1% Better: Self-Improvement is a Trap, A Must-Have For Decision-Making, and Internal vs. External Benchmarks


By Colby Kultgen

Hey friends.

Welcome to 1% Better.

Every Monday, I share the 5 best things I've discovered in the last 7 days.

Let's dive in.


Today at a Glance:

  • Framework: How to make big decisions (effectively)
  • Thread: 16 decision-making razors everyone should know
  • Idea: Self-improvement is a trap
  • Question: Internal vs. external benchmarks
  • Reminder: Making mistakes


Read time:
4 minutes


A decision-making framework everyone should have bookmarked

Shaan Puri (Creator of the My First Million podcast) on his process for making big decisions:

I loved this so much that I turned it into a reusable spreadsheet.
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1d93nHwoIDZLYDcrx12EKbX5aSqi4WLf1C_W3VzZLu0U/edit?usp=sharing

I also made a Google Doc version if you prefer that.


A must-read thread - 16 decision-making razors every person should know

Speaking of decision-making.

This thread from my friend Clint Murphy is a must-read.

I believe that the best decision-makers are simply the people who've collected the best "razors" for cutting through uncertainty.

Fill your head with the right mental models, and you'll find yourself immediately making better choices.

If you don't use Twitter (X), you can read the thread here.


The "trap" of self-improvement

Confession time.

I'm a self-improvement addict.

I've spent most of my adult life trying to optimize every aspect of my existence: work, sleep, habits, fitness, relationships—the list goes on.

Don't get me wrong, it has transformed my life for the better.

But the older I get, the more I realize that striving for a better future doesn't have to come at the cost of present happiness.

It's about finding a balance between ambition and contentment.

This quote from Chris Williamson sums up the idea perfectly:

Note: Edited slightly for readability.

Source: 15 Lessons Learned From 800 Episodes


A question about internal vs. external benchmarks

“Would I be happy with this result if no one other than me and my family could see it, and I didn’t compare the result to the appearance of other people’s success?”

I encourage you to apply this to all areas of your life:

  • Career: Are you proud of your work without comparing it to others' achievements?
  • Hobbies: Do you enjoy your hobbies just for the fun of it, not for praise?
  • Health: Does your health routine make you feel good, regardless of others' fitness levels?
  • Finances: Are you happy with your financial choices without comparing to others' wealth?
  • Personal growth: Are you learning and growing for yourself, not to match others?

Make sure you're not measuring your success with someone else's ruler.

Source: Quiet Compounding from Morgan Housel


A reminder heading into the week

As my favorite fictional school teacher, Ms. Frizzle would say:

"Take chances, make mistakes, get messy!"

Have a great week!

—Colby


If someone forwarded this to you, Subscribe here.

113 Cherry St #92768, Seattle, WA 98104-2205
Unsubscribe · Preferences

Hi! I'm Colby!

I'm obsessed with living a better life each and every day. I want to share what I learn and discover with you.

Read more from Hi! I'm Colby!

By Colby Kultgen How to actually stay close with friends, the "No Power" Hour, and a meal prep recipe I'm addicted to Read online / Read time: 4 minutes Hello friends! Welcome to 1% Better. The newsletter where I share my 5 favorite ideas, lessons, and discoveries of the week—no fluff, just the good stuff. Let's get right into it. A 60-minute practice that might change your life Last year, I wrote about something I call The "No-Power" Hour which really seemed to resonate with people....

What Is an Analog Bag? Inside the TikTok Trend Fighting Digital Burnout -  Business Insider

By Colby Kultgen An App That Tells You Which Products Are Killing You, Everyone Should Have an Analog Bag, and The "Teach Myself List" Read online / Read time: 4 minutes Hello friends! Welcome to 1% Better. The newsletter where I share my 5 favorite ideas, lessons, and discoveries of the week—no fluff, just the good stuff. Let's get right into it. A powerful question to get a bad day back on track I love this question that therapist and best-selling author Lori Gottlieb uses with her clients:...

By Colby Kultgen National Quitter's Day, A Few Friend Nights You Should Try, and How to Manage Anxious Thoughts in 60 Seconds Read online / Read time: 4 minutes 1% Better is brought to you by: I struggled with negative self-talk for years. So when Joel Bein reached out and showed me his innovative method for disrupting those patterns, I knew I wanted to share it with you. He’s created a free guide called 5 Steps to End Negative Self-Talk, built around a 10-minute technique for clearing the...