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


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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.

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