique. The emphasis is on putting in the mundane, necessary hard work each day. Over time the results will at least add up, if not compound on each other. The process makes absolute sense yet many books don't focus on this. I also appreciated the focus on doing what works for you and not worrying what other people think. I also loved the little trick the author uses to keep motivated. Makes complete sense and is incredibly helpful when you get in a slump.
Even with all these amazing aspects, at times it felt a bit much. It's definitely a book for highly motivated people who will stop at nothing to make their dreams a reality. I prefer, and actually require, a bit more balance and calmness in my life.
However, I've already implemented changes in my daily routine based on the author's suggestions in the book. Keeping myself accountable and putting in consistent daily work towards my book blog. And I've already seen small improvements. The 1% Rule is a self help book geared towards business that might actually help you get where you want to go.
The 1% Rule is all about the process of achieving your goals, your big dreams, the wildest possibilities. First of all the author is very motivational, which you want in a business self help type book. He truly inspired me to start making more positive changes in my life. But even better, most of the book centers around practical steps to make your big dreams a possibility.
I loved that he focused on breaking everything down into small daily steps to hold yourself accountable. It will be different for each person, since each person's goal and process is unique. The emphasis is on putting in the mundane, necessary hard work each day. Over time the results will at least add up, if not compound on each other. The process makes absolute sense yet many books don't focus on this. I also appreciated the focus on doing what works for you and not worrying what other people think. I also loved the little trick the author uses to keep motivated. Makes complete sense and is incredibly helpful when you get in a slump.
Even with all these amazing aspects, at times it felt a bit much. It's definitely a book for highly motivated people who will stop at nothing to make their dreams a reality. I prefer, and actually require, a bit more balance and calmness in my life.
However, I've already implemented changes in my daily routine based on the author's suggestions in the book. Keeping myself accountable and putting in consistent daily work towards my book blog. And I've already seen small improvements. The 1% Rule is a self help book geared towards business that might actually help you get where you want to go.
August 29, 2020
End of Week 22: Book📘 22 Completed😊: The 1% Rule by – Tommy Baker #Read2lead #myread4change #read4life
As much as WHY is important, not having “HOW TO” or taking long to find “HOW TO” often fizzles why and we start questioning our why as well.
If you have ever set a goal, started something new, decided to change some habits and fizzled out in few days, week, or month. You will know the feeling. You might have best of intention and burning desire, yet we opt out of things at the slightest sign of discomfort
Author claims this often happens due to GAP between expectation and commitment to work it entails. We live in a world where we are constantly fed news of overnight success which makes it further more difficult to put in the work. As nobody shows decade of work went in for overnight success.
Few great 📌lines/quotes from the book –
1) You will become way less concerned with what other people think of you when you realize how seldom they do.” - David Foster Wallace
2) Adversity is not only part of the equation, but a gift and a test designed to see how committed you are to your goals.
3) If you don’t fill your day with high-priority items, others will fill your day with low-priority items.
4) Belief is cultivated, it is exercised. Much like a muscle, it can grow or contract every single day.
5) Work expands so as to fill the time available for its completion - C. Northcote Parkinson
6) Persistent is the key factor that help us surf through process when high initial excitement is worn off.
As much as WHY is important, not having “HOW TO” or taking long to find “HOW TO” often fizzles why and we start questioning our why as well.
If you have ever set a goal, started something new, decided to change some habits and fizzled out in few days, week, or month. You will know the feeling. You might have best of intention and burning desire, yet we opt out of things at the slightest sign of discomfort
Author claims this often happens due to GAP between expectation and commitment to work it entails. We live in a world where we are constantly fed news of overnight success which makes it further more difficult to put in the work. As nobody shows decade of work went in for overnight success.
Few great 📌lines/quotes from the book –
1) You will become way less concerned with what other people think of you when you realize how seldom they do.” - David Foster Wallace
2) Adversity is not only part of the equation, but a gift and a test designed to see how committed you are to your goals.
3) If you don’t fill your day with high-priority items, others will fill your day with low-priority items.
4) Belief is cultivated, it is exercised. Much like a muscle, it can grow or contract every single day.
5) Work expands so as to fill the time available for its completion - C. Northcote Parkinson
6) Persistent is the key factor that help us surf through process when high initial excitement is worn off.
September 12, 2019
A much more action oriented self-help book than most
This is a short book, a bit too focused on the author’s own story. But I rate the no-nonsense, get on with it ethos of the book.
It coaches you to identify a vision which truly inspires you, and challenges you to build yourself an urgency and accountability to actually get on with it, by doing one thing a day that takes you closer to that vision.
Reading the book is exciting. As you jot down the steps which will take you closer to your dream, you feel that dream coming closer. It is not that the steps are surprising (I want to be a bestselling author, so - duh - writing 200 words a day of my book is a good idea). The difference is that you feel yourself committing to those steps. You plan for the things which will get in the way of that process and you accept that there are times when you are going to feel really rubbish about your goal, and yourself for even trying. But you know that the trick to success is not talent, but persisting when all is dreadful, and eventually, you’ll achieve that dream.
This is a short book, a bit too focused on the author’s own story. But I rate the no-nonsense, get on with it ethos of the book.
It coaches you to identify a vision which truly inspires you, and challenges you to build yourself an urgency and accountability to actually get on with it, by doing one thing a day that takes you closer to that vision.
Reading the book is exciting. As you jot down the steps which will take you closer to your dream, you feel that dream coming closer. It is not that the steps are surprising (I want to be a bestselling author, so - duh - writing 200 words a day of my book is a good idea). The difference is that you feel yourself committing to those steps. You plan for the things which will get in the way of that process and you accept that there are times when you are going to feel really rubbish about your goal, and yourself for even trying. But you know that the trick to success is not talent, but persisting when all is dreadful, and eventually, you’ll achieve that dream.
October 19, 2019
How many hours a day do you spend on things that can change your life for the better?
Do you spend enough or not enough time and how do you track the time?
I recently read "The One Percent Rule" by Tommy Baker and it made me look at this question and gave me some tools to evaluate "time" and some ways to move forward and track progress toward goals.
I have committed to using journaling and tracking tools to maintain focus and track metrics, but I was missing some fundamental tools to create a routine and stay motivated.
Some of the headings Tommy uses are; Rule, Code, Blueprint, and Vision. All of these are topics for future blog posts.
I won't go into the details now but two of my big takeaways were his thoughts on "Love the Process" and "Track Your Metrics".
It is a quick read and also available in an executive summary style.
Do you spend enough or not enough time and how do you track the time?
I recently read "The One Percent Rule" by Tommy Baker and it made me look at this question and gave me some tools to evaluate "time" and some ways to move forward and track progress toward goals.
I have committed to using journaling and tracking tools to maintain focus and track metrics, but I was missing some fundamental tools to create a routine and stay motivated.
Some of the headings Tommy uses are; Rule, Code, Blueprint, and Vision. All of these are topics for future blog posts.
I won't go into the details now but two of my big takeaways were his thoughts on "Love the Process" and "Track Your Metrics".
It is a quick read and also available in an executive summary style.
February 29, 2020
I started reading The 1% rule after I heard about it from Thomas Frank.
Frankly (pun slightly intended), I feel like a lot of the information in the book is the stuff that already circles around the self-help and personal development communities. With that being said, it gives a really nice overview of the mindsets and limiting believes (the so called Myths) that most people nowadays tend to harbor, and I quite enjoyed that part and got the most value from it.
I also feel like the 1% principle coincides quite a bit with The Compound Effect by Darren Hardy, so that could be a nice follow up read.
There is certainly a lot to be gained through this principle, so I thoroughly recommend this book mostly to people more on the beginner side of PD, but also to veterans who feel like they could use a bit of myth and limiting believes busting mindsets.
Frankly (pun slightly intended), I feel like a lot of the information in the book is the stuff that already circles around the self-help and personal development communities. With that being said, it gives a really nice overview of the mindsets and limiting believes (the so called Myths) that most people nowadays tend to harbor, and I quite enjoyed that part and got the most value from it.
I also feel like the 1% principle coincides quite a bit with The Compound Effect by Darren Hardy, so that could be a nice follow up read.
There is certainly a lot to be gained through this principle, so I thoroughly recommend this book mostly to people more on the beginner side of PD, but also to veterans who feel like they could use a bit of myth and limiting believes busting mindsets.
January 31, 2024
I loved this book!!!!
I am a certified self help junkie. I recognized a few techniques from books I've read before. The difference is, this book has shown me how to put it all together and get some actual work done!! No need to be disappointed because I'm procrastinating or got bored. I now know how to push past that. Don't let anyone tell you not to continue building yourself. You are truly worth it. We really think we can do it all. Accountability partners, coaches and Mentors are necessary. I truly see this now. I've known it, but thought I was disciplined enough to get things done on my own.
As he states in the book, our time here is finite. We need to do our very best for us, our gifts and talents can help the next person.
This was a good read. I am applying the techniques already. I feel lighter. Thank you Tommy Baker for sharing your gift with us.
I am a certified self help junkie. I recognized a few techniques from books I've read before. The difference is, this book has shown me how to put it all together and get some actual work done!! No need to be disappointed because I'm procrastinating or got bored. I now know how to push past that. Don't let anyone tell you not to continue building yourself. You are truly worth it. We really think we can do it all. Accountability partners, coaches and Mentors are necessary. I truly see this now. I've known it, but thought I was disciplined enough to get things done on my own.
As he states in the book, our time here is finite. We need to do our very best for us, our gifts and talents can help the next person.
This was a good read. I am applying the techniques already. I feel lighter. Thank you Tommy Baker for sharing your gift with us.
January 6, 2020
The author feels genuine, passionate, and experienced and I was attracted to the book from following 'The Process', coined by Bill Belichick, John Wooden, etc. There are a few key points I was able to take away from the book including accountability, urgency, doing things daily. However, I felt slightly disappointed with the depth of the writing and the narration from the first chapter onwards. The book could be half as long if the margins were expanded, and each page felt like lost momentum with the word count (first time I have experienced this). While the author's story and passion is authentic, the book fell short of expanding on 'the process' and instead felt like a motivation manifesto based on words and not content.
March 16, 2020
Tony Robbins (and many others) encourage us to make massive change and take massive action, most of us aren't wired for that. I'm not. Most of us are too attached to the comfort (real or imagined or conditioned) of our lives as they exist. We might make a massive change if under massive stress, but absent that, we continue with the status quo, even as we ache to start a business, write a book, lose the weight, etc.
Tommy Baker is one of many self-help writers encouraging us to make continuous, small improvements and to realize the benefits of sticking to a practice of becoming incrementally better in our roles and to move toward our goals over the long haul. It is much more manageable. It works if we will put in the work.
Tommy Baker is one of many self-help writers encouraging us to make continuous, small improvements and to realize the benefits of sticking to a practice of becoming incrementally better in our roles and to move toward our goals over the long haul. It is much more manageable. It works if we will put in the work.
March 2, 2022
Duped again by a Kindle bargain.
This started off promising for a book in this genre: do something small every day (the 1%) to keep forward momentum toward your goals. I can get behind that. Then, typical for the genre, it got hella preachy with the "no excuses" rhetoric. Tommy boy, chronic illness is in fact a valid reason to maybe take a day off. Great that the author still managed to live his life while battling an illness, but that is not chronic nor the experience of most suffering from medical issues. And enough with the fatphobic nonsense that people are only overweight because they lack the willpower to not eat shitty foods. Too many over-simplifications and if I hadn't been stuck in a waiting room with nothing to read, this would have ended up as a dnf.
This started off promising for a book in this genre: do something small every day (the 1%) to keep forward momentum toward your goals. I can get behind that. Then, typical for the genre, it got hella preachy with the "no excuses" rhetoric. Tommy boy, chronic illness is in fact a valid reason to maybe take a day off. Great that the author still managed to live his life while battling an illness, but that is not chronic nor the experience of most suffering from medical issues. And enough with the fatphobic nonsense that people are only overweight because they lack the willpower to not eat shitty foods. Too many over-simplifications and if I hadn't been stuck in a waiting room with nothing to read, this would have ended up as a dnf.
November 5, 2022
A sensational book on self improvement, a lot of key notes to implement in our own life if we want to get our sh*t together and get things done.
I really liked how it was written, with guided questions and answers, in order for you to realise what we're aiming to achieve following the 1% rule illustrated in the book.
A lot of insights from the author, from his own experience and the experience of his clients whom he guided throughout the years.
I haven't followed along the questions and answers while reading it as I read it while cycling at the gym on a stationary bike, but this is the first book that resonated with me so much, I'm now planning to go back to all the highlights I got and also the questions listed to answer to them and get things done for real this time!
Thanks Tommy!
I really liked how it was written, with guided questions and answers, in order for you to realise what we're aiming to achieve following the 1% rule illustrated in the book.
A lot of insights from the author, from his own experience and the experience of his clients whom he guided throughout the years.
I haven't followed along the questions and answers while reading it as I read it while cycling at the gym on a stationary bike, but this is the first book that resonated with me so much, I'm now planning to go back to all the highlights I got and also the questions listed to answer to them and get things done for real this time!
Thanks Tommy!
June 18, 2024
Listened to on Audible. The author read the book. Bad choice as he hammers away at the material so the sentences run-on in ways that distracted me from the jump. He also has some odd, random mispronunciations of words for a book he wrote himself.
There are some good take-aways here and there, but they are few and far between. Everything requires passion, and rigor, and tears, and relentless pursuit, and other hyperbolic phrases that are comical and exhausting.
I congratulate him on writing the book and being a passionate coach, but this book is too long, overwrought and full of lists of words in lieu of complete thoughts. An editor with a relentless pursuit of brevity would been a great asset to the author and to the reader.
There are some good take-aways here and there, but they are few and far between. Everything requires passion, and rigor, and tears, and relentless pursuit, and other hyperbolic phrases that are comical and exhausting.
I congratulate him on writing the book and being a passionate coach, but this book is too long, overwrought and full of lists of words in lieu of complete thoughts. An editor with a relentless pursuit of brevity would been a great asset to the author and to the reader.
August 25, 2020
I indeed would call this book a game changer. Although I don't necessarily share the view on success and the goals with the author, which are mostly enterpreneurship related, he still makes many good points and, instead of just pointing out those things, gives a practical solution. Thanks to this book procrastination became a lot clearer to me, and I think that from now on fighting it will become a lot easier. That is, if I fall into this trap again. Very decent book. Even if it won't help you solve your productivity related problems, I still consider this one to be a must-read. Regardless of your background, it certainly gives a solid foundation for the future researches on the matter.
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