On January 3rd, 2024, I checked into The Atlantis Hotel on the Palm in Dubai, full of excitement and anticipation. If you’ve ever been to Atlantis, you know the magic. It’s a place that leaves an impression. it inspires you!
I still remember pulling up in a taxi the very first time I visited. The sheer scale, the energy, the vibe—it’s something else. As I looked at my wife that first trip, I confidently said:
“This trip won’t cost us a penny.”
That’s the thing about dreams—they light a fire under you. And little did I know, on that 2024 trip, I’d stumble across a philosophy that would change not just my business but my entire outlook on growth. Firstly I knew that the trip would inspire me to want to return next year (we return on 14th January on our way back from Bali where we head to on 31st Decemeber.
I know that trip would inspire me somehow and that inspiration would result in more sales, better business, better clients thius making the trip free. I was right!
The Power of 1%: A Lesson from Atlantis
On the flight over, I’d been reading a book by John Lammerton on the power of small improvements—adding just 1% to your business each day. At the time, it was just a concept, something that stuck in the back of my mind but wasn’t fully formed.
That all changed when I stood on the balcony of my room, looking down at the buzzing energy of the Atlantis pool. One thought kept playing on repeat in my mind:
“I have to make sure I’m back here next year.”
And that’s when I made a decision. Every day of my holiday, I’d commit to spending 30 minutes to 1 hour working on my business. Not in it, but on it.
30 Minutes of Progress: What I Did
Every single day during that trip, I did something small to make my business 1% better.
– Optimized SEO on my website.
– Wrote a blog post.
– Enhanced my course materials.
– Created a new PDF worksheet.
– Uploaded a video to my socials.
– Sent valuable emails to my audience.
– Added value to you tube content
None of these tasks were monumental. But they were deliberate. Each action was focused on progress, no matter how small.
Here’s the key: 30 minutes here or an hour there doesn’t feel like much in the moment. But when you do it consistently—day after day, week after week, month after month—it compounds.
Could I Do It Every Day for a Year?
Inspired by those two weeks in Dubai, I asked myself: “Could I add 1% to my business every day for an entire year?”
Let’s be honest: I didn’t manage it every single day.
Why not? Life gets in the way. As a husband, a dad, and a tradesman turned business coach, I know how chaotic life can be. Take Hearts Fc v Hibs Fc, the Edinburgh Derby as an example—big match days involve mates, beers, playlists, and plenty of good laughs and a hangover. Do I feel like working on my business after a day like that? Do I heck!
And that’s okay.
The Result? A Tripled Business
What matters is that I stayed consistent most days. Across 2024, I focused on adding 1% to my business more often than not. And the results speak for themselves:
– Revenue and profits tripled at Tradecoach.
– My course became bigger and better.
– I created more content than ever before.
– My 1-1 client base is completely full.
The compound effect of small, intentional improvements is enormous. And the best part? These are things anyone can do—yes, even you!
1% Ideas for UK Trade Businesses
Here are practical ideas to add 1% to your business today (and tomorrow):
Start a blog page and post weekly (use AI tools if needed).
Optimise your website’s SEO to bring in more leads.
Add case studies with SEO-optimized content—1 per week.
Use Canva to design fresh marketing materials.
Audit your website monthly and share updates with your web developer.
Plan and execute a social media campaign with a clear call-to-action.
Refine your branding to stay professional and consistent.
Improve your client journey—map it out and tweak it monthly.
Design offline marketing strategies (e.g., van signage or leaflets).
Build relationships with suppliers like VAs or social media managers.
Even if you pick just one of these tasks each day, you’ll be amazed at how far you can go. The above list is a tiny example of what you can do – Book a free strategy call with me today to learn many many more
Why This Matters
Here’s the gold: while you’re out there at 5am or 10pm putting in the work, your competition might be tucked up in bed, bingeing Netflix, or gaming on their Xbox.
Imagine where you’ll be after a year of adding 1% to your business while they’ve done nothing.
From Me to You
As a business owner, a dad, and a husband, I know how tough it is to juggle everything. The late nights, the early mornings, the relentless grind—it’s not for the faint of heart.
But here’s the thing: you deserve the life you dream of. Whether you’re a client of Tradecoach or not, I’m rooting for you. I want to see you succeed.
So here’s my challenge for 2024: Commit to the 1%. Whether you hit it every single day or most days, you’ll be miles ahead of your competition this time next year with or without my help.
Go get it!
All the best for 2025,
Oh and btw its Saturday morning, 5.15am here in a very cold Edinburgh (there is a clue here) #1% #5am #workingon #value
The 1% Rule is simply this – focus on growing your business by 1% every day, and compounded, means your business gets 3,800% better each year – read that again!
Oh and before i go you could start RIGHT NOW by watching (and taking action) my free training here or contacting me here
Daren
#BusinessCoaching #UKTradesmen #TradeBusinessGrowth #1PercentBetter #BusinessTips #Tradecoach #TradesmenSuccess #WorkOnYourBusiness #merryxmas
