How Can I Get 1% Better Today?
The answer – Be like Annie.
Long story short, we have one of the best volleyball coaches in America right here at Nixa. Her name is Annie. I’ve been here six years now, long enough to know how great she is at what she does. She has built an outstanding program and a championship culture. But the other day I learned something about Annie that impressed me even more.
I was on the track getting a little exercise. To be honest, I was more “wogging” (a walk-jog combination) than actually running. Annie, on the other hand, was jogging. We struck up a conversation, and she shared something that stopped me in my tracks. Annie ran at least one mile every single day for twelve consecutive years. Let me say that again. She ran a minimum of one mile every day for twelve straight years without missing a day.
Think about that for a moment. That’s over 4,300 days of discipline.
I’ve heard of commitment before, but this is next level. I jokingly told her I’m not even sure I’ve brushed my teeth every day for twelve straight years. I know that sounds gross, but I’m pretty sure I’ve missed a day or two along the way.
But Annie’s streak really isn’t about running. It’s about discipline. It’s about showing up. It’s about becoming the type of person who does what they say they’re going to do—every single day. The real benefit Annie received from that streak wasn’t just physical fitness. It was mental strength. When you commit to doing something positive every day, you begin to build discipline, confidence, identity, and consistency. Over time, those small daily wins begin to compound into something powerful.
So here’s the challenge for today. Let’s be a little more like Annie. Find one habit that adds value to your life and commit to doing it today. Then do it again tomorrow, and the next day, and the next. The secret to getting one percent better isn’t intensity—it’s consistency. Small actions, done daily, over a long period of time. That’s where greatness lives.
Let’s go get 1% better today.
— John Perry
Source: Annie Zimmerman, State Champion Volleyball Coach