It’s easy to feel like the world is getting worse—news, social media, and our personal struggles can make it seem that way. But if we step back and look at the bigger picture, the data tells a different story. Globally, poverty is at its lowest, and crime trends downward. So why does it feel worse?

We all get stuck from time to time. We wanted to improve some aspect of our lives and gave our best effort and still came up short. It happens. It is frustrating and confusing but doesn’t have to be the end.

One of the disadvantages of the systems and habits approach to improvement is that we often spend significant time building up a new system before we have evidence that it is the right system to reach our stated goal.

Hope is essential for progress. It fuels our belief that things can improve, gives us the optimism to face the future, and helps us transform obstacles into manageable challenges.

I’ve been on both sides of this equation. When hope was absent, I felt stuck. I blamed external factors for my lack of progress and struggled to muster the energy to change. But when hope returned, even in small doses, I found the strength to keep going. Setbacks became temporary instead of permanent, and I refused to let obstacles define me.

The pursuit of perfection often becomes a formidable barrier when we need to improve in life. This obsession with flawlessness can paralyze progress, leading to missed opportunities and stagnation. Embracing the philosophy of progress over perfection allows individuals to move forward, learn from experiences, and achieve meaningful growth.

This principle is exemplified in the life of Michael Afolabi, whose story of resilience and determination offers profound insights into overcoming adversity. I recently had a chance to catch up with Michael and learn about his incredible journey. His story is inspiring, and his message is clear: Take life’s obstacles and learn from them so you are better prepared for life’s next challenge.

Most people navigate life without questioning the systems shaping their understanding of the world. They absorb the 5 o’clock news version of reality—sensational headlines, dramatic soundbites, and fleeting attention-grabbing stories—without ever digging deeper. And in doing so, they fall victim to an honest lie.

Take Hurricane Katrina in New Orleans. The media painted a picture of lawlessness: rampant crime, roving gangs, gunfire echoing through the city. Reports of rape and murder were shared and reshared, reinforced by journalists, columnists, and even the mayor. That image persists for many to this day. After all, it was on the news, so it must be true. Or worse, it must have been even more chaotic than reported.

Many authors today argue that we should constantly push ourselves. They argue that if we aren’t sacrificing everything for our goals, then we aren’t trying.

But this is nonsense. The effort approach to improvement has its place but is no way the only way to achieve. In fact, it isn’t even the best way to succeed. 

One theme throughout the Tao Te Ching is the idea that the sage avoids extremes. This often-overlooked wisdom is something that I have observed getting more and more obscure in today’s world.

Instead of accepting the world as it is and working within ourselves to discover success and happiness, we are constantly looking externally. When things don’t go as planned, we find someone else to blame. If we don’t live the life we desire, we crave massive amounts of money so we can change our lot in life.

In the world of systems thinking, there’s a concept known as the systems thinking iceberg. This model illustrates how the deeper layers of a system often go unnoticed. The iceberg analogy is intentional—only 10% of an iceberg is visible above the surface, while the remaining 90% lies hidden beneath.

Similarly, in our daily lives, we tend to focus only on surface-level events. We form opinions based on what we see, rarely diving deeper to uncover the true underlying structures and beliefs shaping our reality. However, when we train ourselves to look beyond the obvious, we gain powerful insights.

As we journey through life, we often encounter inexplicable events that make us question our path. Why didn’t we get that promotion? Why did our relationship falter? In moments like these, it’s tempting to chalk up our disappointments to fate, luck, or karma.

But what if the answer lies closer to home?

When most people think of compound interest, they picture their savings growing exponentially in a bank account. It’s a simple concept: the interest you earn starts earning interest of its own, creating a snowball effect over time. But what if we applied the same principle to our habits?

The truth is, just like compound interest can turn a small initial deposit into a fortune, small daily habits can lead to massive transformations in our lives.

When building a new process—whether at work or in personal development—it’s crucial to ask: Is the system simple, sticky, and self-regulating? These three criteria act as a litmus test for creating systems that work and endure over time.

Habits are the engine behind nearly everything we do. Psychologists estimate that up to 95% of our actions are habitual—automatic routines that free up mental energy for other tasks. But beyond saving time in the moment, habits have another superpower: they leverage time itself to create remarkable transformations.

The power of habits lies in their consistency. A single small action, repeated daily, compounds over weeks, months, and years. Flossing your teeth for two minutes each night doesn’t seem monumental today, but over time, it prevents costly dental issues. Similarly, setting aside just $10 a week can grow into a significant amount when time does its work.

All animals, including humans, rely on habit to navigate their daily lives. Our brains are wired to help us flow through repetitive activities without constant conscious direction. This reliance on habit isn’t just a convenience; it’s a survival mechanism.

Think about brushing your teeth or driving your car. These actions are powered more by habitual movements than conscious thought. When the traffic light turns green, we naturally lift our foot off the brake and apply it to the gas pedal. Similarly, when the light turns yellow and then red, we instinctively slow the vehicle to a stop. These are not accidental behaviors or strange phenomena—they’re habits deeply embedded in our brains.

Big goals can feel overwhelming. Whether you want to lose weight, write a book, or build a business, it’s easy to get stuck thinking about how far you have to go. That sense of overwhelm often paralyzes us, keeping us from taking any action at all.

But here’s the secret: you don’t have to tackle the entire mountain all at once. Change happens one small step at a time. And when you use systems thinking, those small steps become the foundation for big, meaningful results.

It’s tempting to aim for perfection in everything we do. We want the perfect job, the perfect fitness routine, the perfect life. But this obsession with perfection often stops us from making any real progress. We get stuck planning, tweaking, and hesitating, waiting for the “perfect moment” to take action.

The truth is, perfection is a myth. Life isn’t a straight line, and success isn’t about flawlessly executing a master plan. It’s about consistent progress—small, steady steps that move you closer to your goals. And the best way to make progress is to create systems that work for you.