I was listening to the Vigor Life Podcast with Luka Hocevar and Brad Stulberg. Brad Stulberg is an author, a serious fitness enthusiast, and he just released a new book called The Way Of Excellence.
During the conversation, they discussed the idea of getting 1% better every day. It’s a concept you hear often in strength training, professional development, and personal growth.
In the early stages, the 1% better every day theme works really well.
When something is new, progress comes quickly. Some days you might get 5, 10, or 20% better simply because there is so much available room for improvement. Aiming to improve a little bit every day can be incredibly motivating in the beginning.
As your skill or strength increases, the linear progress slows down or stops. The idea of 1% better isn’t as useful anymore and if motivation remains tied to constant improvement, frustration can follow.
This is where Stulberg said curiosity comes in.
Instead of chasing progress, the goal shifts to exploring feel, details, and execution. Another change that happens is showing up for the community you are a part of, aside of your personal gains.
A good example of this is the deadlift.
Early on, your focus is simple and clear:
- Set your feet.
- Hinge your hips.
- Find your grip.
- Brace and stand up.
At ELEVATE, we usually start people with a 24kg kettlebell, then progress to a 48kg kettlebell for 3 sets of 10 reps. That transitions into two kettlebells and we work up to a pair of 32kgs for 3 sets of 5 reps. The next progression is the trap bar.
Eventually the strength gains taper off. This is the time when curiosity matters more than chasing the weight on the bar.
You start paying attention to things like foot position, whole foot pressure, lat engagement, balance between both legs, staying tight throughout the lift, and controlling the descent instead of bouncing the weight off the floor into the next rep.
These details may not feel like 1% improvements, but over time, they are what leads to the next breakthrough.
Progress doesn’t just stop or disappear. It changes direction from 1% better to curiosity.