Habits not heroics

One day, a husband narrated his story: “My wife asked if she had any annoying habits... and then she got all offended during the PowerPoint presentation.”

- FRANCIS J. KONG

Imagine learning about the power of habits at a business conference.

Attending WOBI New York City this year felt like being back in school, except your teachers were world-class thought leaders, and your classmates were CEOs taking notes faster than their assistants could take photos.

One of the sessions that stood out for me was James Clear, the author of Atomic Habits. I’ve read his book before, but hearing him speak in person gave his message new weight. No slides, no jargon — just clarity (pun intended) and conviction.

His message was disarming yet straightforward: “You don’t need a big change. You need small, boring changes — done consistently.”

Clear began with a story that has now become legend: British Cycling.

For nearly a century, the team had no wins.

Then came Dave Brailsford, who believed success could be found in what he called the “aggregation of marginal gains” — getting one percent better at everything.

They improved the seats, changed their pillows, tested racing suits in wind tunnels and even learned better hand-washing to avoid getting sick.

Ridiculous? Perhaps. But soon, the same team that couldn’t win anything was suddenly winning everything.

The lesson: greatness hides in the ordinary.

We chase revolutions, but transformation often starts with one small decision repeated daily.