One Percent Better Coaching

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Stardate 01.18.2026

I truly believe the best person equipped to coach you is yourself.

Think about it for a moment. Who is there when you’re down in the dumps—when hope feels thin, money is tight, and opportunity seems nowhere in sight? The hard truth is this: most of the time, it’s nobody but you.

Before you push back on that idea, hear me out.

Yes, there are people who have walked the road before you. Mentors, teachers, friends—they matter, and their wisdom can change a life. But that part of the story is finite. You are the one constant in your own life. You’ll be with you longer than anyone else ever will.

You know your patterns. You know your fears. You know when you’re avoiding growth—and when you’re quietly rising. Parents can guide you, but they won’t always be here. Friends may come and go. If you learn how to coach yourself, you gain an ally who never leaves, no matter how hard life gets.

So if you decide to hire yourself as your own life coach, start small.

Adopt one idea and make it your own. You’ve seen it here before: aim to be one percent better today than you were yesterday.

The first time you try this, you may feel lost. You may fail. That’s not a flaw in the process—that is the process. Failure means you’re attempting something new, and something new is always better than repeating the same patterns that kept you stuck.

Fail often. Learn continuously. Coach yourself with patience instead of judgment. Over time, those one-percent gains compound into real change—quiet, steady, and lasting.

“The plans of the diligent lead surely to abundance,
but everyone who is hasty comes only to poverty.”
— Proverbs 21:5

Near the end of the journey, it’s rarely the dramatic leaps we’re grateful for. It’s the small, faithful steps that carried us when motivation ran low and hope needed time to catch up.

Join me here: https://substack.com/@michaelmulliganlivelong

Captain’s Addendum

Spock: “Incremental improvement remains the most efficient path to sustainable progress.”
Bones: “In plain English, Spock—just don’t quit on yourself.”

Michael: I’ve learned that waiting for someone else to rescue me only delayed my growth. Coaching myself—especially on the hard days—taught me resilience, humility, and hope. One percent better doesn’t feel dramatic, but it’s how real change shows up in a life.

Thank you for sharing this moment with me today. May this thought stay with you quietly—an encouragement to be patient with yourself, courageous in your effort, and faithful in small steps—as you carry it into prayer or reflection.

🖖