Secrets to Success Deborah Cole Micek and John-Paul Micek

Small changes can make a big difference

For the past two weeks, we have been looking at how Coach Knute Rockne, football's first Hall of Fame recipient, used four success principles to lead his teams to victory and set many standards that the National Football League follows to this day.

Today, we'll look at how he applied Success Principle No. 5, one of the most important factors that professionals can use:

» Small adjustments made on a consistent basis create winners.

Rockne recognized that small, incremental improvements are what made the difference between winning and losing. He introduced the satin pants that the team still wears in order to cut down on wind resistance. He was constantly tweaking equipment to reduce weight while increasing flexibility and protection.

Coach's insight: So many people in life wait for their "big chance" that never seems to come along. How many people do you know, hear, or read about who just stepped into the winner's circle in one fell swoop? I'd imagine that, if you are really looking at what it took to get that person to the point where they are today, that you can't think of anyone.

Celebrities who seem like "overnight" successes will tell you how long and hard the road was to get them to where they are today. But they persisted. They took voice coaching and acting lessons, and even failed on a few attempts climbing their way up. But, with each failure, came wonderful learning opportunities that took them up the next step to the top of their mountain of fame and fortune.

It takes time to become the person that can handle a certain level of success. The person who reaches the goal is not the same person who set the goal. (Think about that for a moment.)

Over time, with incremental improvements to help us grow and challenges to overcome, we become the person who can achieve and maintain a higher level of success.

Stop waiting for that "right time" and go out and make it happen. Take a cue from Knute Rockne and day-by-day you will achieve your dreams.

What can you do in your business or profession this week that will make you just 10 percent better than who you were last week or last month?

What innovative strategy can you implement in your industry that will set you just 10 percent apart from your competitors who all basically do the same thing?

Ask yourself these two questions for the next 21 days, and see how it sets you apart to join the winner's circle for increased profits, salary, bonuses, and personal satisfaction.

Then do 10 percent better!