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I used to think that new levels of success came from major overhauls and big leaps.
That felt overwhelming.
And, I just didn't have the time to figure out how to do a massive overhaul all at once.
What I eventually discovered was that real and lasting progress happened inch by inch, not mile by mile.
Early in my career, I committed to the idea of Kaizen, the Japanese philosophy of continuous improvement, focusing on small, daily changes rather than chasing massive transformations.
That change in my focus made things easier and more doable.
Slowly but surely I saw the magic.
With every practice, I wasn’t trying to reinvent everything. I’d focus on one small thing we could do a little better.
Some days it was as simple as how we communicated on the field, or a small tweak in a drill.
Day after day, these “inches” added up to yards. By the season’s end, those small adjustments had transformed our performance.
And it wasn’t just on the field. Kaizen helped me become more productive, more effective, and ultimately, more successful.
Today I want to share three ways Kaizen can help you advance in coaching, recruiting, and productivity with simple but effective strategies:
Start Small – Improve Just One Thing Today
Pick one small, specific area to focus on improving each day.
Team: maybe it’s as simple as adjusting the way you run a warm-up drill to make it more efficient.
Recruiting: try focusing on the timing of your follow-up calls or making small adjustments to personalize your outreach.
Productivity: take five minutes at the end of each day to plan out the next, noting your top priorities.
Consistent, incremental changes like these prevent burnout and increase impact over time without feeling overwhelming.
Track and Celebrate Small Wins
Celebrating each small improvement helps you and your team stay motivated. Each week, take a moment to recognize what went well.
Team: For example, did that new team-building exercise engage your players better?
Recruiting: Or maybe a slight tweak in your recruiting pitch connected more strongly with prospects.
Productivity: In terms of productiivty, celebrate a streamlined morning routine or a more efficient way of managing meetings.
Acknowledging these small victories builds confidence and reinforces the benefits of continuous improvement.
Keep Pushing for That Extra 1%
Once you start seeing the results of small improvements, keep building. Each week, look for another area you can improve by just 1%. Ask yourself:
Team: How can I make practice 1% more efficient?
Recruiting: Is there a 1% adjustment I could make in my recruiting process to connect even more effectively with athletes?
Productivity: In terms of productivity, this might mean identifying small time-wasters and eliminating them. I once started with a habit of spending 5 minutes every morning organizing my workspace—it seemed trivial, but it improved my focus and set a productive tone for the day.
These 1% improvements compound over time, leading to big gains.
Small Steps, Big Impact
As you know coach, we are in a profession where the difference between winning and losing often comes down to these tiny details—the inches that Kaizen encourages us to work on daily.
Whether it’s boosting your productivity, refining recruiting strategies, or getting the most from your team, small, steady improvements will carry you toward success.
Remember, with each inch, you’re not just moving forward—you’re setting the foundation for lasting success.
I am here to help if you want it. Shoot me an email at [email protected] and we can set up a call. No pressure to be a client. Just here to help.
To your success,
Mandy Green
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