One Small Step Can Change Your Life: The Kaizen Way Kindle Edition

This quick 224-page read focuses on one big and valuable idea: Kaizen, which is the Japanese word coined for constant improvement.More specifically, we are talking about incremental improvement - small steps, not big leaps.The author, Robert Maurer, begins by making the case that change does not have to be hard. It can be easy, requiring little time, self-control or discipline - if you take the Kaizen approach.Throughout the book, you are given proof. There are examples from business, fittingly so, as the Kaizen concept was originally introduced as a management principle. But this concept is so universal it applies to every life endeavor, and there are plenty of examples specific to health, weight loss and fitness as well.At first you might think that applying this philosophy simply means taking small action steps. However, Maurer challenges the reader by going deeper and explaining that there are five other ways to apply kaizen. A chapter is devoted to each of these strategies:1. Taking small actions.2. Asking small questions.3. Thinking small thoughts.4. Solving small problems.5. Bestowing small rewards (to yourself or others).6. Recognizing small but crucial moments others ignore.All of these ideas may seem over-simplistic and counterintuitive on the surface, but they make perfect sense when they're explained and put into context.The biggest reason they work is by overcoming fear and the subsequent inaction that fear causes. Maurer explains:"All changes are scary, even positive ones. Attempts to reach goals through radical or revolutionary means often fail because they heighten fear. But the small steps of kaizen disarm the brain's fear response, stimulating rational thought and creative play."He argues taking action steps or making changes so small that they initially appear too easy or even ridiculous is not only valuable, it’s the most important and most effective way to make progress.He says going small can work better than attempting big, sweeping changes and the reason is because looking at a teensy-tiny step or improvement is not intimidating, and therefore, it overcomes our hard-wired tendency to avoid change and discomfort. He expands on this by giving a great summary of how the brain works and how the human brain evolved to make us fearful of change. Once you understand it, the logic behind taking small steps becomes clearer than ever.I would recommend this book especially if you fall into one of these groups:1. You've been so overwhelmed at the magnitude of a task in front of you, you never even got started.2. You attempted a sweeping overhaul of your whole lifestyle all at once, and you got so overwhelmed you couldn't keep it up.3. You became successful making big changes and taking big steps all at once, but the results didn't last - eventually you relapsed.4. You constantly battle fear and stress when looking at the needed changes that face you.

You know what irritates me about self help books? 99.9% of them are BS and I'm including the "works" of some very big names in the field (you know who they are. The same old stuff reworked until it loses any real meaning. I've only read an extremely few that were worth the time and this is one of them. I work in a library and don't recommend any of the self help books we have for the above stated reason, except for this one. It's a small, effective book that gets to the point and keeps going. So, instead of firewalking or paying ridiculous sums to attend "seminars" to listen to what are really sales pitches, try this book. I got tired of checking it out and finally bought my own copy. PS. I won't be attending any seminars by Robert Mauer. His book is enough.

Like many of my friends, family, and colleagues, I'm often frustrated by my own inability to make changes I honestly want to initiate and see through. In the past few years, I've confronted retirement, moving to a new town, altering my daily life to assist a daughter in the care of her newborn twins--all while also trying to focus on starting an online business and creating new social ties. The term "overwhelming" doesn't seem like a strong enough designation sometimes. I can so easily fall into a kind of stupor, spending ridiculous amounts of time binge-watching t.v. shows, texting far-flung friends, shopping online for things I neither need nor, truthfully, want. Maurer's approach--breaking daunting tasks into such tiny steps you feel no resistance--works to unclog the drain, so to speak. One small movement leads to one more, which leads to one more, etc.--finally leading you to your goal. He refers to this as "kaizin", a Japanese approach--whether it is a "true" description of kaizin I neither know nor care. I sometimes just need help getting out of my own way, and this book has been a help in doing that. So far, I've small-stepped my way into a planned and happy retirement and have made a successful move to my new neighborhood, as well as beginning to establish new friendships and contacts. Next up is the online business, which, while still intimidating, no longer seems "too hard." It's not magic, it's common sense and persistence. I recommend this book to anyone who feels stuck and unsure about what to do next--I think it can help you.

This is a small idea book with enormous implications. The author explores the ideas of Kaizen, a philosophy that small steps lead to large changes. I appreciate how Mr. Maurer explains the psychology of this, and how making incremental, deliberate steps leads a person to fulfill goals that have often gone unaccomplished. I have begun to implement these concepts into my life and am already seeing the results of this paradigm shift. Isn't it funny how sometimes the problem is just in how we as humans view a problem, and not so much in the problem itself?I highly recommend this book for anyone stuck in the rut of goal failure. Explore the world of Kaizen. The book, like it's philosophy, is not a long read or a complicated concept to grasp. Instead, it is a summary of wisdom that can truly help individuals and organizations develop in healthy ways and bring about important change.

The whole Kaizen book can be summarised by this quote from John Wooden, one of the greatest college basketball coaches, which is found in the opening pages:“When you improve a little each day, eventually big things occur... Don’t look for the big, quick improvement. Seek the small improvement one day at a time. That’s the only way it happens - and when it happens, it lasts.”After this intro section which covers the what of kaizen, the rest of the book deals with the how. If you’re short on time (or patience), you’ll be fine reading this first part and skimming through the rest.

As someone who has always made big resolutions which never came to anything this book caught my attention. The proposition is that you determine to do one small thing each day rather than be overwhelmed by having to make big changes. One example would be to ask yourself, "What small thing could I do right now to improve my life in (this area)". it's working for me

is the the best practical self help book out there? I'd say it is! Well written, easy to read, interesting, and life changing - but not in a scary way! Changing your life doesn't have to be a big and scary thing to do. In fact, as this sets out, if you want to change things it is better NOT to do big, scary, difficult things. Read it.I think there are other sorts of self help book - dealing for example with healing or finding yourself, or specific sort of problem. But as a general "how to get on a great path and get there" - this is you baby. The scary thing is that it isn't that it needn't be scary - why did it take me so long to realise this?!

Love this little book. It's not overly long and it's easy to carry around with you as it's small in size. Some of the points in the book are quite obvious but the way they are explained and broken down give you a good understanding of how they work. There's a little something to gain in this book for everyone.

This book has changed the way I think about my daily routines.............for the better. It truly is a great read. Robert Maurer provides great explanation of the Kaizen way and is a joy to follow. I read this book twice since then have been using it every day 1% increase each day on a few different routines. The great news is it really DOES work. I wish I had found this book a few years ago but I am making up for lost time now. 5 Stars.