The One Percent Rule: Your path to personal transformation

Life can feel overwhelming when you're trying to make changes. Trust me, I get it. As a financial adviser, I see this all the time – whether it's people trying to get their finances sorted, break old spending habits, or create new saving patterns. That mountain ahead can seem impossible to climb. 

But here's the thing – you don't have to make that climb all at once. In fact, the most powerful transformations often start with the tiniest steps.

1. The Magic of One Percent

Let me share an incredible story that changed how I think about personal growth and financial planning. It's about Sir David Brailsford and the British Cycling Team. When Brailsford took over, the team had never won the Tour de France. Not once in their entire history. But Brailsford had a vision – he believed that by making tiny, one percent improvements across multiple areas, they could win the prestigious race within five years.

What happened next was extraordinary.

The team started making minimal adjustments everywhere they could. They tweaked obvious things like nutrition and bike aerodynamics. But they didn't stop there. They found pillows that improved sleep quality by just a fraction. They discovered a massage gel that worked ever so slightly better than their current one. Each change was tiny – just one percent – but together, they created something remarkable.

The result? They didn't need five years. In just two and a half years, they achieved their goal. And then they went on to win six more times since 2012.

2. Why Small Changes Work So Well in Finance

Now, you might be thinking, "That's great for professional cyclists, but what about my money?" Here's the beautiful thing – this approach works brilliantly for your finances. I've seen it transform countless people's financial futures.

Too often, we convince ourselves that financial security requires massive action – like completely overhauling our lifestyle or making huge sacrifices. We try to change everything overnight and then feel discouraged when it doesn't work out. But those tiny one percent improvements? They're different. They're manageable. They're sustainable. And most importantly, they add up to create incredible transformations in your financial life. 

Think about it – every major financial achievement probably wasn't the result of one dramatic moment. It was likely the culmination of many small steps, each moving you closer to your goals.A question I often hear is “When is the right time to get financial planning help?”, and the answer is always “Now!”. Whether you're being proactive about your finances or reactive due to unexpected circumstances, financial advice makes a huge difference. 

3. Making It Work for Your Finances

Ready to harness the power of one percent in your financial life? Here's how to get started:

1. Choose your financial focus area. Is it saving more? Reducing debt? Planning for retirement?

2. Think small. Really small. What tiny adjustments could you make to your money habits?

For example, if you're working on building wealth, forget about completely overhauling your spending. Instead, try:

- Setting up an automatic transfer of just 1% more of your income to savings

- Reviewing one bill each month to find a better deal

- Making one extra debt payment, even if it's small

- Increasing your super contribution by just 0.5% 

Or if you're focusing on better money management, consider:

- Spending 10 minutes each week reviewing your expenses

- Making one small change to reduce daily spending

- Learning one new thing about investing each month

- Having a quick chat with your partner about money goals

4. The Secret to Financial Success

Here's the key – you need to build on these changes. One small financial adjustment alone won't create wealth. The magic happens when you keep adding one percent improvements while maintaining the changes you've already made.

Consistency is crucial. It takes about 60 days to cement a new money habit, so give yourself time. Don't be afraid to pause adding new changes while you adjust to current ones. The important thing is to keep going with the improvements you've already started.

 I see this in my practice all the time – clients who make small, consistent changes to their financial habits often achieve much more than those who try to transform everything at once.

5. Your Financial Journey Starts Now

There's no better time to begin than today. Make that first tiny change to your financial habits and watch as each one percent improvement adds up to create remarkable results.

Remember, you don't have to transform your entire financial life at once. Start small. Stay consistent. And most importantly, trust in the process. Those one percent improvements might seem insignificant on their own, but together, they have the power to change your financial future. 

Ready to take that first step? Let's make it happen. Whether you're looking to secure your retirement, protect your family's future, or just get better at managing your money, those small changes can lead to big wins.

And if you're feeling overwhelmed about where to start? That's exactly why I'm here. Sometimes having someone in your corner can make all the difference in turning those one percent improvements into lasting financial success.

White Rabbit Advisory Pty Ltd is a registered tax (financial) adviser and any reference to tax advice contained in this document is incidental to the general financial advice it may contain. You should seek specialist advice from a tax professional to confirm the impact of this advice on your overall tax position. You should obtain financial advice relevant to your circumstances before making financial decisions. Whilst every care has been taken in the preparation of this information, it may not remain current after the date of publication and White Rabbit Advisory Pty Ltd and its related bodies make no representation as to its accuracy or completeness. Published: May 2025 © Copyright 2025