Make it 1% Better! Sweating the Small Stuff Leads to Success: Lessons from Steven Bartlett
Aug 28, 2023
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Steven Bartlett, one of the most successful entrepreneurs, joins Life Uncut. They discuss sweating the small stuff, never disagreeing but fostering empathy, pissing people off for success, and the importance of unapologetic values. A fun and insightful podcast episode!
Authenticity and differentiation are key in achieving success by challenging the status quo and embracing a unique path.
Effective communication lies in finding common ground and understanding rather than rigid disagreement.
Sweating the small stuff and making incremental improvements leads to significant gains over time in various aspects of life.
Deep dives
Personal upbringing and the search for validation
Stephen Bartlett grew up in a predominantly white area in the UK, where he felt different and less than his peers. This led to a strong desire to fit in and seek validation through money and success. He started multiple businesses from a young age to achieve financial success and validation.
Chasing validation through success
Stephen's drive for success stemmed from a deep-rooted belief that being wealthy and successful would finally make him feel worthy and enough. However, upon achieving success, he realized that it didn't bring the expected euphoria and fulfillment. He learned that true validation comes from within and that no external achievements can fill the internal void.
The power of effective communication
Stephen emphasizes the importance of effective communication and the impact it has on connecting with others and influencing their perspectives. He encourages focusing on finding common ground and understanding rather than engaging in rigid disagreement. By adopting a more agreeable approach, one can ensure that the other person's brain remains open to hearing and understanding different viewpoints.
Pissing people off as a side effect of pursuing success
Stephen explains that in the pursuit of success, it is inevitable that some people may be upset or offended. While the intention is not to purposely upset others, the pursuit of individual goals and differentiation may naturally result in some people being unhappy. However, it's important to focus on authenticity and creating a unique path rather than pleasing everyone.
Importance of Clear and Distinctive Values
In a saturated market, it is crucial for companies and individuals to have clear and distinctive values. These values help them stand out and attract a specific audience that resonates with their message. By being unique and having refined values, they can differentiate themselves from the competition. This means focusing on language and messaging that beats the filter of the brain, using provocative and disruptive language that captures attention. Examples of this can be seen in the success of books with provocative titles and brands that prioritize clear messaging.
The Power of Sweating the Small Stuff
A key personal philosophy for success is to pay attention to the small details. Sweating the small stuff means caring deeply about every little aspect and constantly finding ways to improve them. By focusing on the smallest things and making them 1% better, significant gains can be achieved over time. This philosophy can be applied in various areas of life, including building a personal brand or starting a podcast. Small tweaks and improvements, even if they seem insignificant, can lead to substantial progress and create a sense of forward movement. Celebrating one percent gains and maintaining a sense of progress can be motivating and help change the game.
First up today, Laura's come to an interesting discovery about her anatomy... Britt has an update on her egg freezing journey and we're deeply thinking of anyone who is struggling with their or their partner's fertility at the moment.
We have a question for to ask yourself, your friend, colleague, partner or kids. How can I be 1% better? You can interpret this however you wish. It could be in your work life, towards your partner, personal growth etc.
Then, it's producer Keeshia's dream come true. Her favourite podcaster Steven Bartlett joins Life Uncut! Steven Bartlett is the host of The Diary of a CEO, one of the most listened to podcasts in the world. He's an incredibly successful businessman and entrepreneur. He's also an author and an investor on Dragon's Den (the UK version of our Shark Tank).
In this interview we focus on the secret sauce behind what made Steven so successful, making incremental improvements, and embracing the art of effective communication.
We chat:
Sweating the small stuff - why the seemingly insignificant things matter
The power of never disagreeing - why "never disagreeing" doesn't mean sacrificing your opinion but instead fosters a culture of empathy and understanding.
Pissing people off for success - why making waves and challenging the status quo can be a sign that your business strategy is working.
Unapologetic values & how these values can determine what we make of ourselves
You can grab Steven's new book The Diary of a CEO: The 33 Laws of Business and Life by Steven Bartlett here!
